Startup
Financing – The Handbook

Well prepared for the first
fundraising round: The book accompanies you step by step on the way to your first investment.

Startup
Financing – The Handbook

Well prepared for the first
financing round: The book accompanies you step by step on the way to your first investment.

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supported startups

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years of experience

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CHF raised capital

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graduation rate

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supported startups

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years of experience

0M+

0M+

CHF raised capital

0%

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graduation rate

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supported startups

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years of experience

0M+

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CHF raised capital

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graduation rate

"Fundraising is a process you can plan and learn."

"Fundraising is a process you can plan and learn."

Barbara Fischer

Startup coach and fundraising advisor in Zurich, Switzerland

Problem

Startup funding is not a game of chance

Most financing rounds do not fail because of the business idea, but because of a lack of preparation.

These are the most common mistakes:

Most financing rounds do not fail because of the business idea, but because of a lack of preparation.

These are the most common mistakes:

You do not know the process

You have no idea when to start and what comes next.

You do not know the process

You have no idea when to start and what comes next.

You are targeting the wrong investors

Without clear selection criteria, you waste time with the wrong investors.

You are targeting the wrong investors

Without clear selection criteria, you waste time with the wrong investors.

Your documents are not convincing

Pitch deck and financial plan do not hold up to scrutiny.

Your documents are not convincing

Pitch deck and financial plan do not hold up to scrutiny.

You are underestimating the effort

The round takes longer and costs more time and money than you had planned.

You are underestimating the effort

The round takes longer and costs more time and money than you had planned.

You lack the basics

You lack clarity regarding capital requirements, validation, and legal issues.

You lack the basics

You lack clarity regarding capital requirements, validation, and legal issues.

The round is dragging on endlessly

You don't know when and how to close a round. Energy and money go to waste.

The round is dragging on endlessly

You don't know when and how to close a round. Energy and money go to waste.

Target audience

The handbook helps all startup founders who need clarity

With or without fundraising experience: you are in the right place.

For the curious

You have a business idea and are wondering if and how you can finance it.

For go-getters

You have a startup and need a clear roadmap for your fundraising in the DACH region and in Europe.

For restarters

You have already tried fundraising on your own and want to approach the next round more professionally.

Timetable

Your structured path to the first round

This book takes away your uncertainty. It guides you through the entire fundraising process – from initial thought to signed contract.

Understanding the process

Take out the guess work and learn how a funding round works.

Understanding the process

Take out the guess work and learn how a funding round works.

Targeted preparation

Know which documents and basics you need before you make the first contact.

Targeted preparation

Know which documents and basics you need before you make the first contact.

Attracting investors

Learn what investors expect, how they think, and which partners really fit your startup.

Attracting investors

Learn what investors expect, how they think, and which partners really fit your startup.

Finish strong

Steer the process with confidence and bring your round to a successful close.

Finish strong

Steer the process with confidence and bring your round to a successful close.

Book cover of "Startup Financing – The Handbook" by Barbara Fischer

The Startup Funding Handbook

Is your startup a golden egg?

Investors are looking for the "golden egg."

In my handbook, I will show you how to make your startup attractive to investors and how to prepare your first financing round in a structured manner.

Book cover of "Startup Financing – The Handbook" by Barbara Fischer

The Startup Funding Handbook

Is your startup a golden egg?

Investors are looking for the "golden egg."

In my handbook, I will show you how to make your startup attractive to investors and how to prepare your first financing round in a structured manner.

Book cover of "Startup Financing – The Handbook" by Barbara Fischer

The Startup Funding Handbook

Is your startup a golden egg?

Investors are looking for the "golden egg."

In my handbook, I will show you how to make your startup attractive to investors and how to prepare your first financing round in a structured manner.

Insight

Funding in 5 phases

Funding in 5 phases

Phase 1: Understanding

How do startup investments work? How do investors think? What types of investors are there, and which ones are the right fit for your startup?

Phase 2: Preparation

What requirements must be met? Topics include mindset and expectations, capacities, vision and professional appearance, capital requirements, company valuation, types of financing, validation, formalities, and legal counsel.

Phase 3: Documentation

What documents do you need for professional fundraising? These notably include a pitch deck, a convertible loan agreement or term sheet, and a due diligence room.

Phase 4: Moving forward

How does preparation turn into an active financing round? The focus is on the schedule, organization, target list, approaching investors, networking and pitch events, as well as maintaining momentum.

Phase 5: Closing the deal

How does the process develop from the first meeting with investors to the contract? How do you handle multiple interested parties at the same time and how do you bring the round to a clean close?

Author

Barbara Fischer is a startup coach and fundraising advisor in Zurich.

She knows entrepreneurship from her own experience: she co-founded her own business, built it up, and later sold it. For over ten years, she has been supporting founders in the DACH region and beyond through financing rounds – from preparation and investor discussions to the signed contract.

Author

Barbara Fischer is a startup coach and fundraising advisor in Zurich.

She knows entrepreneurship from her own experience: she co-founded her own business, built it up, and later sold it. For over ten years, she has been supporting founders in the DACH region and beyond through financing rounds – from preparation and investor discussions to the signed contract.

Author

Barbara Fischer is a startup coach and fundraising advisor in Zurich.

She knows entrepreneurship from her own experience: she co-founded her own business, built it up, and later sold it. For over ten years, she has been supporting founders in the DACH region and beyond through financing rounds – from preparation and investor discussions to the signed contract.

Guided Fundraising Program

Do you want more than a book?

To accompany the handbook, Barbara offers a guided fundraising program for female founders. Over 14 weeks, she guides women on their path to their first funding round.

Guided Fundraising Program

Do you want more than a book?

To accompany the handbook, Barbara offers a guided fundraising program for female founders. Over 14 weeks, she guides women on their path to their first funding round.

Guided Fundraising Program

Do you want more than a book?

To accompany the handbook, Barbara offers a guided fundraising program for female founders. Over 14 weeks, she guides women on their path to their first funding round.

Voices from readers

What readers are saying about the book

Excerpts from reviews on Thalia.de.

Portrait of a founder couple in a working environment

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have questions?

Does this book fit my current startup phase?

Yes, especially if you are facing your first funding round or are in the pre-seed or seed phase. The book is aimed at founders and founding teams who want to structure their path to financing clearly from the very beginning.

Will the book help me with my first financing round?

Yes. It guides you step-by-step through the process – from preparation and selecting suitable investors to discussions, negotiations, and closing. This way, you always know what's next and which fundamentals need to be in place.

What do I know after reading that I didn't know before?

You will understand how a financing round actually works, what investors expect, and how to convincingly prepare your startup. The central phases covered are: understanding, preparing, creating documents, conducting discussions, and successfully closing the round.

How practical is the book – and why not just research online for free?

The book bundles scattered information into a clear roadmap and translates it into concrete next steps. Instead of individual tips, you get the big picture: Which questions to clarify, which documents to prepare, and which decisions to make in what order.

Why should I trust Barbara Fischer – and why is the DACH focus relevant?

Barbara Fischer is a startup coach and fundraising advisor in Zurich. Having founded a company herself, she has spent many years guiding teams through financing rounds. The focus on the DACH region and Europe is relevant because investor networks, expectations, and processes here do not always align with those from US examples.

What can I expect, what not – and where can I buy the book?

You will receive a clear, practical guide for your first round – not individual legal, tax, or investment advice, and no guarantee of funding. You can purchase the book directly using the buy-book buttons on this page.

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