Startups
What VCs actually look for at seed
The fund maths behind every seed decision - why a reliable 3x gets rejected, what quality of demand really means, and the questions to ask investors back.
What percentage of startups fail? What the data actually says
The "90% of startups fail" figure is untraceable - here is what the BLS and Dealroom data actually show, and why high attrition is the venture model working as designed.
Startup grants in Europe: the non-dilutive funding guide
The EIC Accelerator, national agencies and the long tail of European grant money - how to interleave grants with a raise, and the hidden costs nobody announces.
Startup dilution explained: what three rounds really cost founders
A worked example of what pre-seed, seed and Series A really do to founder ownership - plus the three traps that make dilution cost more than the headline numbers suggest.
SAFE vs convertible note vs BSA-AIR: startup instruments explained
How SAFEs, convertible notes and France's BSA-AIR actually work - caps and discounts with a worked example, the stacking trap, and the questions to ask before signing.
What is Series A funding? What it takes to raise one in Europe
Series A investors buy a demonstrated growth machine, not promise - here is what European A rounds look like, what diligence interrogates, and what the round costs founders.
How to raise a pre-seed round in Europe
The mechanical guide to raising pre-seed in Europe: when to start, what to prepare, how to build the investor list, and how to close - calibrated against real round data.
What is a seed round? The European founder’s guide to seed funding
A seed round funds the search for repeatable demand - here is what European seed rounds look like, what happens to your cap table, and the honest odds of reaching…
European accelerators and incubators: the complete guide
What accelerators, incubators and studios actually cost, why Europe's equity-free programmes change the maths, and how to evaluate any programme before you sign.
What is pre-seed funding? Cheque sizes, investors and how it works in Europe
Pre-seed funding is the first outside capital a startup raises to prove the team and the problem - here is what European rounds look like, who writes the cheques, and…