THE PROBLEM: Raising capital is often seen as a rite of passage and a badge of honor for high-growth companies, but too many entrepreneurs waste precious time and resources chasing money that never materializes. Why? They lack a targeted capital strategy and a proven process for fundraising, which are built on the solid foundation of financial expertise and early-stage investors’ mindset.

STEPHANIE’S PERSPECTIVE: Fundraising is like marketing – you need a compelling value proposition, a clear strategy, a well-defined ideal client and a repeatable process. Unfortunately, plenty of entrepreneurs leave all aspects of their fundraise to chance. I give CEOs the financial knowledge, skills and investor mindset that not only sets the company up for successful early-stage fundraising, but also positions the company to impress larger institutional investors and potential acquirers.