Raising capital isn’t just about pitching — it’s about knowing when to raise, how much, from whom, and on what terms. This practical, two-hour workshop cuts through the guesswork and gives founders a clear, confident framework for approaching fundraising strategically instead of reactively.
You’ll walk through the full landscape of funding options, learn what investors are actually looking for, and get hands-on with the mechanics that make or break a raise — round design, valuation, and dilution. Through team exercises and a real-world startup case study, you’ll practice making the same investment and fundraising decisions founders face in the room with real investors, so you leave with judgment you can actually use, not just notes.
Whether you’re pre-raise and mapping out your options, mid-raise and refining your story, or advising founders who are, this session will sharpen how you think about capital.
What You’ll Learn
- The full range of funding options and how to choose the right one for your stage.
- What investors evaluate when assessing investment readiness.
- How to design a fundraising round: structure, sizing, and timing.
- The fundamentals of valuation and dilution, and how to negotiate from an informed position.
- How to build a credible, compelling fundraising story.
- How to identify and prioritize the right investors for your business.
- How to manage the fundraising process end-to-end, from first conversation to close.
Who Should Attend: This session is designed to be useful at every stage of the fundraising journey, including:
- Early-stage startup teams who need a shared understanding of fundraising fundamentals before approaching investors.
- Solo entrepreneurs and aspiring founders exploring what raising capital would actually involve.
- Founders and co-founders preparing for their first raise, or currently in-market.
- Operators taking on fundraising responsibilities for the first time (ops leads, finance leads, GMs supporting a raise).
- Startup support professionals — advisors, mentors, incubator/accelerator staff — who want a refresher on current investor expectations.
- Angel investors and new venture investors who want insight into how founders are being coached to think about round design and valuation.
- Students and career-changers exploring venture building or startup finance as a path.
- If you’re making decisions about capital – or helping someone else make them – this session is for you.
About the Facilitator
Reza Mohseni: Investment Portfolio Manager at Edmonton Unlimited is a Venture Investment and Portfolio Manager with hands-on experience in fundraising, startup evaluation, and investor readiness. He works closely with both founders and investors — assessing opportunities, strengthening investment cases, and connecting promising ventures with the right capital. Reza brings a rare dual-sided perspective to this session: he knows what founders need to prepare, and what investors are actually looking for.
Photography & Video Consent
Events and workshops hosted in our space may be photographed or recorded. By registering for or attending an event, you consent to the use of photographs and video footage that may include you for promotional and marketing purposes. If you wish to opt out, you must identify yourself at reception upon arrival so appropriate accommodations can be made.