How to Secure Pre Seed Funding for Your Startup?

The short answer to whether investors invest at the idea stage is YES—but it’s rare and risky. Most investors prefer to see startups with some visible growth before committing any sort of investments. However, for certain extraordinary cases, investors may decide to go ahead with the idea if they see the potential. Some of the investors are quite far sighted, and if they observe some spark in the idea- they are all set to go with it.

If you are an entrepreneur looking for some pre seed funding for your business at the idea stage, you might want to give “guide” a read. From mentioning the types of investors who might fund your “Idea Stage Startup” to telling the necessary steps to get that funding- THIS GUIDE HAS IT ALL.

What Is Idea Stage Funding?

Idea stage funding refers to investment made before a startup has a proven product, or revenue- seed investment. Going by the name, it means the funds that you get for the potential idea of your startup. Also known as “pre seed funding”, this stage typically involves the entrepreneur pitching a concept or early stage idea that has yet to be fully validated. At this phase, funding is often small. It is just enough to help take the next steps, like building a product or maybe hiring a small team.

At the idea stage, there is hardly anything to evaluate and judge for investors. As mentioned above, it is only the potential of the idea and the strength of the founding team that serves as the judging factor. And, this is what makes it a high risk game. Though if successful, the return can be huge. You never know, it could turn out to be the next “unicorn startup” as well- Business is all about taking risks.

What are the types of Investors who might fund an Idea Stage Startup?

1. Angel Investors

You might have heard a lot about “Angel Investors”, but basically who are they and why can they be suitable for idea stage funding? They are individuals who invest their own money into startups, often in exchange for equity. These investors are often more willing to back an idea if they see potential, especially if they believe in the founder’s vision and capabilities.

Why consider Angel Investors?

• They invest in high-risk projects that banks may not fund.
• They are quite involved in your business- so you can use their knowledge and experience of the market.
• They bring diverse perspectives that can polish your overall business.

2. Incubators and Accelerators

This might sound like terms related to physics, but let’s talk business. Incubators and accelerators are also known as “Startup Accelerator Companies”. They provide startups with more than just funding. These organisations offer mentorship, resources, office space, and networking opportunities to help startups grow. These are some of the most important requirements of a startup- and you’ll get it all here with them. Some of the most famous accelerators, like Y Combinator and Techstars, have backed idea stage companies that later turned into multi-billion-dollar businesses.

Why consider Incubators/Accelerators?

• They provide early stage capital to help you build your product.
• You get mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and other high profile people who have better knowledge of the market.
• They open doors to a larger network of investors.

2. Incubators and Accelerators

These are one of the most famous options regarding the funding. Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow you to raise funds from the general public. If your idea aligns with consumers, they may be willing to contribute even before your product exists. Isn’t that such a cool thing?

Why consider Crowdfunding?

• Crowdfunding validates your idea like okay people are liking your idea. This creates buzz before launch.
• The most important part- It gives you an early customer base. So you don’t have to worry about whether people would buy or not. If you’re getting funds, that is a sign to continue.
• It helps you retain more control over your company compared to other traditional investors.

How to Secure Funding for Your Startup in the Idea Stage? Five Necessary Steps

Now that you understand where to look for funding, it’s time for you to know about the next important step i.e. how to secure pre seed funding for your startup.

1. Create a Solid Business Plan

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

Planning is the very foundation of your business. Even though you may not have a product or revenue, a well-structured business plan can show investors that you’ve spent a considerable time in thinking and planning your idea. It gives them the idea that you have a clear vision for the future. And trust me, investors love clear future visions- they don’t like confusion, especially regarding a thing they are going to invest money in.

What can you include in your Business Plan?

• Problem & Solution: What problem are you solving, and how does your idea solve it? The most famous saying about building a business is that first you need to identify the problem and then find a solution to it. Sell that solution- and you have your business ready. So, mentioning this point is really important.
• Market Opportunity: Don’t forget to tell how your idea serves a growing market. Are there enough opportunities in your area of business or not?
• Revenue Model: Show how you intend to generate revenue once your idea becomes a business. This is very important, as it layouts the complete financial plan.
• Market Strategy: Marketing Strategy is really necessary- it helps to bridge the gap between the product to its audience. Explain how you plan to do that.
• Targets: Lay out specific milestones and targets that you have in mind and what are the steps you’ll need to achieve them (e.g., hiring, product development, launching).

2. Build a Strong Pitch Deck

First impression is the last impression. And your pitch deck is going to be that “first impression” when it comes to presenting your business to potential investors. Basically it’s your story in visual form. It should clearly outline your vision, the problem you’re solving, and how your solution will impact the market. One important thing to keep in mind while preparing a pitch deck for your business is- Don’t make it too much. Don’t crowd the slides. Keep it simple, clear, and persuasive.

What are the essential components of a Pitch Deck?

• Vision & Mission: Start with why you’re doing this. What’s the ultimate goal? What’s the aim behind this business?
• Problem: As already mentioned before, this is an important factor. Do explain the problem that your idea aims to solve.
• Solution: Next is, how does your idea solve that problem?
• Market Size: What is the market size of the field of your business? What are the growth opportunities?
• Revenue Model: Layouting your financing plan is necessary. So, don’t forget to mention about “How do you plan to make money?”
• Team: Highlight why your team is uniquely qualified to execute this idea. Tell them what makes your team stand out from the others out there in the market.

3. Show Evidence of Market Research

No investor would like unfinished and loose work. Not doing enough market research can be the turning point which can backfire you. You just cannot afford to ignore this. Even on Shark Tank, there were many such cases who didn’t do proper research and were eliminated because of that. So, you see these are not “just sayings”.

Even if you don’t have a product or users yet, showing that you’ve done thorough market research can help reassure investors that your idea is worth investing in. This tells you that you have properly done your homework. Investors want to know that you’ve identified and found a solution to a problem, identified your target audience, and have a realistic understanding of the competition.

How to do Market Research to check the demand?

• Surveys: The easiest way to check whether a product is doing good in the market is to conduct surveys. This helps to validate demand for your solution.
• Customer Interviews: Speak directly to potential customers to understand their problem and then build a solution around it.
• Competitor Analysis: You cannot step into the market when you have zero idea regarding the people you are competing against. So, do your part and show them that you know the competitive landscape and how you are different from them.

4. Build a Prototype

Next important step is building a prototype. Yes, we are talking about ideas and all, but you should have something to show how your idea would look like. 55% of them could show up with just the ideas and presentations, but if you want to stand out, you have to do something extra. Having a prototype tells that you’re committed and can turn your idea into reality. This reduces risk for investors because they can see that you’ve already taken the first steps toward execution.

What are the benefits of building a prototype?

• A prototype lets you see if your idea works in real life and helps you identify any problems early on. Basically, it helps to test your idea.
• It shows that you’re resourceful and can make progress even with limited funding. This can give you “brownie points” and make you stand out from the other entrepreneurs.
• Having a look at a prototype helps investors visualise your idea in action. They are about to invest a good amount in your business, don’t they deserve to know this?

5. Pitch to the Right Investors

Last but not the least, this is a very important step to take care of. Not all investors are a good fit for idea-stage startups. Please conduct your necessary research and make sure that you’re pitching to investors who specialise in early-stage funding or have a track record of backing companies in your industry. There is a list written above, which tells which types of investors may be good for ensuring pre seed funding. You might want to consider that as well.

How to Find the Right Investors?

• Nowadays, there are platforms for almost everything. This makes your work even easier. Websites like AngelList or Crunchbase help you to find investors that would like to go ahead with your idea.
• Next thing to make sure of is to look for investors who have a history of working with startups in your niche. Doing experiments at just an “idea stage” which involves the investors might not be a good idea.
• Try to get introduced to investors through friends or colleagues when you can. It’s often easier to connect with someone if you have a mutual contact backing you. Plus, personal recommendations can make a big difference in getting a positive response.

I hope you got the answer to your question- Securing funding at the idea stage is difficult but not impossible. By building a strong business plan, and following all the other steps listed, you can increase your chances of getting the support you need. To convince the investors to spend a good amount at just the “idea stage” isn’t going to be easy as mentioned but don’t back off from doing hard work and making consistent efforts.