The Alternative Funding School; fundraising in a downturn; does B Corp status really signal a force for good
For founders seeking the best alternatives to VC
Greetings from Accra, Ghana! I’m Esme, the founder of Considered Capital. We are back from our annual Summer break. This is the 23rd issue of The Considered Club - a bi-weekly newsletter for founders seeking the best alternatives to VC. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read today, like it above and share!
In November 2020 we ran our very first funding cohort with my very good friends Yonca Braeckman and Diána Páti. We called it How to Raise Alternative Funding.
We did no user testing. There was no pre-launch sale. No marketing plan.
We just really wanted to know who would join. And crucially see how we could offer something different to the usual programmes that position Venture as the primary way to fundraise.
There was no guarantee anyone would sign up. But people did. One founder based in Cambodia even stayed up until 11pm for our live sessions.
That first cohort was the start of Considered Capital. Since then we’ve had 90 founders come through our course from 14 countries.
And now, we’re launching our fifth cohort of The Alternative Funding School.
Here's everything you need to know:
Dates: November 01-December 10
Time Commitment: 2-3 hrs per week for six weeks.
What you will learn: Alternatives to VC; Pros & cons of different funding models; How to understand alternative funding structures; Where to access funding; How to build a successful fundraising strategy; How to speak with investors.
If you are curious, register below.
Who should join this cohort?
All founders are welcome. Previous cohorts have brought us people building fintech products, eCommerce businesses, marketplaces, education platforms, and food and drinks companies.
Do you accept founders from anywhere in the world?
Yes! Everyone is welcome.
What do I need to have done to join?
You don't need any experience in fundraising as long as you've got a business, an idea or a project you're looking to get funded.
MONEY
Find grants, upcoming accelerators, pitch competitions, & more!
Grants,
EIT Community Circular Economy Prize | awards grants of €15,000 for significant new solutions in the circular economy
Design Foundations | apply for a share of up to £2 million from Innovate UK for early-stage, people and planet centred design projects
Prizes and Challenges
Seed, Grow & Sustain Grant | access grants of between $5,000-100,000 for organisations with a focus on feminist tech activism in the Global South
Google.org Impact Challenge on Climate Innovation | access $5M in funding, along with access to Google’s technical expertise and products
Equity - free Accelerators
Inc social incubator | a free ten-month programme for entrepreneurs who want to tackle some of our most prevalent social challenges
Future 100 Growth Fund | a two-week programme of workshops, insights days with Sky executives and funding of up to £15,000 for Black British Entrepreneurs
Go Make 2022 | access mentorship, startup programming and $25,000 grant funding for startups around the world working to decarbonize supply chains
Found this useful? Share this post with a founder in your life looking for funding right now.
Alternative Funding School alum Edda Rosset launches unique learning experience
If you’re in Berlin we have the perfect learning experience for you. KAOSPILOT+ Berlin is a 1-year Leadership in Systemic Activism programme designed to equip present and future generations with mindsets and skills to change the world. Click below to find out all the details.
Insights
Pulley | an FAQ for navigating the downturn (shout out to Femstreet for sharing)
Pioneers Post | asks if B Corp status really signals a force for good, or just a 'force for less bad'?
Sifted | are impact VCs chasing vanity metrics?
Incase you missed it
If you’re new here, catch up on our latest post
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back in two weeks with more opportunities to access alternative funding.
Until next time.
Esme,
Founder of Considered Capital,
Ps. Lots of you have been messaging this month telling me you’ve been successful in getting on to accelerator programmes. If that’s you and you discovered them via The Considered Club let me know by hitting reply to this email.
Our Mission is to provide founders with the community, connections and knowledge to raise aligned funding.
We do this through:
1. Courses: The Alternative Funding School is a 6-week online course for raising alternative funding. Sign up to Cohort 5 here.
2. Coaching: Fundraising is hard. Access one-on-one coaching to help you raise the funding you need.
3. Workshops: We support accelerators and entrepreneurial programmes in teaching their participants all about early stage funding.
Were you forwarded this email? Join The Considered Club mailing list here.