Fundraising for Your Crazy Wild Idea - A Growth by Design Cheatsheet

Hey there, visionary.

You’ve got a wild idea—a game-changing app, a disruptive AI tool, or something totally new—and you’re ready to bring it to life.

But with no traction, no working product, and no network, fundraising can feel like shouting into the void.

I’ve sat across from founders just like you, their eyes lit up with passion but their pitches weighed down by unproven assumptions. I’ve been there, too, grinding through the startup world, learning the hard way what it takes to get investors to care, let alone believe in you.

The good news?

You can raise funds, even when the odds seem stacked against you. Keep in mind, this is not for the faint of heart.

You still need to put in the time, unless you are a trust fund baby, then stop reading.

Also, to be clear, you should probably get a job to pay your bills while you navigating this journey until funding clears.

This Cheat Sheet, born from my heart-to-heart conversations with founders, will guide you to:

1. Understand the investor landscape and who’s most likely to back your dream.

2. Tackle the “pyramid of assumptions” that makes your pitch feel shaky.

3. Navigate why fundraising is so tough and how to win despite the limits.

Let’s dive in and turn your crazy idea into a fundable reality.

Part 1: Understanding the Investor Landscape

When I advise founders, I start by helping them see who’s out there to fund their dream. Not all investors are the same—each has different motivations, risk tolerances, and expectations, especially for early-stage ideas with no proof points. Here’s the lay of the land:

My Advice: When I guide founders, I point them toward angel investors and accelerators first. They’re the ones who’ll sit down, hear your passion, and take a chance on your vision, even if it’s just a spark. I’ve seen angels get excited about ideas that resonate with their own experiences—find those who feel your problem personally, like someone who’s felt the pain your idea solves.