vcraise

name	vcraise
description	Generate a fundraising strategy memo from the active startup profile and any existing vcmatch/vclist files. Usage: /vcraise. Reads STARTUP_PROFILE.md and any vcmatch-*.md or vclist.md files in the current directory, then produces a full fundraising strategy: sequencing, milestones, timeline, and this week's next actions. Saves to vcraise.md.
license	MIT
allowed-tools	Read Write Bash(find:*) Bash(ls:*)
metadata	{"author":"3Flux","version":"1.0","workflow-step":"1 — run first to build the fundraising strategy"}

/vcraise — Fundraising Strategy Memo

Synthesize everything known about the startup and its VC pipeline into a full fundraising strategy: current state, raise parameters, sequencing, milestone map, timeline, risk factors, and next actions.

Invocation

/vcraise

No argument needed. Reads from the current working directory.

Execution Steps

Step 1 — Load All Available Context

Read the following files from the current working directory (load all that exist — do not error if some are missing):

1. STARTUP_PROFILE.md — required. If missing, stop and tell the user to create it first.
2. vclist.md — if exists, use for the fund pipeline and tier breakdown
3. vcmatch-*.md — load all vcmatch reports found; use for sequencing and milestone mapping
4. vcprep-*.md — if any exist, note which funds are meeting-ready
5. vcposer-*.md — if any exist, extract the Poser Score and verdict for each fund

Step 2 — Produce vcraise.md

Write a 7-section fundraising strategy memo. Be honest — this is a strategy document, not a pitch. Acknowledge what's missing, not just what's working.

---

Section 1: Current State

One paragraph, brutal honesty. Assess:

• What the startup has right now (team, traction, product stage, government relationships, domain access)
• What it's missing that a fundable pre-seed in this sector typically requires (revenue, product, full-time team, signed contracts vs. proposals)
• The single biggest fundraising risk at this moment
• One sentence verdict: "Fundable now at [tier/type of investor], not yet fundable at [tier] without [milestone]."

Section 2: Raise Parameters

Parameter	Recommendation	Rationale
Target amount	$[X]M	[Why this number — enough to reach the next fundable milestone, not more]
Instrument	SAFE / Priced Seed	[Why — SAFE for speed and simplicity at pre-seed; priced if lead demands it]
Valuation cap	$[X]M–$[X]M	[Based on sector/stage comps — be specific, not a wide range]
Timeline to close	[X] months	[Realistic based on diligence cycles for this investor type]
Minimum viable close	$[X]M	[The floor that lets you hit the first milestone without full raise]

Section 3: Sequencing Strategy

Answer three questions explicitly:

Who to approach first: Name the fund(s) and why — warm path, thesis fit, or anchoring effect. If a vclist.md exists, pull the Tier 1 funds. If vcmatch reports exist, rank by fit score.

Parallel vs. sequential: Recommend one. Sequential (one at a time) creates urgency but takes longer. Parallel (multiple simultaneous) closes faster but requires managing multiple diligence tracks. For this raise: [recommendation + rationale based on the startup's current traction and urgency].

How to create urgency: What milestone, deadline, or competing interest can be used to compress timelines? (e.g., DOE proposal decision date, design partner LOI deadline, conference demo). Name the specific lever.

Section 4: Milestone Map

What proof points unlock which tiers of investors. Based on vcmatch reports and vclist tiers if available.

Milestone	Unlocks	Target date
[Milestone 1 — e.g., design partner LOI signed]	[Tier X funds — names if known]	[Month Year]
[Milestone 2 — e.g., MVBP complete]	[Tier X funds]	[Month Year]
[Milestone 3 — e.g., first paid contract]	[Series A conversations]	[Month Year]

What can be done now (before any milestones): [Specific outreach, flag-planting calls, warm intro requests that can happen with current traction]

What must wait: [Which funds or asks to hold until specific milestones land]

Section 5: Month-by-Month Timeline

From today ([current month]) through close target. Flag hard dependencies.

Month	Actions	Dependencies
[Month 1]	[First outreach, warm intro requests, flag-plant calls]	Scott Nolan intro · vcintro sent
[Month 2]	[Follow-ups, first meetings, diligence requests]	Meeting responses
[Month 3]	[Second meetings, term sheet conversations]	[Milestone X]
[Month 4]	[Close target]	Full-time transition · design partner LOI

Hard dependencies (if these slip, the timeline slips):

• [Dependency 1]: [What it is and who controls it]
• [Dependency 2]: [What it is and who controls it]

Section 6: Risk Factors & Contingencies

For each risk: what it is, probability (high/medium/low), and the specific fallback.

If any vcposer-*.md files were loaded, add a row for each fund scoring below 60: a Watch List fund in your Tier 1 pipeline is a pipeline risk — slow decisions, possible zombie capital, or follow-only capacity. Flag it with a parallel-track contingency.

Risk	Probability	Contingency
Market downturn / risk-off environment	Medium	Focus on government-backed instruments (SBIR, DOE grants) as bridge; delay equity raise 90 days
DOE proposal rejected	Medium	Reframe traction around Project PRISM + design partner; pivot outreach to climate-focused funds
Design partner goes cold	Low	Accelerate second design partner conversation; use DOE relationships to find a replacement
Key fund passes early	Medium	Don't announce — run parallel tracks; use the pass to pressure-test pitch before next meeting
Raise takes longer than [X] months	Medium	Identify bridge options: angels, pre-seed rolling SAFE, SBIR Phase I as runway extension

Section 7: This Week — Next 3 Actions

The three most important things to do in the next 7 days. Concrete and specific — not "continue fundraising."

1. [Action]: [Exactly what to do, who to contact, what to send] — deadline: [specific day]
2. [Action]: [Exactly what to do] — deadline: [specific day]
3. [Action]: [Exactly what to do] — deadline: [specific day]

---

Output Rules

• Section 1 must be honest about what's missing — do not write a cheerleading assessment
• Every fund name in Sections 3–5 must come from vclist.md or vcmatch-*.md if those files exist — do not invent fund names
• The milestone map dates must be consistent with STARTUP_PROFILE.md milestones (e.g., MVBP Q4 2026, full-time Q3 2026)
• This Week actions must be doable in 7 days by the founders with no additional research needed
• After saving, tell the user: "Run /vcintro vcmatch-<fund>.md for each Tier 1 fund to generate outreach — then send."