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Fundraising basics

Core concepts every founder should know before raising.

Fundraising basics6 min

Therapeutics vs diagnostics seed VCs: ticket size and fit 2026

Therapeutics seed rounds run larger and longer, diagnostics run smaller and fast
Fundraising basics7 min

Second time founder seed 2026: what changes, what doesn't

Repeat founders raise on thesis, not metrics. The premium is real, the diligence
Fundraising basics7 min

Crypto seed token equity: 2026 deal structures that work

The three dominant ways to split tokens and equity in a 2026 crypto seed round,
Fundraising basics8 min

Medtech vs digital health fundraising in 2026

Digital health seeds run on ARR and CAC in 12 weeks. Medtech seeds run on 510(k)
Fundraising basics6 min

Consumer seed playbook 2026: what it takes now after 3 years

The consumer seed bar moved. 2021 meme decks get passed now. Here's what 2026 in
Cornerstone13 min

Biotech seed fundraise 2026: platform vs asset, tranches, milestones

Platform biotechs raise bigger seeds tranched on lead nomination. Asset biotechs
Fundraising basics6 min

Angels vs micro VCs seed: four configurations in 2026

The angels vs micro VCs seed decision is really about who leads. Four configurat
Cornerstone15 min

AI founder seed 2026: what changed and the playbook that works

What changed for AI seed rounds since 2023, the current valuation bands, the thr
Fundraising basics8 min

Solo founder fundraising in 2026: the data and the workarounds

Solo founders make up 30% of new startups but raise only 14.7% of priced-round c
Fundraising basics7 min

Pre-seed vs seed in 2026: when to raise which

Pre-seed vs seed in 2026, with Carta and PitchBook benchmarks and the criteria t
Fundraising basics5 min

The investor update template that lands follow-on checks in 2026

A four-section investor update template where the lowlights block is the part th
Fundraising basics7 min

How much to raise at seed: the 18-month runway math

Work backward from the Series A bar to size your seed. The 18-month math, the tw
Fundraising basics5 min

The founder elevator pitch for people who hate selling

The Mad Libs formula for a founder elevator pitch, plus why concrete mechanisms
Cornerstone13 min

How to raise a seed round 2026: the end-to-end playbook

The six-week timeline, conversion gates, round-size math, and SAFE-cap benchmark