Fundraising advisory: raise capital with clarity and control
Fundraising for startups and scaleups
Raising capital is about more than pitching to investors. It's about strategy, structure, preparation, and execution. Done well, it accelerates growth and validates your vision. Done poorly, it dilutes your stake unnecessarily or locks you into unfavorable terms.
At dups, we combine legal expertise, financial modeling, and direct access to capital to help you raise funds on your terms. Whether you're preparing your first seed round or scaling through Series A, we guide you through every stage: from business readiness to investor introductions to closing.
Why fundraising requires expert guidance
Fundraising is complex. You need to navigate investor expectations, financial projections, cap table structures, term sheet negotiations, and legal documentation. Most founders work with a financial advisor or do it themselves, then hand things off to a lawyer. Information gets lost in translation. Priorities misalign. The legal structure doesn't reflect the financial strategy.
At dups, our lawyers and financial advisors work together from the start. Your valuation informs the term sheet structure. Your cap table informs the investor rights we negotiate. This integration eliminates friction and accelerates decisions.
We've been on both sides of these conversations. We know what investors look for, what founders worry about, and where the real friction points appear.
Our fundraising approach
1. Strategic preparation
We start by understanding your business, growth trajectory, capital needs, and timeline. We assess your readiness, identify gaps, and build your strategy together. This includes financial modeling, cap table cleanup, and preparation for investor questions.
2. Investment readiness
We prepare the materials that matter: pitch deck, executive summary, financial projections, and investor data room. We ensure these materials tell your story clearly and present your business as investment-ready. This phase also includes a valuation assessment so you know what to ask for.
3. Investor mapping and introductions
Based on your profile, stage, and geography, we identify investors who fit your needs. We leverage our network to make warm introductions. This creates a structured process where you control the pace and maintain leverage.
4. Negotiation and structuring
As term sheets arrive, our team analyzes each offer: valuation, liquidation preferences, board composition, and control mechanisms. We explain the implications and negotiate terms that work for you. Simultaneously, our legal team prepares documentation that reflects these negotiations accurately.
5. Closing
We coordinate the final steps: due diligence, legal documentation, and fund transfers. We ensure nothing falls through the cracks and what's negotiated is exactly what's signed.
What makes dups different
Most advisors focus on either legal or financial aspects. We do both. That means your valuation drives your deal terms, and your contracts reflect your financial logic, not two disconnected tracks.
We bring a pragmatic approach: we focus on getting the deal done efficiently, not creating unnecessary complexity. Investors notice. They prefer working with advisors who can speak both languages. It makes the closing faster.
Our team has advised startups at all stages (seed through Series B+), scale-ups planning growth rounds, and established SMEs seeking expansion capital. We're sector-agnostic, with a focus on realistic projections and structures that work.
We have a network of 1000+ investors (venture capital, private equity, family offices) all over Europe and the US.
Deliverables you can expect
We manage your entire fundraising process and deliver:
- Fundraising strategy and capital structure design
- Financial modeling and business valuation
- Pitch deck, executive summary, and investor data room
- Investor identification and warm introductions
- Term sheet negotiation and cap table optimization
- Legal documentation and closing coordination
Every deliverable is designed to prepare you thoroughly, connect you strategically, and close your round successfully.
Ideally 2 to 3 months before your target closing date. This gives time to prepare materials and ensure you're investment-ready.
Yes. We advise on equity raises, convertible instruments (notes, SAFEs), and debt financing, helping you determine the right mix.
Typically 3 to 6 months for seed rounds and 4 to 7 months for Series A, depending on readiness and investor interest.
Yes. We identify and introduce you to investors (angels, VCs, family offices) who align with your stage and sector.
We work with startups (seed through Series B+), scale-ups, and SMEs across all sectors, from tech to manufacturing.
Ready to raise capital?
Get the legal and financial expertise to prepare, negotiate, and close your funding round successfully.
