Raise capital ready, not hopeful.
Every path to public starts with a raise, from your own network or beyond it. We prepare you to run it: the story, the numbers, the documents and the plan, so investors see a company that is ready.
Led by Joel Arberman: 17 companies taken public and more than 30 private placements prepared.
Only raising capital, with no plans to go public? See PreparedToRaise.com, our raise-preparation service.
Why raises fall short
Most raises that stall don't fail because the business is weak. They fail because the founder went to investors before the offering was ready.
An unclear story
Investors can't summarize what the company does, why it matters or why now, so the conversation never gets to terms.
Numbers that don't match
The deck, the financial model and the use of proceeds each tell a different story, and investors notice.
No plan for the ask
A long contact list with no priorities, no outreach sequence and no way to turn interest into signed subscriptions.
What preparation covers
We build the raise with you, so every piece tells the same story:
- Raise strategy: how much to raise, what security to offer, valuation framing and the legal path
- Investment story: a clear thesis, an investor deck, a two-page executive summary and return scenarios
- Financial review: a critique of your model and a check that the numbers match the story
- Offering documents: term sheet, subscription agreement, investor questionnaire, risk factors and Form D, reviewed by securities counsel
- Diligence: an organized data room and answers to the questions investors will ask
- Outreach plan: who to approach first, in what order, and a tracker to move interest to commitment
- Rehearsal: a mock investor meeting before the first real one
- Launch support: help while you run the raise, as questions and meetings come up
We prepare; you raise. We are not a broker-dealer or placement agent, and we never contact investors on your behalf. You keep your investor relationships, and you can use your own securities counsel.
Choosing how to raise
The right structure depends on who your investors are, how much you need and whether you want to advertise the raise. The most common options:
- Rule 506(b) accredited investors, typically people who already know you, with no public advertising
- Rule 506(c) accredited investors, with public advertising allowed; you must verify each investor's accredited status
- Regulation Crowdfunding up to $5 million a year, including non-accredited investors, through an approved funding portal
- Regulation A+ up to $75 million with SEC qualification, sometimes called a mini-IPO
- State registration intrastate offerings to investors in a single state
Raising from your customers: direct public offerings
A direct public offering (DPO) raises money from the public, often your customers, employees and community, without an underwriter. On its own it does not make your company publicly traded, so for most founders a private placement to their own network followed by a direct listing is simpler. A DPO can be the right raise when you have an engaged customer base that wants to own a piece of the business.
DPOs tend to work best for companies raising $500,000 to $20 million that have customers, employees or a community ready to invest, and founders willing to lead the outreach. Most take six to twelve months and need audited financials. We'll help you decide whether a DPO, a direct listing or both make sense, and in what order.
How the raise fits the playbook
For companies going public with us, the raise is the first stage of every engagement. Raise preparation is included in what we do for clients completing the full playbook, with no separate package. You start at $10,000 a month while you're raising.
The work carries forward. The story, the numbers and the documents you build for the raise become the foundation for your public disclosures, your investor relations and every raise after you list, when more investors can see and value your company.
Only raising capital?
If you're raising privately and don't plan to go public, our Prepared To Raise service is built for you. It offers fixed-fee preparation for founder-led companies raising up to $10 million, with no success fees, no equity and no warrants. It starts with a free 20-minute intro call.
If you later decide to go public, the preparation carries straight into the playbook.
Frequently asked questions
Do you raise the money for us?
No. We are not a broker-dealer or placement agent, and we never contact investors on your behalf. You raise it yourself, from your own network or beyond it. We prepare you and coach you through it.
Do we still need a securities lawyer?
Yes. Offering documents are reviewed by securities counsel, and you can use your own lawyer alongside us. A lawyer makes the offering compliant; preparation makes it investable.
Is raise preparation included if we go public with you?
Yes. The raise is the first stage of the playbook, and preparation is part of the engagement.
Can we raise from non-accredited investors?
Yes, through Regulation Crowdfunding or Regulation A+. Each has its own limits, filing requirements and timeline, which we walk through with you.
How long does preparation take?
Usually about four to six weeks of working sessions before you launch, depending on the structure and how ready your materials are.
What if we've already started raising?
It's not too late. Tightening the story, the numbers and the documents mid-raise can still change how investors respond.
Next step
If you're planning a raise as the first step toward becoming a public company, start with a straightforward conversation about your company, your capital needs and your timeline.