Strategic capital for ambitious founders
Our next intake runs September through November 2025, with curriculum built around what actually works when talking to investors. Not theory – just the frameworks and pitch strategies we've watched succeed across 180+ funding rounds since 2019.
Applications for September cohort open in June. Class size limited to 18 participants.
This program covers the mechanics of preparing for seed rounds between 0K and M. We spend most of our time on pitch deck construction, financial modeling that investors actually read, and understanding term sheets before you sign them.
Spent seven years at two Melbourne VC firms before switching to education. Still advises on deal structure, which keeps the curriculum relevant.
Sessions run Tuesday and Thursday evenings (6:30-9:00pm AEST) plus Saturday mornings (9:00am-12:00pm). Everything's designed around people who have day jobs or active startups.
We start with the story you're telling. Most founders know their product but struggle to explain why it matters to someone writing checks. These weeks focus on narrative structure and the slides that actually move conversations forward.
Numbers tell a different kind of story. You'll build financial models that show where money goes and how growth happens. We also cover the math behind valuations and what different funding structures mean for ownership.
Once your materials work, you need to talk about them confidently. We run practice sessions with real investors who ask the uncomfortable questions. You'll also learn how to manage multiple conversations and what different responses actually mean.
Final weeks focus on what happens when interest turns serious. We break down term sheet language, discuss negotiation leverage, and walk through the legal process so you know what you're signing.
"The financial modeling section saved me weeks of fumbling around. I went into investor meetings with projections that made sense, and that confidence showed. Marcus pushed back on my initial deck pretty hard, which hurt at the time but made everything sharper."
"I learned more about term sheets in two weeks than I did reading startup blogs for six months. The program doesn't sugarcoat how difficult fundraising is, which I appreciated. My pitch changed completely after week five, and investor responses improved immediately."
Completion doesn't guarantee funding, but participants leave with materials ready for real conversations. Most take another 4-8 months to close rounds after finishing the program.