Workshop 5 of Venture Forward took the cohort into one of the most important stages of the programme, the final preparation before founders go out to raise capital with clarity, confidence and investor alignment.
With only one workshop left, the focus has shifted from understanding investor mindset to applying it: building credible financial models, navigating the investment process and understanding the terms that shape every early‑stage deal.
Building a financial model investors can trust
The morning session was led by Hassan Zaman of Flocast, who guided founders through the fundamentals of building a financial model that stands up to investor scrutiny.
Founders learned how to turn assumptions into a coherent narrative one that reflects:
- realistic growth expectations
- a credible path to scale
- the commercial levers that matter to investors
- and the financial discipline required at early stage
A strong model isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s a story investors can believe in.
Understanding the investment process
In the afternoon, the cohort shifted into the realities of raising capital — the part of the journey that too often gets overlooked.
GC Angels walked founders through:
- how investor relationships are built over time
- how to navigate each stage of the raise
- what investors look for at each checkpoint
- and the key terms in a VC term sheet that shape every deal
From valuation mechanics to founder protections, the session gave founders a clear understanding of the decisions and trade‑offs that define early‑stage investment.
A cohort that has levelled up
Across the programme, the progress has been remarkable. Week after week, founders have taken on feedback, challenged their assumptions and aligned themselves with how investors actually make decisions.
As Senior Investment Manager Ranvir Singh highlighted, this alignment is what separates founders who raise from those who struggle. It’s also why GC Angels is confident that Cohort 2 will build on the success of Cohort 1, where 9 out of 30 founders raised investment within three months of completing the programme.
One week left
With just one workshop remaining, the cohort is entering the final stretch, equipped with the mindset, tools and strategic understanding needed to engage investors with confidence.
GC Angels is excited to see how each founder applies these lessons as they prepare to raise and how this cohort will contribute to the next wave of Northern innovation.