Fundraising School

Fundraising mastery for early-stage founders from CEE - supercharge your game!

Fundraising is frustrating, but it really shouldn’t be. We’ve been in your shoes, and we built Fundraising School to make the journey less painful and a lot more effective. After two successful cohorts, Fundraising School 3.0 is back. This hands-on 4-module bootcamp is built on the real-world insights of 250+ founders and operators. From strategy to investor matchmaking, you’ll get the tools to raise with confidence in Q4 2025.

Still not sure? Here’s what we’ve already delivered (just within 6 months after graduation):

1 €5.2M+ raised

Alumni have raised over €5.2M from angels, VCs & accelerators.

2 30% conversion

Across 250+ meetings, 30% secured term sheets or closed rounds.

3 9.28/10 rating

2024 cohort rated the program 9.28 for practical impact & value.

4 One of a kind

Only accelerator in the Baltics 100% focused on investor readiness.

This program is possible thanks to our strategic partners: Investment & Development Agency of Latvia and Investment and Tourism agency of Riga.

Who is this designed for?

We strive to accept as many applications as possible but want to make sure that the cohort is similar in terms of business maturity and fundraising outlook. In line with our own focus, we will prioritize applications from Latvia and other CEE countries. This bootcamp will be perfect for you if you are:

Founder profile

First-time founder ready to take on the fundraising journey.

Startup stage

Early-stage tech startup (preferably already incorporated).

Time commitment

Able to commit ~24 hours across September–October.

Fundraising timeline

Planning to raise your first round in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026.

Product readiness

MVP built (or in progress) with first user or client traction.

Pitch materials

You have a pitch deck - at least a solid first version.

By the end of Fundraising School, you will:

Build a solid fundraising strategy tailored to your startup.

Receive 1-on-1 expert feedback on your materials.

Access plug-and-play templates and learning resources.

Polish your elevator pitch and investor intro emails.

Join practical sessions with investors and founders.

Connect with an active founder community.

Refine your pitch deck, term sheet, and messaging.

Participate in curated speed-dating with real investors.

Walk away ready to fundraise in Q4 2025 with confidence.

Timeline & expected commitment

We’re serious about the work we put in and want you to do the same, so we ask all participants to commit a one-off €100 deposit we’ll return to you if you show up. This means:

100% attendance in webinars & firesides (4/4 sessions)
Attendance in meet & greet
25% attendance in open 1-1 sessions (1/4 sessions)
Pitching in the investor speed-dating session
Completing the check-in form 5-6 months after graduating the program.

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Timeline

SEPTEMBER 4, 11:59 pm EET – applications close

Submit your application form before the deadline. An automatic filter will immediately review all submissions to assess basic eligibility. Some applications may be waitlisted.

SEPTEMBER 8 – 2nd stage evaluation

Our team will review pitch decks of filtered applicants and select up to 100 founders from all the submissions. You’ll hear from us by Sep 8 if you’re in.

SEPTEMBER 12, 8:00 pm EET – deposit deadline

To confirm your spot, submit the refundable €100 deposit (instructions added in the. This helps us ensure full participation and commitment. Upon receiving the deposit payment, you'll gain access to the participant portal, our WhatsApp community group, as well as other tools.

SEPTEMBER 16 – program launch

We kick off Fundraising School 3.0 with the first live session. Over five weeks, you’ll build your fundraising toolkit, meet mentors, and connect with peers.

OCTOBER 14 – final session

The learning cycle wraps up with your final module and investor prep. But the experience doesn’t end here.

OCTOBER 16 – investor speed-dating

Founders will take part in curated 1-on-1 sessions with active investors and experts from our network, matched based on stage and fit.

OCTOBER 24 – Demo Day & Graduation party

The top 7 startups will pitch live in Riga. All participants are invited to join the celebration in person or tune in via livestream.

MARCH/APRIL 2026 – fundraising check-in

We’ll follow up 6 months later to track your fundraising progress, success stories, and continue supporting your journey. Your deposit payment will be returned in full once you submit the check-in form.

Meet the instructors

Suhas Ghante

2x 500 Startups alum, 3x founder, and VC advisor.

Led fundraising efforts for 100+ startups in 13 countries.

Experience at Innovaccer ($3.2B valuation) and YC-backed startups.

Can help with fundraising, GTM, and investor storytelling.

Diana Lace Davidova

BizOps & Finance Lead at Whimsical ($30M funding).

Spent 5+ years in VC (Superangel & Overkill Ventures), investing in 40+ startups.

Co-founder of Global Shapers Riga, powered by the World Economic Forum.

Can help with financial operations, fundraising strategies, and investor relations.

Throughout the program, participants engage directly with founders, investors, and operators from companies like Vimeo ($450M), Printify ($54M), Pandadoc ($51M), Pipedrive ($90M), Bolt ($1.3B), Apollo ($151M), Bird ($783M), Shopify ($122M), Printful ($130M), Twilio ($614M), Veriff ($192.3M), Wise ($1.3B), Interactio ($30M), Vinted ($562.3M), NordVPN ($100M), and Hubspot ($100.5M) — through fireside sessions, speed-dating, guest-lectures etc.

Frequently asked
questions

Got questions? We’ve answered the most common ones below - from who the course is for, how it works, what it costs (spoiler: it’s free if you complete it), and what support you’ll get along the way. Still unsure? Drop us a line at marketing@badideas.fund.

What’s the benefit of raising from BADideas.fund?

One line on your cap table, backed by unicorn builders, operators, and founders who’ve been there, done that—and want to help you do it too.
What is your typical ticket size?

We invest both via our €22M fund and our syndicate, meaning we can back founders from their first check to their later rounds. First (pre-seed) round: €250k–€500k Follow-on (seed) round: Up to €1.5M
What kind of startups do you invest in?

We’re generalists with a preference for B2B SaaS, marketplaces, and startups with CEE roots but global ambitions. Whether it’s Fintech, Space-tech, or Edtech, if you’re bold, we’re interested.
What’s your track record so far?

We’ve invested in 24 startups and deployed over €3M, with one exit already and several portfolio companies on rapid growth trajectories.
What’s the difference between the syndicate and the fund?

Syndicate: Crowdsourced investments from a pool of 250+ angel investors and operators. Fund: Our newly launched €22M fund allows us to write bigger checks and lead rounds while still involving our syndicate.
How do you allocate tickets between the syndicate and the fund?

We invest through two sources: our syndicate and our €22M fund. Syndicate: Backed by a network of 200+ founders, operators, and angels, typically investing €50K–€100K in early rounds. Fund: Enables larger investments of up to €250K in pre-seed and €1.5M in seed rounds. This allows us to be flexible and grow our support as your company scales.
Do you work at startup speed?

Yes. We typically deliver decisions within weeks, not months, so you can focus on building your startup, not fundraising.
What happens after I apply?

Form 1: Initial screening to evaluate fit. Reviewed within a few days. Form 2: Follow-up application (sent to startups that pass Form 1). Once submitted, you’ll receive feedback within a week, and if all goes well, we’ll proceed to an interview and due diligence.
What will you evaluate when reviewing my application?

We evaluate startups based on these 4 pillars: Team - what’s the secret sauce behind your dream team, how big is it and how many FTE team members do you have; what is your strategy for capital use. Market - who - how do you acquire your customers, eg, content, SEO, partnerships, direct sales, affiliate, community strategy, and who you’re competing against. Product/traction - when was your product launched, what growth have you seen since then and what your retention is like. Distribution - how do you acquire your customers, eg, content, SEO, partnerships, direct sales, affiliate, community strategy
How long does the process take?

Typically, 4 weeks from the initial application to funding, but can vary depending on due diligence or additional clarifications.
What if I’m too early stage?

If you’re not yet ready for a round but have potential, we’re happy to work with you for 3–6 months to refine your pitch, fundraising strategy, and go-to-market plan.
What investment agreements do you use?

We’re flexible but prefer SAFE agreements, convertible notes, or equity investments. We require pro-rata rights and information rights as standard. Here is one resource for standard docs.
How important is a warm introduction for my application?

A warm introduction is not required, but it can be beneficial, particularly when it's genuinely warm. It provides social proof and gives us added confidence in your startup. However, a mediocre warm intro is worse than an awesome cold email. So, if you don't have a strong warm intro, feel free to just fill out the application, which if you like you can supplement reaching out directly with a well-crafted cold email. Ultimately, it's the quality of your startup and your communication that matters most to us.
What kind of support can I expect post-investment?

We work like any top-tier VC: you get full support from our investment and portfolio team - intros, guidance, and community access. But we’re not stopping there. We are building BADideas Launchpad and leveraging our community to raise your next round faster and with higher conviction. What you get: Two sprints focused on GTM, sales, and fundraising readiness, led by our VPs, Lauris Lietavietis (ex-Printify, Oxylabs, Prezi) and Suhas Ghante (2x 500 Startups alum, 3x founder, and VC). Access to our AI agent BAD GARY that matches your current priorities (customers, hires, investors) with warm intros from our network of 250+ vetted founders and operators. You receive €15K+ worth of tailored, hands-on support — in exchange for a one-time access fee, payable only after funds are wired (typically €1.5K–5K based on our check size).
How do I communicate with the investors?

We set up a mailing list where we include the syndicate members who have invested in your company, and ask you to send them investor updates. Many of our investors want to be helpful in the area they can, so make sure to include your ask in every monthly investor update.
What if we need additional funding later on?

We can participate in follow-on rounds and help you build the right co-investor syndicate.
Is there a fee associated with my application?

No - it’s free to apply and pitch. If we invest, we operate like any top-tier VC: you get full support from our investment and portfolio team, including intros, fundraising guidance, and access to our founder-operator community. But we go further. Through BADideas Launchpad, we run two focused sprints to accelerate your go-to-market, sales, and fundraising readiness - led by Lauris Lietavietis (ex-Printify, Oxylabs) and Suhas Ghante (500 Startups alum, 3x founder, VC). You’ll also unlock support from our in-house AI assistant, BAD GARY, who matches your company’s live priorities (customers, hires, capital) with warm intros from our 250+ vetted operator community. You receive €15K+ worth of tailored, hands-on support - in exchange for a one-time access fee, payable only after funds are wired (typically €1.5K–5K based on our check size).
What jurisdictions do you support?

We invest in companies registered anywhere in the EU and Delaware, US. No problem if your entity is registered elsewhere - we will happily offer advice as to the most attractive jurisdictions in the eyes of VCs and angel investors. That said we prioritize supporting founders with CEE roots.
What if I have additional questions?

No problem! Feel free to reach out directly at comms@badideas.fund.

Apply by September 4

Fundraising mastery for early-stage founders from CEE - supercharge your game!

Fill out the application form

Fundraising School

1

€5.2M+ raised

2

30% conversion

3

9.28/10 rating

4

One of a kind