Peter Diamandis – Fund Your Purpose

Fund Your Purpose by Peter Diamandis is a fundraising course for entrepreneurs, startup founders and business leaders, whether they are preparing for a first raise or refining an existing approach.

Drawing on a career in which he has raised more than $1 billion, Diamandis covers the fundraising process from early preparation through pitching, closing a round and maintaining investor relationships. The downloadable course includes videos and practical resources.

Fundraising skills covered in Fund Your Purpose

• Prepare to raise money with confidence and clarity.
• Craft a winning pitch deck that captivates investors.
• Build a targeted investor list aligned with your goals.
• Master the art of pitching to overcome investor objections.
• Access a directory of over 1,000 filtered investors.
• Tailor your pitch for different investor types effectively.

Preparing to raise capital

The course begins with the fundraising environment and the expectations founders may encounter from investors. Diamandis outlines the steps in a raise, potential pitfalls and the mindset shifts involved in approaching investors with a clear purpose.

Fundraising involves risk, and securing investment is not guaranteed.

Building a pitch deck and investor list

Diamandis explains how to develop a professional pitch deck that tells the story of a business. The preparation also covers researching investors and selecting prospects whose interests align with the business and its goals.

A directory of more than 1,000 investors provides a starting point for outreach, with entries organized by category, location and investment size. The course also discusses adapting a deck for different types of investors.

Pitching to investors

The pitching module looks at structuring a business story, presenting financial information and anticipating investor questions and objections. It addresses how to deliver a pitch in person and virtually, including through Zoom, and how the two settings differ.

Closing a round and managing investor relationships

After the pitch, the course turns to closing a financing round and the off-boarding process. It covers communicating with investors after a raise, managing expectations and keeping them informed and aligned with the business’s long-term vision.

Diamandis also discusses preparing for another fundraising round, even when it may be years away, by maintaining investor relationships over time.

Developing a fundraising mindset

Diamandis explores the role of the founder’s mindset in fundraising, including the idea that investors evaluate people as well as businesses. He draws on personal fundraising stories to discuss resilience, confidence, stress management and motivation.

This section also considers how founders present themselves as leaders when speaking with potential investors.

Investor directory and pitch resources

The investor directory groups more than 1,000 potential investors by category, location and investment size. It is intended to help founders research prospects including venture capital investors, angel investors and institutional funds, alongside guidance on approaching investors for meetings.

Founder pitch examples show Diamandis giving feedback on presentations, including pitch deck design and storytelling. By examining these examples, learners can identify pitching mistakes and consider how to refine their own presentations.

A separate library contains more than 1,000 pitch decks from companies including Airbnb and Uber. These examples offer material for studying fundraising presentations and the strategies used in them.

Frequently asked questions

What does Fund Your Purpose cover?

The course covers fundraising preparation, pitch decks, investor research, pitching, closing a financing round and communicating with investors afterward. It also addresses founder mindset and preparation for future rounds.

Who is Fund Your Purpose suited to?

It is designed for entrepreneurs, startup founders and business leaders raising capital, including first-time fundraisers and those seeking to sharpen their existing skills.

What investor research materials are included?

The course includes a directory of more than 1,000 investors organized by category, location and investment size. It also includes a library of more than 1,000 pitch decks, with examples from companies such as Airbnb and Uber.

Does the course cover virtual pitching?

Yes. It discusses presenting to investors both face-to-face and virtually, including pitching through Zoom.