Congratulations. You did it. You closed the deal and the money hit your account. You had a big weekend celebrating and now you’re sitting at your desk, staring at a bank balance with more zeros than you’ve ever seen.
You've got €10M. Now the real work begins.
That capital isn’t a reward; it’s a responsibility. It’s potential energy waiting to be converted into growth, impact, and value. How you manage the next 18 months will determine whether you look back on this moment as the beginning of something great - or a costly lesson in what not to do.
Aside from growth, your priority is to survive.
That €10 million usually must last at least 18 months. Runway is the time you have to prove your model, to find scalability, to show that this investment was justified.
Calculate your burn rate religiously. Track it. Model best-case, expected, and worst-case scenarios. If you see your runway dipping below, act immediately. Cut non-essential costs. Delay non-critical hires. Preserve cash like your company’s life depends on it - because it does.
And remember: the best time to think about your next round is when you don’t yet need it. If your metrics are strong but timing is off, consider bridge financing - a short-term injection to extend your runway and hit those critical Series B milestones without desperation diluting you. Always fundraise from a positition of strength if you can.
With great funding comes great temptation - to hire rapidly, to scale teams, to show the world you’ve “made it.”
There's often a temptation to start throwing money at problems as a means to solve them. Resist it.
Your first hires post-Series A should be force multipliers, not followers. A VP of Sales who can build a process, not just close deals. A Head of Talent who can attract stars, not just fill seats. A technical leader who can architect scale, not just write code.
These people will define your company’s next chapter. And remember: talent requires more than salary. This is where your Employee Share Options Plan (ESOP) becomes your secret weapon. A well-structured ESOP aligns your team’s incentives with long-term success. It turns employees into owners. It’s the difference between someone who works for you and someone who works with you.
Review your ESOP now. Is it sufficient to attract and retain the talent you need? Is it structured clearly and fairly? If not, fix it - before your best people start looking elsewhere.
Your Investors: Your Most Underutilised Asset
You did not just raise capital; you raised a board of advisors, a network of influencers, and a team of advocates. To treat them as mere spectators is to waste what could be your greatest asset.
The founders who win are the ones who understand that investor updates are not a chore; they are a strategic tool. Transparency is not a sign of weakness; it is the ultimate display of operational confidence.
What to Share, and Why:
What’s Working: This is not bragging. It is proof of execution. It builds their confidence to champion you to their partners, to their other portfolio companies, and to the next round of investors. A major enterprise pilot won? A key hire accepted? Tell them first. Let them celebrate with you.
What’s Not Working: This is where trust is forged. Hiding a problem is like hiding a crack in the foundation - it only gets worse. Presenting a challenge, along with your proposed solution, transforms your investors from judges into allies. They have seen a hundred companies face this exact issue. Their network and experience are your shortcut to an answer, saving you months of costly trial and error.
What You Need: This is the most powerful part of the update. Be specific. “We need an introduction to the Head of Partnerships at Stripe.” “Can you review our sales compensation plan?” “We’re looking for a fractional CFO with SaaS experience.” A clear ask transforms your investor from a passive observer into an active participant in your success. They are wired to help; you simply must tell them how.
A monthly update that covers these three areas is worth more than a dozen frantic emails when things go sideways. It builds the social capital you will need when you ask for that crucial bridge round or a introduction to a demanding acquirer.
Save time
Email me to request a free copy of our:
ESOP Allocation Framework
Bridge Financing Guide
The Ultimate Investor Update Template
Fundraising in 2025
At our firm, we work with founders and investors at every stage of the fundraising journey — from term sheet to cash in the bank.
We help you prepare and negotiate term sheets, structure investment rounds, implement share option schemes, and resolve founder equity arrangements.
We also help you tell your story, in a way that builds confidence on both sides of the table.
If you’re thinking about raising capital this year — or advising a team who is — we’d be happy to speak with you about how to frame your position, protect your interests, and strengthen your outcome.