Funding a Business Course – Uptima Business Bootcamp

Overview

In our Funding a Business course, we guide you through a hands-on process for evaluating funding alternatives, presenting to potential funders and navigating a funding process. This course is 12-weeks long and is well suited for small business owners and startup founders looking to raise the first round of funding for a business with positive community impact.

What members are saying...

What I Didn’t Know Before I Started

We had to look at how much money our businesses needed to grow. And, I just could not fix my mouth to even utter the amount. Through this course, I’ve had the chance to explore my relationship with money. Because of that, I was able to say, "Yeah, I can raise that much money."

April Fenall, Piikup

What I Learned to Help Me Build a Business

I gained clarity and direction specifically in preparation for the BAOBOB crowdfunding campaign. Working with Uptima helped me tame the storm of options and ideas so that I could put one foot in front of the other and lay out a step-by-step plan.

YaVette Holts, Bay Area Organization of Black Owned Businesses (BAOBOB)

What I Learned to Help Me Build a Business

Crowdfunding was scary to me. I was afraid to put myself out there, ask for money, and take the risk. With the support of the course and an amazing mentor I was able to get through it. Facing those fears is the best thing I could've done for my business. With what I learned in this course, I was able to create a successful Kickstarter and raise over $18,000 for the launch of my product Ebb Filter.

Geana Sieburger, GDS Cloth Goods

What You Will Learn

Unit	Topics Covered
Introduction	Explore your relationship with money and how it can impact your perception of raising money for the business Discuss why it is important to get outside funding and what you need to have in place to begin raising funds Assess your current business, business plan and emotional readiness for funding
Funding Needs	Review and update your current financial forecast to determine realistic funding needs and use of proceeds Learn how to present your financial forecast and funding needs in a concise way Update your business plan to describe the key drivers of your financial forecast and funding needs
Understanding the Process & Key Terms	Learn about different funding alternatives and funders’ processes, timelines and key terms Identify funding alternative(s) that are aligned with the purpose, values and funding needs of the business Develop a plan for raising money and update financial forecast to reflect funding alternative(s)
Identify Potential Funders	Identify potential funders to reach out to and build a potential funder prospect list Understand how to reach out to and build relationships with potential funders Conduct informational interviews with a couple of potential funders to understand their processes
Due Diligence	Gain an understanding of how funders perform due diligence on potential funding opportunities Learn how to produce due diligence documentation, organize a due diligence dataroom and manage due diligence requests Establish a due diligence dataroom
Executive Summaries & Online Profiles	Learn how to summarize your funding opportunity in a one-page executive summary for potential funders Learn about online platforms for listing your funding opportunity, and identify platforms your business should create a profile on Create your executive summary and online profiles
Begin the Funding Process	Prepare application, online profile or other documentation to begin the funding process Draft and get feedback on your funding application, online profile or other documentation Begin the funding process by submitting your funding application, online profile, or other documentation
Storytelling	Gain an understanding of the key elements of a presentation to potential funders Learn how to craft a story to capture the attention of potential funders Develop a funding pitch for your specific funding source
Pitching	Learn how to pitch the business to potential funders Identify key questions that may arise when pitching to potential funders Hold a practice pitch and receive feedback from an advisor
Networking	Learn how to use networking events to increase the business’ visibility and enhance fundraising efforts Learn how to initiate conversations and begin cultivating relationships through networking events Present your business at our entrepreneur networking event
Managing the Funds	Gain an understanding of how to manage funds received from funders and create reserves to cover payments to funders Create a plan for managing cash flow after funding Discuss how to evaluate and access the next round of funding
Final Presentations	Present your funding pitch and progress to your peers and mentors Receive constructive feedback from your peers and mentors to refine your fundraising process

Prerequisites

Business must be generating customers/users and partners. Must also have an up-to-date business plan and financial forecast.

Commit to Building Your Business

Average time commitment for our small business and startup courses is 10 hours / week dedicated to building your business, and includes the following weekly activities:

Title	Weekly  Activity	Weekly Commitment
Background Materials	Series of required background readings and videos on each unit to be completed online prior to the weekly in-person workshop Describes concepts and their applications in developing a business	1-2 hours / week
Workshops	Weekly in-person workshops led by an expert instructor Lecture and discussion on background materials, group activities, and reflection	3 hours / week
Business Development Activities	Weekly activities focused on your business development Apply concepts learned in background materials and workshops	2-10 hours / week
Peer Mentoring	Weekly phone meetings with small peer group of other business owners in your class Present weekly business development activities and receive constructive feedback from peers	1 hour / week
One-on-one Mentoring	Weekly one-on-one meetings with a mentor Discuss business progress, review weekly business development activity, and connect with resources to meet business needs	30 minutes / week

Meet Your Mentors

Lesa Hammond, Ph.D.

Lead Instructor & Mentor

Oakland

Rani Langer-Croager

Co-Founder, CEO & Lead Instructor, Mentor

San Francisco

Naima McQueen

Lead Instructor & Mentor

Oakland

Join an Upcoming Course

Our Funding a Business course is offered at the following locations.

How Much It Costs

The cost of our Funding a Business Course consists of a course fee of $400 / month over the 3-month course.

We charge a $50 deposit to reserve your space in the class. This deposit is credited against the payment of your course fee, where applicable.

Financial Assistance

Because we believe in entrepreneurship as a means to close the racial wealth gap, we offer financial assistance programs for entrepreneurs of color.

For entrepreneurs of color, we offer financial assistance covering up to 100% of your course fee and payment plans, based on your household income and the number of people in your household.