Online Event
How Investors Think: Fundraising Secrets for AI-Era Founders
Learn what shapes investors' decisions in the AI era, and how to build a smarter fundraising process
Date
Sep 17, 2026
Time
09:30 am - 11:00 am
Address
Online Event
Most founders prepare for fundraising by polishing their pitch and building an investor list. But successful fundraising also depends on something many overlook: understanding how investors think before, during, and after a funding conversation, especially as AI reshapes what investors look for today. In this practical online workshop, Dr. Florian Kandler will show you how investors evaluate startups, what influences their interest, and why some rounds gain momentum while others don't. Florian is a serial founder and fundraising advisor who has raised €3M+ from VCs, angels, family offices, and public funds.
What You'll Learn:
- How investors evaluate startups beyond the deck and pitch, including how AI-native positioning factors into that evaluation
- Why timing and preparation matter long before the final funding round
- What makes a startup feel more or less attractive to investors in today's AI-driven market
- How to avoid common mistakes that slow down fundraising conversations
- How to think more strategically about investor interest, momentum, and follow-up
- What to focus on before and during your investor outreach
Who Should Attend:
- Founders preparing to raise their first round of startup funding
- Entrepreneurs seeking to understand how investors evaluate opportunities, including AI-native and AI-enabled startups
- Aspiring founders exploring different funding paths
- Anyone interested in learning about the local startup funding ecosystem
Explore other Startup Events, learn more about How to Raise the First Round of Funding and Funding Benchmarks and Milestones, or visit our Insights Blog for more startup tips.
About Founder Institute:
The Founder Institute is the World's Largest AI-Native Company Builder, giving idea-stage, first-time founders, and employees making the leap to entrepreneurship the tools, global network, and proven methodology to build an AI-powered startup from zero to funding. Since 2009, our structured programs have helped over 9,000 founders across 100 countries raise more than $2BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 6 continents, our mission is to empower talented and motivated people everywhere to build impactful, AI-powered companies.
The Founder Institute is the World's Largest AI-Native Company Builder, giving idea-stage, first-time founders, and employees making the leap to entrepreneurship the tools, global network, and proven methodology to build an AI-powered startup from zero to funding. Since 2009, our structured programs have helped over 9,000 founders across 100 countries raise more than $2BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 6 continents, our mission is to empower talented and motivated people everywhere to build impactful, AI-powered companies.
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