Pitch prep
Tighten the story so the problem, the proof, and the ask land in the first 3 minutes — not the last.
Funding
The right money starts with the right ask.
A line of credit, an equity round, and a debt raise are three different conversations with three different people. Start with the fit finder, or go straight to the track you already know you need.
5 questions
Not sure which track fits?
Most founders don’t know whether they need a loan, an investor, or a better pitch. Answer 5 quick questions and we’ll point you to the right place. Nothing is submitted here.
- Time
- ~1 min
- Credit check
- None
- Routes to
- 3 tracks
Alternative funding
Working capital, sized to your sales.
Lines of credit and revenue-based funding through our partner David Allen Capital, which has funded thousands of small businesses. Approvals are based on your bank deposits and credit, not a pitch deck — and you keep 100% of your equity.
- Best rates
- 685+ FICO
- Typical approval
- ½–2× lowest month of sales
- Full options from
- $15K/mo revenue
- Under $15K/mo
- ~25% of monthly revenue
Know this before you apply
Payments are usually daily or weekly. Funding should pay for something that earns more than it costs — and the payment should still be affordable if sales don’t go up. If sales fall, payments can often be lowered. We’ll walk through all of it with you before anything is signed.
Private capital
Equity, debt, or a hybrid of both.
For companies raising at scale. This screening checks whether your raise fits our partners’ mandate before we schedule a follow-up conversation.
- Credit check size
- $7M–$25M
- Equity / platform check
- $5M–$50M+
- Total deal scale
- $3M–$150M+
- Primary focus
- United States
Requests outside these ranges may still be considered depending on the business. Select global and cross-border deals are considered case by case.
Raising under $3M? A consultation is the better first step.
Founder consultation
30 minutes to walk in ready.
$75/ 30-minute session
One-on-one with Michael Cortez. Bring the question that’s stuck — leave with the next 3 moves, the people to talk to, and the words to use when you get there.
Opens the booking calendar in a new tab. Pick any open time.
Investor outreach strategy
Which angels, funds, and lenders fit your stage and sector, how to get a warm introduction, and what to send before the meeting.
Talking to decision makers
How to ask for a check, a partnership, or a contract without losing the room — and how to handle the no that’s really a “not yet.”
Customer discovery
Get clear on what problem you actually solve and who pays for it. Interview questions that surface real buying signals, not polite yeses.
Make the 30 minutes count
Come with one decision you’re trying to make. If you have a deck, a one-pager, or a list of investors you’re targeting, have it open. If you already filled out the fit finder, mention what it recommended.
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