Join Founder Quest™

and Raise $1 M fast without warm introductions using The Funded Founder Framework™

A step-by-step playbook to build proof, ignite investor interest, and close fast.

A proven system for raising capital fast

A complete roadmap for startup fundraising from early validation to negotiating deal terms.

Designed for founders like you

Most founders don't know any active angel investors.

You can raise your round even if you don't have a network or warm introductions.

Removes the guesswork from fundraising

The Funded Founder Framework™ shows you what to do, and why. It takes you inside the mind of investors, so you can show exactly what they need to see to say "yes."

In just 90 days, you will validate your startup, develop an optimized pitch that will excite investors, identify and contact your ideal investors (without introductions), and close your round, so you can get back to building your business.

Here's What You'll Get in the Founder Quest™ Program!

The complete Funded Founder Framework™. Nothing held back.
Library of 13 fundraising workshops
New workshops every 2-3 weeks
The Tavern - an exclusive community for founders in the program
Weekly coaching with the creator of Founder Quest™: Lance Cottrell

"Founder's Quest is a game-changer for me. Every passing day, I am getting one step closer to closing my first funding round. The feedback I am getting from potential investors and advisors has improved significantly." - Fahad Ausaf

You will get all these workshops

Workshop 1

Fundraising Fundamentals

Learn how startup fundraising works.

Investor Expectations for each round.

Gain insight into how investors evaluate startups and make investment decisions.

Assess whether your are ready to begin fundraising and identify any steps you must take first.

Workshop 2

Laying the Foundation for Fundraising

Prepare everything you will need for fundraising.

Set up the systems, processes, and tools you will need.

14 key questions you must answer

6 elements to prepare

Workshop 3

Pitch Deck Alchemy

Identify your startup's superpower.

Perfect your pitch structure.

Deck design secrets that wow investors

Learn to deliver an unforgettable pitch.

Workshop 4

Pitch Deck Perfection

Master pitch deck strategies

Tricks to make every slide engaging.

Secrets to maximize the 20 most common slides.

Learn how to build your deck in a flash.

Workshop 5

Pitch Deck Mastery

Make every slide earn its place in your deck.

Learn tricks to capture attention in seconds.

Fix the mistakes that kill deals.

Stand out in every investor room

Raise faster to get back to growing.

Workshop 6

Mastering Investor Outreach

Find the Right Investors.

Perfect Your Outreach.

Turn Interest into Conversations.

Negotiate & Close the Deal.

Workshop 7

Deal Terms That Make or Break You

Avoid the terms that trap you.

Get the valuation you deserve.

Sound sharp in investor meetings.

Protect your startup from future regret.

Workshop 8

Validate or Vaporize

Validate without building the product.

Which signals motivate investors.

Real-world validation examples.

Turn early conversations into proof points and traction stories.

Workshop 9

Equity 101

Form your C-Corp right, day one.

Split founder & advisor equity cleanly.

Untangle Corporate Governance.

Track dilution and keep control.

Show investors a cap table they trust.

Workshop 10

The Funded Founder Framework™

The 4 pillars to successful fundraising.

A proven 5-step fundraising process.

Build the validation investors demand.

Pitch deck secrets that grab attention.

Dodge cap-table & term-sheet traps.

Workshop 11

The Founders' Guide to Surviving Due Diligence

What investors look for from pre-seed to Series A.

The key documents and systems to prepare now.

How to build a clean, no-fluff deal room.

Common diligence gaps that derail funding.

Why early prep saves time, money, and pain.

A simple plan to get diligence-ready in a week.

Workshop 12

Hacking the Investor Brain

Think like an investor.

Nail the first impression.

Crush every objection.

Remove all doubt.

Win in any format.

Workshop 13

Fundraising Pitfalls

Spot the traps that kill 9 of 10 rounds.

Learn how investors really think.

Avoid fast rejections and wasted time.

Stand out from the crowd.

Pitch smarter, raise faster.

Workshop 14

From Cold Outreach to Capital

Build a focused investor list

Write cold DMs that get replies

Warm up cold prospects into meetings

Unlock hidden networks and intros

Generate inbound investor interest

Workshop 15

TBA

Workshop 16

TBA

MEET your guide

I'm Lance Cottrell

I've helped over 1,200 founders raise their $1m pre-seed rounds (on average).

I created Founder Quest™ to share my fundraising system with you, so you can raise $1M or more in 3 months without a network.

When I founded my first company, Anonymizer, I struggled to raise the capital we needed.

I had no idea why investors turned us down when I thought we had such potential.

After my successful exit, I started angel investing and immediately realized what I had been doing wrong.

Now I want to share that knowledge and experience with you.

Helped 1200 founders raise their $1m pre-seed rounds.

Raised millions of dollars for Anonymizer

Made over 30 angel investments

President of the North Bay Angels

Here's how Sam raised $1.2m

In just three months, Sam went from stalled fundraising to an oversubscribed $1M round.

Before learning the Funded Founder Framework™ he'd been trying to raise capital for four months with nothing to show for it.

First, he changed his cold outreach messages.

I showed him the right way to approach investors to grab their interest.

Immediately, his response rate went from 3% to 10% for bulk cold DMs.

Next he used my model for sending self-guided pitch decks in advance of meetings.

It showed the VCs that this would be a meeting worth taking.

That brought senior partners to the table, when he'd been stuck pitching associates before.

Even when he got meetings, investors turned him down because the opportunity was too small.

By reframing his market, investors could finally see a big enough opportunity to justify backing him

His new $800m/yr market opportunity got investor attention.

Finally, he packaged everything in a new deck that highlighted his unique strengths and address all investor concerns.

The right system turned months of rejection into a fast, confident close.

What People are Saying

"The Founder Quest workshops cover everything you need to know to prepare for and create compelling investor decks and understand what's needed and expected for the whole funding journey."

- Stuart Prestedge

“I'm lucky to have met Lance during a foundational period at my company Credder Inc. His clarity of thought and focus on the key drivers of a business have proven to be invaluable to me. Lance has a true talent for taking his past experience and marrying it with the often urgent and stressful situations a founder finds themselves in."

- Chase Palmieri

"Thanks to Lance, we gained a deeper understanding of what VCs and angel investors look for and how to position ourselves for success. We’re grateful for his thoughtful insights and highly recommend working with him."

- Rishabh

"As a founder without investor relationships, I needed the perspective of how investors think and how they approach a cold email. Lance gave me an understanding of how an investor skims my email, what they are looking for and how their mental filter operates. After some quick tweaks, we'll be reeling in the big fish!”

-Damon Guzman

Is the Funded Founder Framework™ (FFF) Right for You?

If you are an early-stage founder, The Funded Founder Framework is the fastest way to raise the capital you need to build a unicorn company, even if you don't have a network or warm introductions to investors. If you need capital to create the business you envision, the FFF is for you.

❌

Who is this NOT for?

The Get Rich Quick Mindset.

The Funded Founder Framework™ is not a get rich quick system. Many programs will claim to show you how to build a startup and raise capital with little effort, then fail to deliver. That's not what I teach.

$20 million pre-seed valuations

Some programs dangle the promise of gigantic valuations right out the gate. Not only is that a fantasy, it sets companies up for failure in their follow-on rounds when they are forced to take a down-round and the associated massive dilution. The Funded Founder Framework™ shows you how to raise the capital you need at a valuation that supports the long-term growth of your company.

You're not really committed to building your business.

You can benefit from the Funded Founder Framework™ whether you're new to entrepreneurship, or an experienced founder, as long as you are committed to doing the work to implement the system. Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone to build something great? Can you push through challenges with grit and determination? If you are not willing to do what it takes, this isn't the program for you.

You already know many high net worth angel investors.

If you have close relationships with many wealthy and successful startup investors, you don't need this system. Just go have a beer with them and tell them what you're working on.

The Funded Founder Framework™ is for the rest of us, who must work to get meetings and convert investors. This shows you how to level the playing field.

✅

Who is this for?

You are a founder building an early-stage startup.

If you are building a new company with the potential for massive growth, the Funded Founder Framework™ is for you. You don't need prior executive experience, or a network of high net worth investors. You only need to be willing to work hard and follow the system.

You have a passion to create your business.

If you're just starting a business for the money, you won't survive the hard times and effort required to succeed. If you care deeply about your mission and providing value to your customers, you will be able to overcome anything, and FFF will deliver for you.

You are a committed learner.

FFF is built on a foundation of constant testing and experimentation. Your startup is not like any other, and your fundraising must reflect your unique strengths. As you progress through the program you will test every assumption and prove out your model, so you can confidently answer any and all investor questions. You will leave with a far deeper understanding of your company than you have now.

You have struggled with fundraising in the past.

Perhaps you've been rejected, or ghosted, by investors you've pitched, or promised introductions went nowhere. FFF shows you exactly what to do every step of the way.

STILL NOT SURE?

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Here are the answers.

Question 1: What do I get when I enroll?

Great question!

As soon as you enroll you get immediate access (via username and password) to The Tavern members' area.

24/7 access - all digital so you can login to access the content & downloads and take it on the go with you.

Content is available in video and PDF files you can download the audio to take with you.

You get access to the Funded Founder Framework workshop library while your membership is active.

Question 2: How up-to-date is the Funded Founder Framework

The startup fundraising environment is constantly changing. What works today may not work tomorrow.

After over 20 years in this field as a founder, investor, and advisor, I've seen all the 'latest trends' come and go. That is why the FFF is an ever-evolving program. I update it whenever anything changes.

What you get when you enroll in Founder Quest™ is the latest, 'what is working right now' system.

Question 3: How much time do I need to commit?

The Funded Founder Framework(FFF) is a self-paced program, meaning you can work as many or as few hours as your schedule allows.

A good rule of thumb would be a couple of hours per week watching the lessons.

However, raising a round in 90 days is intense. If you plan to close your round in that time frame, expect to spend at least 20 hours per week on fundraising.

But here’s the thing… As you’ll find, the FFF is designed for rapid implementation and sustainable momentum.

Meaning, as you stack-up the wins and start implementing the program…

You’ll WANT to keep going.

You’ll WANT to speed through the FFF as quickly as you can.

You’ll WANT to make it the first thing you jump into after your morning routine.

Because, as you’ll soon see, the FFF isn’t a chore when you know exactly what you need to be doing to get amazing results without any wasted effort.

Question 4: What if I cancel my membership?

You can cancel your membership at any time for any reason.

When you cancel your membership, you will lose access to the community and all workshops.
Additionally, you’ll need to wait at least 6 months before rejoining. This policy helps us keep The Tavern’s community high-quality, focused, and filled with committed founders who are actively building and fundraising. It also protects the tight-knit atmosphere that makes the group so valuable.

Question 5: How does the weekly coaching work?

Every week, Lance holds a two-hour Zoom call for members of the Council Chamber. It's an intimate and unstructured event where you can discuss any issues you are facing, get feedback on any aspect of your startup, practice your fundraising pitch, ...

You can come with specific questions or learn from other founders facing the same challenges as you.

This framework has helped over 1200 founders raise their pre-seed rounds fast and with confidence.

You want to create the next billion-dollar company, but you need outside funding to do it.

Fundraising is incredibly competitive.

Investors typically see 500+ pitches for each investment.

This workshop shows you how to stand out, get meetings, and close your round in 90 days.

Feel the Boot™ and Founder Quest™ are education and training companies. We do not sell a business opportunity or “get-rich-quick” program. We do not make earnings or effort claims, and we do not guarantee results. The training is general in nature; some strategies may not fit every situation. Materials are protected by copyright; duplication or distribution is prohibited. We may reference or link to third-party content and services we do not control or endorse.