From Cold Outreach to Capital: Fundraising When You Don’t Have Connections

A step-by-step playbook to build proof, ignite investor interest, and close fast without warm investor introductions.

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 identify your ideal investors, get invited to pitch, and close your round all without needing warm introductions.

From Cold Outreach to Capital

What: Hands-on startup fundraising workshop with exercises.

Price: $99

Includes: Recording with Q&A and all worksheets and handouts.

Here's What You'll Get in This Live Workshop!

Build a segmented and prioritized investor list so you focus your energy where it matters most.
Craft high-impact cold direct messages that actually get read and answered, not ignored.
Use a repeatable playbook to warm up cold prospects into real conversations without relying on introductions.
Generate inbound investor interest with simple credibility-building tactics founders can apply right away.
Find hidden networks you didn’t know you had and learn how to turn weak ties into warm connections.
Run a structured follow-up process that keeps investors engaged and moves discussions forward without feeling pushy.
Walk away with a proven process for turning strangers into serious investor conversations.

Bonus: Investor Pipeline Tracker to manage your high velocity outreach process.

Bonus: Investor Discovery Guide providing a dozen ways to source potential investors.

Bonus: Cold Direct Message Worksheet to develop the perfect short message to grab investor attention.

Bonus: Inbound Investor Generator shows you how to attract interest without outreach.

Bonus: Networking Activity Tracker to accelerate your discovery of hidden personal networks.

Bonus: Investor Follow-Up Guide shows you how to maintain momentum with investor discussions.

"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

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. If you need capital to create the business you envision, 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.

✅

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.

30 DAYS MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

We know this system works and are committed to your satisfaction. That’s why we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don't get three ways to improve your fundraising process significantly, just ask for a full refund, no questions asked.

Risk-Free

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.