The FOunder Quest Intensive

The 12-week sprint to become investor-ready and launch your round.

Most founders aren't failing because their idea is bad. They fail because they aren't ready. Stop burning your best leads on practice pitches. Join the cohort that bridges the gap between 'good idea' and 'funded company'.

Why 'Theory' isn't getting you funded.

A 12-week System to De-risk Your Startup and Start Pitching Investors

Sprint 1: The Foundation (Weeks 1-4):
- Focus: Validate the model. Fix the pricing. Prove the traction.
- Core Modules: Fundraising Fundamentals, Validate or Vaporize, Startup Pricing, The Traction Roadmap, Market Sizing.
Sprint 2: The Narrative (Weeks 5-8)
- Focus: Pitch deck alchemy. Investor psychology. Narrative construction.
- Core Modules: Hacking the Investor Brain, Pitch Deck Alchemy, Pitch Deck Perfection.
Sprint 3: The Campaign (Weeks 9-12)
- Focus: Building the funnel. Cold outreach. Due diligence.
- Core Modules: Mastering Investor Outreach, Surviving Due Diligence, Deal Terms That Make or Break You.

"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

Serious commitment for serious founders.

This is not a $99 course you buy and forget. This is a next-generation accelerator program.

Tuition: $3000 (One-time investment)

Because we work closely with every founder, we accept only 20 applicants per cohort.

Use the button below to schedule your Assessment Interview.

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.

I’m not just giving you videos.

Every week, we meet in The Council Chamber for live strategy sessions, hot seats, and deck teardowns.

I will be your guide through the entire 12 weeks.

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

What you get in the Founder Quest Intensive

12 Weeks of Structured Sprints: (The Roadmap).
Weekly Live Strategy Calls: (The Council Chamber).
The Funded Founder Framework Library: (Lifetime access to all 16+ workshops).
(Get immediate access to the Council Chamber and Library)
The Cohort: (A curated group of 20 peer founders).

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.

You will be invited to the weekly Council Chamber Zoom meetings.

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 Founder Quest Intensive is a 12-week self-paced program, meaning you can work as many or as few hours as your schedule allows. However, we will focus on different topics each week in the Council Chamber meetings.

A good rule of thumb is to commit to at least two hours per week watching the lessons.

However, preparing to raise your round is intense. To be completely investor-ready within the 12 weeks, you may need to work up to 20 hours per week.

But here’s the thing… As you’ll find, the program 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 Funded Founder Framework 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 program 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 for any reason.

When you cancel your membership, you will lose access to the community and all workshops at the end of the current period.
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 one-hour Zoom call for members of the Council Chamber. They are intimate events where you can discuss any issues you are facing, get feedback on any aspect of your startup, practice your fundraising pitch, ...

Each week will focus on a different aspect of your fundraising journey.

However, you will have time to ask questions or request feedback on any startup-related matter.

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

Do I have to wait for the sprint to start?

No. As soon as you enroll, you unlock the full workshop library and can start attending our weekly Council Chamber strategy calls immediately. You don't have to wait for the cohort kickoff to start getting value.

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.