Gate 8: Financials for Entrepreneurs

Sign up NOW

Gate 8- Overview

GFinancials for Entrepreneurs empowers early-stage founders to master the language of startup finance and use it as a strategic tool to build, pitch, and fund their ventures. Through three interconnected keys — building a financial model, crafting an effective pitch deck, and executing a milestone-based fundraising strategy — this gate transforms abstract financial concepts into practical, growth-oriented action. Whether you're forecasting your first revenue, designing your story for investors, or navigating the fundraising pipeline, Gate 8 equips you with the mindset, tools, and confidence to manage your venture’s financial journey with clarity and purpose.

Gate Structure 

The Gate is divided into several Keys ( Themes), each focusing on a specific aspect of entrepreneurship. Each Key includes readings, discussions, practical assignments, and business-related deliverables.

Themes you will cover

To achieve this, you’ll explore the following three essential keys:

Key 1 : The Financial Model of Your Startup

Key 2 : Pitch Decks Design

Key 3 : Fundraising: Executing Your Venture’s Fundraising Plan

join this gate

Delivery System

  • Concept Notes

  • Applications Exercises of each Theme

  • Videos Explaining Each Concept by Experts and Entrepreneurs

  • Webinars to discuss the themes with students

  • Thematic Interactive Discussion with the Learners

  • Peer Evaluation

  • Mentorship Session

  • Virtual Class

  • Assessments

What is Required of You 

The Gate is divided into several sections, each focusing on a specific aspect of entrepreneurship. Each module includes readings, discussions, practical assignments, and assessments. 

Join this Gate

What you will get from the Gate

By the end of this gate, learners will be able to:

  1. Design a startup financial model based on assumptions, not historical data, including revenue projections, cost structures, staffing, and cash flow forecasting.

  2. Differentiate between startup and corporate finance, understanding how uncertainty, milestones, and growth narratives shape startup financial planning.

  3. Build a compelling 5-year financial roadmap that supports investor conversations and internal decision-making.

  4. Develop and structure an effective pitch deck, using narrative frameworks and emotional arcs to clearly communicate the problem, solution, market opportunity, and traction.

  5. Adapt pitch content and delivery for different audiences, including investors, accelerators, grant panels, and early partners.

  6. Understand the types of startup funding (grants, loans, equity, SAFEs, etc.) and when each is most appropriate based on stage and strategic goals.

  7. Plan a milestone-based fundraising strategy, linking business and technical goals to funding needs and investor expectations.

  8. Build and manage a fundraising pipeline, tracking investor outreach, optimising conversion rates, and prioritising based on fit.

  9. Create investor-ready materials, including an executive summary, an asynchronous deck, and a milestone timeline aligned with valuation logic.

  10. Approach fundraising with the right mindset, treating it as a structured, ongoing process built on trust, clarity, and strategic storytelling.

How we support you 

We will provide support throughout your learning experience. Your learning Success manager will be available to support you if you have any questions or need any help. You can also schedule one session with a mentor to discuss entrepreneurship questions related to this gate. 

Delivery Platform

The Gate is delivered through our online platform, Entreprenerds Space. Delegates can access the platform online or via their mobile app, allowing them to participate in the programme on the go, even offline.

Badge 1: Financial Forecaster

  • Skills

    1. Building a startup financial model

    2. Estimating runway and burn rate

    3. Revenue and cost forecasting

    4. Creating multiple-case scenarios

    5. Mapping path to profitability

  • Use Skills

    1. Planning revenue, expenses, and cash flow to understand funding needs

    2. Knowing how long the business can operate before needing new funding

    3. Predicting growth, scaling costs, and pricing models

    4. 5. Preparing base, best, and worst-case projections

    Showing how and when the business becomes sustainable

Badge 2: Pitch Master

  • Skills

    1. Story-driven pitch deck design

    2. Crafting emotional arcs

    3. Audience targeting

    4. Creating emailable vs live decks

  • Use Skills

    1. Building compelling decks tailored to investors

    2. Using storytelling techniques to pitch your journey and impact

    3. Adapting pitch tone and content to different investor types

    4. Producing versatile materials for async or in-person delivery

Badge 3: Fundraising Strategist

  • Skills

    1. Milestone-based fundraising planning

    2. Evaluating funding types

    3. Building an investor pipeline

    4. Warm intro strategy

    5. Fundraising asset creation

  • Use Skills

    1. Raising only what’s needed for the next big proof point

    2. Choosing between grants, equity, loans, and SAFEs

    3. Tracking, segmenting, and prioritising outreach

    4. Getting referrals that increase response rates

    5. Preparing your pitch deck, 1-pager, teaser, and tracker