Funding for start-ups

ttopstart helps to kick-start new biotech and medtech ventures. We co-design and implement a balanced funding strategy that consists of dilutive and non-dilutive options, including subsidies, loans, and equity investments.

Securing funding is a critical process when establishing a start-up. Navigating the milestones in the development of a biomedical product, and understanding how they relate to different funding opportunities and strategies, is our bread and butter.

We provide a smooth process through all the steps of start-up funding, including overall guidance, connecting to potential investors and grants, pitching your breakthroughs, and assisting negotiations.

To do so, we follow the FFWD methodology:

FIT

As a first step, we explore your mission & vision, your lead and follow-up products, team maturity and value-creation model. To develop and refine your funding strategy, we start from your key R&D and market milestones and explore which partnership(s) and funding instrument(s) best fit the next step(s). The FIT step ensures a comprehensive funding strategy with a clear focus on funding opportunities that meet your needs and for which you are truly competitive.

Framework

Together, we co-create a winning project that addresses the purpose of the selected funding opportunity and will be well received by evaluators. Specifically, we take a deep dive to extract a clear and urgent need description and a convincing proposition. Where needed, we can leverage our network to establish novel partnerships. In addition, we ensure the project is feasible and has maximum impact.

Write

Developing a narrative that is convincing, authentic and understandable, while also resonating breakthrough potential is a particular challenge. Over the years, we have developed a set of writing skills and techniques that are particularly suited for business proposals.

Develop

Any proposal should include a clear and well-founded business strategy and project management structure.

For dilutive funding we make a fit-check and support you with:

• Investor connecting
• Pitch training
• Negotiation support
• Capital raising

Funding opportunities

Interesting non-dilutive funding opportunities for biomedical start-ups include:

• Eurostars
• Innovation loans (such as provided by the EIB and national innovation credit programmes)
• SBIR programmes
• Pre-seed programmes (such as the Dutch Take-off and Vroegefase Financiering programmes)

For dilutive funding we make a fit-check and support you with:

• Investor connecting
• Pitch training
• Negotiation support
• Capital raising