Raise Smarter: Relationship-Driven Fundraising Strategies for Founders

If you’re fundraising or planning to soon, the single biggest mistake you can make is waiting until you need money to start building intentional relationships with potential investors.

Join FORGE and Kristen Craft, startup founder, investor connector, and VP at Fidelity Private Shares, for a tactical, insider’s workshop on how to successfully develop and manage your investor pipeline before you pitch.

Kristen will walk through:

Today’s fundraising landscape: what’s changed and why it matters
Why strong investor relationships often start 6–12 months before a check is written
How to build a scalable pipeline with 100+ qualified investors
Best practices for outreach, tracking momentum, and staying top-of-mind
Cap table and data room hygiene tips that build investor trust

This workshop is designed for startup founders who are serious about fundraising and want to understand how to approach it strategically, not opportunistically.

What You’ll Leave With:

A clear process for developing investor relationships
Tools to track outreach and maintain momentum
Templates and strategies you can implement right away