While it may seem that more and more SaaS companies are taking the bootstrap approach to financing, it’s encouraging to know that there are many other viable funding options on the market. Whether you fall into the category of “non-VC compatible,” or just prefer a more non-dilutive option, understanding what alternatives there are and how to evaluate them based on your business and operational goals will pave the way to a successful financing outcome that’ll help scale your business.

1. Preparing for SaaS Funding:
Evaluating your Funding Options
Jon Steinberg and
Clayton Whitfield
Rebecca Komathy
With:
Moderated by:
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2https://www.saasbrief.com/frs/14528656/preparing-for-saas-funding--evaluating-your-funding-options/
https://www.b2bmarketingzone.com/frs/14528656/preparing-for-saas-funding--evaluating-your-funding-options/

3. Our Speakers
Co-Founder
Mountside Ventures
Co-founder of Mountside Ventures, which
exists to support both the most ambitious
entrepreneurs and fund managers in raising
their next round of funding. Jon is an ACA
chartered accountant who scaled a big 4
department internationally and prior to this, a
background in private equity deals and
valuations.
Co-Founder & SVP Revenue Programs
SaaSOptics
Clayton Whitfield is Co-Founder and SVP
of Revenue Programs at SaaSOptics.
Clayton has more than 20 years of
software and product development
experience at companies such as Fair
Isaac Corp, ACS-Inc., and most recently,
MarketingCentral. Before focusing his
career on technology, he was a teacher in
the Los Angeles county school district.

4. The Leading Subscription Management Platform
from Startup to Exit.
Purpose-built for
B2B SaaS
Manage
sales-negotiated term
agreements
Scalable
Platform
Functionality to
support needs from
$1M to over $100M
Rapid
Onboarding
2 to 6 weeks,
(or 2 weeks for eligible
customers)
750+ Customers | $20B Invested Capital | 1,700 Funding Rounds | $7.5B Managed Revenue

5. How we work with entrepreneurs
to raise the Next Round
We help the most ambitious
entrepreneurs raise their Next Round of
funding by helping them get
investor-ready, introducing them to
relevant investors and supporting them
at the term sheet and diligence stage.
Our objective is to cut the typical
fundraising timeline, causing the least
amount of disruption and enabling you
to focus on growing your business.
Mountside Ventures
About
Mountside Ventures

6. Agenda
What other options are available beyond equity funding?
When is the right time to raise institutional funds?
What can I do to prepare for the process?
How can I paint the best picture of my financials &
metrics?
Key Takeaways

7. When is the right time to raise
institutional funds?

8. Key Considerations
There is a wrong
time to raise funds,
but not necessarily
a ‘right time’.
Are you running
out of cash?
Not raising funds
early enough could
mean you raise on
bad terms.
Is your business
ready for it?
Take a look at your
metrics, your
resources, and
leadership.

9. What other options are available
beyond equity funding?

10. Alternative Options
Revenue-Based Financing:
Acts as a line of credit based on your ARR (e.g. we’ll loan you
up to 3x your ARR)
Grants:
Non-dilutive funding for meeting government objectives
Debt-based Growth Financing:
Non-dilutive capital extended in the form of credit.
UK Resources:
US Resources:
European Support for Funding:
● Furlough Scheme
● Government underwritten loans
● Government match funding (Future Fund)

11. What can I do to prepare for the process?

12. What can I do
to prepare
myself?
2 years of GAAP/IFRS
financials & complimentary
subscription metrics
A plan for how you’ll deploy the
funds
5 year forecasted financial model
Investor FAQ
Undiluted & fully diluted cap
table
Consistently updated Data
Room

13. How do I paint the best picture of my
financials & metrics?

14. Getting Financials & Metrics in Order
Be able to speak credibly about them and don’t
exaggerate anything
Segment your customer data — people seldom do
enough segmentation of their customers
Understand Financials vs. Subscription Metrics and the
impact on your business:
Financials:
● Billings, bookings, cash & revenue
Subscription Metrics:
● ARR/MRR, CLV, Churn & Churn Rate, Retention &
Retention Rate, CLV:CAC, Customer LTV

15. SaaSOptics Cohort Report Sample

16. What are the main differences when
fundraising in the US vs Europe?

17. What are actionable steps you can take to
build a good relationship with a potential
investor?

18. Q&A
Co-Founder
Mountside Ventures
LinkedIn page: /in/Jon-Steinberg
Twitter ID: @Mountside_V
Website: mountsideventures.com
Co-Founder & SVP Revenue Programs
SaaSOptics
LinkedIn page: /in/claytonwhitfield
Twitter ID: @saasoptics
Website: saasoptics.com

19. Thank you!
Jon Steinberg
jon@mountsideventures.com
Overview | Mountside Ventures
Clayton Whitfield
cwhitfield@saasoptics.com
Overview | SaaSOptics
Resources & Contact Info