Funding & Engagement Process

We review your proposition, identify the gaps and help you choose a suitable funding route. Every engagement begins with a clear scope, agreed commercial terms and practical next steps.

Funding partners route

We work with specialist funding partners who assess your project and lead the structuring and independent due diligence process.

Direct institutional outreach

We use our proprietary AI matching technology and curated investor database to identify relevant investors and coordinate targeted introductions.

Choose the route that fits your project

Funding partners review

Initial Review:
We discuss your project, team and capital requirement, and review your pitch deck and financial information.

Agree the Engagement:
If the project is suitable, we confirm the scope and commercial terms before submitting it to our funding partners.

Partner Assessment:
The partner reviews the proposition and considers suitable capital sources within its network.

Indicative Terms & Due Diligence:
Any indicative terms remain subject to independent due diligence, approval and definitive documentation. Fees and review requirements are confirmed before proceeding.

Terms & Completion:
Where approved, funding may be offered through a convertible loan note or equity. We support next steps through terms, approvals and completion.

Targeted investor introductions

Initial Review:
We discuss your capital requirement and assess the proposition before agreeing the scope and commercial terms.

Focused Investor Matching:
We use our proprietary AI matching technology to analyse our investor database, focusing on your sector, raise amount, geography and strategic synergy with each investor’s existing portfolio. This helps us prioritise the most relevant capital partners for targeted outreach. Quality, not quantity.

Prepare the Proposition:
We help refine your pitch deck, financial information and data room for the intended capital audience.

Introductions & Follow-Up:
We coordinate targeted outreach, investor meetings and information requests, with regular progress updates.

Independent Decisions:
Each funding party assesses the project and conducts its own due diligence. We support next steps through terms, approvals and completion.

What should we have ready?

Investors and lenders will want to see a core set of documents before they commit. Having these complete and accurate from the start helps speed up the process and strengthens your position when due diligence begins.

For CFA’s initial review, start with an executive summary, pitch deck or business plan, five-year financial projections and a clear use of funds. Further supporting documents may be requested as the project progresses.

  1. Executive Summary / Project Overview: A brief description of the project, its objectives and the funding request. Tell us the amount being raised, sector, geography, stage and what the funding will achieve.
  2. Five-Year Financial Projections: Cash flow forecasts, profit and loss statements and balance sheets, supported by clear assumptions. These help investors assess the path to returns and, where relevant, repayment.
  3. Pitch Deck or Business Plan: Set out the project scope, market opportunity, implementation strategy and key risks. A clear plan helps funding partners understand the proposition and how it will be delivered.
  4. Use of Funds Statement: A breakdown of how the financing will be allocated. Investors need to understand exactly what their capital will be spent on and how it supports the project’s objectives.
  5. Collateral / Security Documentation: Where relevant to the funding route, details of available assets, existing borrowing, valuations and any proposed security or guarantees.
  6. Management Team Credentials: Key personnel CVs, track records and organisational structure. An experienced team with the right skills, supported by a solid plan and accurate documentation, strengthens the proposition and helps investors assess the team’s ability to deliver.

What is an Indicative Term Sheet?

An Indicative Term Sheet (ITS) is an investor or funding partner’s way of saying: “We are interested in this project, and these are the terms we would expect to work towards.” It is a meaningful step towards funding, showing a willingness to progress the project on proposed terms and giving both sides a clear framework for what comes next.

Before releasing capital, the funding party completes its own due diligence (DD), verifying the company’s financials, legal and corporate documents, and any third-party arrangements, such as acquisitions, Letters of Intent (LOIs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). Some projects do not progress beyond this stage. This can happen for reasons outside the company’s control, such as a third party withdrawing, or because documentation differs from what was originally presented.

The proposed funding terms—including any interest rate, security or conversion terms—remain subject to satisfactory due diligence, final approval, definitive agreements and any conditions required before funds are released. Certain provisions within an ITS, such as confidentiality, exclusivity or fees, may nevertheless be binding, depending on its wording.

The best way to progress from indicative terms towards funding is to have your documentation complete, accurate and ready for review, and to flag any changes to the project promptly.

How are engagement fees agreed?

Initial Review & Team Discussion:
Everything starts with a review of your documents and an initial commercial assessment and funding-readiness review by CFA. This usually raises questions. Once you have answered them, we meet you and your team to discuss the project in detail, understand the team’s experience and delivery capability, and examine the assumptions behind the business plan and financial projections.

Your Proposal & Engagement Fee:
If we agree to proceed, we send you a written proposal setting out the scope of work, fees and payment milestones. The engagement fee reflects the size of the project, the amount being raised and the work required to prepare the proposition for investor review. Each engagement is tailored to the project and the intended funding route.

Preparing the Project for Investors:
The agreed work may include reviewing and refining the documents supplied, preparing an Information Memorandum from information confirmed with you, and submitting applications through funding partners’ CRM systems.

Success Fee:
The proposal also sets out the agreed success fee percentage, payable on funds actually drawn down. Where funding is released in stages, the success fee applies to each drawdown in accordance with the engagement agreement.

Separate Funding Partner Fees:
Some funding partners charge separate due diligence, structuring or other transaction fees. Where applicable, these are explained before you agree to proceed.

Agreed in Writing:
The scope, engagement fee, success fee and payment milestones are agreed in writing before work begins.