The Ask
State exactly what you want, what it funds, and what it unlocks.
What & why
An unclear request forces the listener to guess what you want and how to help, and that friction usually ends in no action at all. Stating the exact amount, what it funds, and the milestone it unlocks removes that load and gives them a concrete decision to react to. Tying the money to a specific outcome reframes it as an investment in a result rather than an open-ended cost, which feels more justifiable. A precise ask also signals you have planned beyond the raise, reading as competence rather than hope.
Before & after
“We're looking to raise some capital to help us grow the business and expand into new markets.”
“We're raising $2M on a $10M post-money SAFE. 60% goes to engineering. We need 3 more engineers to ship our enterprise tier by Q3. 25% goes to sales. We'll hire 2 AEs to convert our 40-company waitlist. This gets us to $500K ARR and positions us for Series A.”
When you’ll use it
Closing a pitch deck presentation with a specific funding ask
Answering 'What are you looking for?' in an investor meeting
Writing the fundraising section of an accelerator application
Asking for non-financial support like intros, partnerships, or pilots
Presenting a use-of-funds breakdown to existing investors
Pro tip
Make your ask as concrete as your traction. The room should know exactly what you want by the time you finish.
Questions & answers
What if I'm not fundraising?
Should I include valuation in the ask?
Learn more
Practice this concept
Practice your pitch
Upload your founder pitch and get AI feedback on whether it covers all the parts investors expect to hear.