As part of the atTRACTION project training activities, an Investor Hour webinar titled “Raising Your First Investment” was held on 6 November 2025. The session aimed to support early-stage founders by providing practical insights into the venture capital fundraising process, with a particular focus on first-time investment rounds.

The event featured Kipras Vaičekauskas, Associate at Practica Capital, who shared the investor’s perspective on how venture capital firms assess startups long before a formal pitch deck is submitted.

Objectives of the Training

The main objectives of the Investor Hour were to:

• Improve founders’ understanding of early-stage VC decision-making; 
• Explain what investors look for before and beyond the pitch deck; 
• Provide guidance on building long-term relationships with investor; 
• Strengthen fundraising preparedness for deep tech and innovation-driven startups.

Key Topics Covered

During the session, the speaker addressed several critical aspects of early-stage fundraising, including:

• The importance of early relationship-building with investors; 
• How VCs evaluate teams, markets, and opportunities at pre-seed and seed stages;
• Common mistakes made by first-time founders when approaching investors; 
• The role of storytelling, credibility, and execution speed in fundraising success.

Format and Interaction

The Investor Hour consisted of a structured presentation followed by a live Q&A session. Participants actively engaged by asking practical questions related to their fundraising journeys, investor communication, and readiness for external investment.

 Key Takeaways

Key takeaways from the session included: 

• Fundraising is a continuous process that starts long before formal pitching; 
• Trust and long-term relationships are central to successful investor engagement; 
• Early-stage investors focus strongly on founder mindset, vision, and execution capability.

Conclusion

The Investor Hour provided valuable, practice-oriented insights for founders preparing to raise their first investment. The training directly contributed to the atTRACTION project’s objective of strengthening European innovation ecosystems by equipping startups with investor-relevant knowledge and skills.