Tran VC Content Team

You started this company because you had a clear vision. A big idea. Something worth building. Now you’re doing the work—writing code, building product, solving hard problems. But as soon as money enters the picture, things change. You’re told you need to raise. You hear about dilution. You see cap tables get complicated fast. And […]

You’ve got something real. Not just an idea, but a working system, an early prototype, maybe even a first customer. Now investors are showing interest. That’s exciting. But it’s also where many founders start losing control—without even knowing it. Because buried in early-stage term sheets, SAFE notes, or “friendly” convertible rounds are quiet clauses that

If you’re a technical founder, you’ve probably asked yourself one big question: How do I raise early money without giving up control? It’s a fair question. You’ve got code, maybe an early demo, maybe some promising experiments. But you’re still figuring things out. You’re not ready to pitch to Sand Hill. At the same time,

When you’re raising your first money, terms like “valuation cap” can feel like a small detail. But it’s not small. In fact, it might be one of the most important numbers in your first funding deal. It shapes how much of your company you give away. It affects how much ownership you keep after your

Most early-stage founders think fundraising is all about convincing someone to believe in them. But what if you flipped the script? What if you walked into your first round already holding the cards—traction, protection, and a real edge that made investors lean in? This guide is about getting there. It’s for founders who want to

Raising money for your startup is exciting. But the moment the term sheet hits the table, everything changes. Now it’s not just about pitching well. It’s about protecting what you’ve built. And what you’ll build next. The truth is, most founders don’t know how to negotiate investor terms. They accept the first offer. They agree

If you’re a founder building something technical—like AI, robotics, or deep software—you’ve probably heard of grant funding. But for most, it still feels like a mystery. Is it free money? Is it worth the paperwork? Can you really build a company using grants instead of giving up equity? The answer: yes. But only if you

Raising early-stage capital is tricky. You want speed. Flexibility. You don’t want to spend months negotiating terms. But you also don’t want to wake up one day and realize you’ve signed away more than you thought. That’s where convertible notes and SAFEs come in. They’re fast. They’re simple. And they’ve become the go-to tools for

You’ve built something powerful. Not just a pitch deck or an idea—but real tech. A new algorithm. A smarter sensor. A unique process that solves a problem no one else is solving. But you’re not ready to give up equity. Not yet. You’ve come too far to hand over control just to keep moving. That’s

Raising money before you have a product feels impossible. But the truth is, many great companies started that way. You might have an idea. A sketch. Maybe some code. But you haven’t launched. You haven’t built the full thing yet. And you’re wondering—how can I get capital when there’s nothing to demo? The answer lies