Funders we work with
150 founders, 75%+ of which are underrepresented, have joined since launching in November 2020
Our community
newfound confidence to fundraise
Break down the complicated funding world
into manageable chunks
like-minded founders
A peer group to learn together and to make the process of seeking funding more collaborative
new fundraising paths
Open your eyes to potential funding models for businesses with a social purpose that you perhaps haven’t heard of or considered for your business and show you how to access it
lots and lots of time saved
Some people can spend months, maybe a year or MORE searching and sometimes failing to find funding. Instead we’re condensing a lonnnnnng journey into just six-weeks
Sound familiar?
Founders join the Alternative Funding School worldwide. From the seed of a business idea to startups hitting a funding wall, the school will help you navigate the alternative funding landscape regardless of business model or sector.
You are in the right place.
I'm craving a community that gets how it feels to be a fundraising founder!
I need practical tips on how we can ensure we maintain integrity in our impact as we raise and grow (and possibly exit)
I just want someone to put all the essential funding knowledge on a plate!
I'm ready for my new full-of-confidence fundraising era
We are all hyped and believe in our mission...we just need to go in a funding direction that works for us!
I'm so frustrated by fundraising and feel excited and empowered to go out there and get the money our team deserves.
Meet your host
Esme Verity
Fundraising coach and Founder, Considered Capital
For the last five years, I’ve been working with thousands of founders to connect them to the right sources of funding and support. I found early on that when founders aren’t shown all the funding options available, they can quickly hit a brick wall with their business. This can create a blocker, not only to the business moving forward but to your confidence.
So I built Considered Capital to support founders to feel more confident and to think outside the box when going after what they need to build a successful business.
So far, we’ve empowered thousands of founders to think beyond VC-style funding and consider other funding routes. Our mission is to open up alternative funding and the world of funding options available for startups, founders and socially-led businesses. We are determined to challenge the notion that Venture Capital is the only way to fund your business and teach everyone to find a funding fit that aligns with their values and to feel confident to go and get it.
Why you should apply for the funding school
Testimonials from our global Kinship 
Brodie Meah, Founder, Top Cuvée 
"Learning about some of the alternative options was very helpful, and we've now been offered £75k in alternative funding which is pretty much what we need right now. Thanks a million!"
Claire Fram, Co-founder Diagonal Works 
"I have very, very high praise for the format, communication, and structure. There was a combination of live sessions, peer-to-peer mentoring, as well as a library of pre-work that participants could do independently between live sessions. I thought this format was extremely effective. I have stayed connected with many of the people who were on my course - and they have connected me with their networks, opened partnership opportunities, and shared their good/bad/ugly experiences with me. "
Fiona Murden, Founder, Oka
"A truly brilliant course covering all aspects of fundraising, encouraging you to really think through your own options and challenge existing assumptions. I would (and have) highly recommend to anyone who is at the early stages of their startup journey."
Aela Callan, Co-founder, Head Set 
"If you’re considering doing one of the traditional accelerator programmes, do this! It will save you a lot of time and spare you conversations with funders who you aren't aligned with. The Funding School is carefully thought through and is the perfect antidote to the powerful marketing of the VC world."
Sonja Mewes, Remote Times 
"The course was a perfect kick-in-the-ass for me to finally make some decisions about funding or not and its great to be part of a crowd of people looking for alternative roads!"
Pricing
Single founder
Team package
Single founder
£595
- Price for one founder to enrol in our six-week Alt Funding School
- Available as 4 payments of £148.50
- Limited availability!
Discounts available for underserved founders
Every year we offer discounted seats for people of colour, those outside of the binary gender spectrum, and others who are underrepresented in entrepreneurship.
Why? Lack of confidence around funding and pitching can be a blocker for so many, and we want to be part of that change.
Email esme@consideredcapital.io for your discount.
Top three things to know
- Six live sessions where you can ask questions directly to me and our funding experts. Available both live and on-demand
- Lifetime access to 20+ hours of interviews with expert speakers on wide-ranging funding topics
- A selection of practical worksheets, tools & guides, including a Global Funding Directory that will save you hours of work
- Case studies of innovative companies and their financing structures
- Weekly exercises to hold you accountable and turn thought into action
- Discounts on selected specialist services and fundraising platforms i.e Seedrs, Crowdcube
- Our exclusive community where you can meet, ask questions and share knowledge with supportive and likeminded social entrepreneurs
- An online digital space built just for your cohort
- Self-organised pods based on similar interests for peer learning, brainstorming and accountability.
- After the Alt Funding School, you'll have access to The Kinship to continue your learning journey with 150 other Funding School alumni
Did you know:
Your enrolment in the Alt Funding School is a business expense. Which means you can deduct it from your taxes! Invest in yourself by applying today.
Week one
Finding the right capital
Overcoming your limited beliefs around money
Understanding yourself and your funding needs
Learning exercise: Complete your Founder Evaluation
Week two
Types of funding: grants & non-dilutive
Your own revenue
Grants & challenges
Incubators, accelerators & venture studios
Rewards-based crowdfunding
A bootstrapping Case Study
Week three and four
Types of funding - debt & equity
Types of debt financing
Raising equity funding
Equity crowdfunding
Angel investors
Impact investing, family offices and innovative VC
Community shares
A founder case study
Learning exercise: complete your investor profile
Week five
Types of funding: innovative funding
Revenue-based funding
Structured exits
Steward-ownership
A founder case study
Meet the alternative funders
Learning exercise: complete your fundraising database
Week six
Create your customised fundraising plan
Fundraising strategy: planning your fundraising roadmap
Learning exercise: complete your funding proposal
Beyond the course
During the Alternative Funding School and beyond, you'll have access to The Kinship, our ever-growing global community of founders.
You'll get access to the following:
- a deep dive into alternative funding in Germany
- a networking hour with Aunnie Patton Power
- a networking hour with Exit to Community
2 BONUS interactive workshops
Access to a live Deep Dive into:
- coming soon!
Learn from the funding experts
Over 50 investors, founders and academics have joined the Considered Capital community to train founders to raise alternative funding
Sibi Murugesan
Chief of Staff Calm Company Fund
Topic: New Financing Instruments
Aunnie Patton Power
Author Adventure Finance
Topic: Your funding roadmap
Daria Urman
Investment Partner at Purpose Economy
Topic: Steward Ownership
Juho Makkonen
Co-founder Sharetribe
Topic: How I fundraised
Asher Ismail
Investor & Co-Founder Upcapped
Topic: Revenue Based funding
Emma Shaw
Co-Founder Library of Things
Topic: How I fundraised
Will Stringer
Founder at Chisos
Topic: New Funding Instruments
Amory Poulden
Founding Partner at D2
Topic: New Financing Instruments
Jenny Kassan
Attorney & Capital raising coach
Topic: Debt & Equity
You'll get lifetime access to an ever-growing library of resources and videos from experts
School schedule
2-4 hours per week (all sessions are recorded)
Runs from 7th February - 20th March 2024
6 Modules Over 6 Weeks
We host just one cohort a year to guarantee the quality of our cohorts.
Live Zoom sessions every Wednesday
4-5:30pm GMT/5-6:30pm CET/8-9:30am PDT
Each session is 90 minutes long and always recorded, so you never miss a thing.
Self-paced videos & projects
2-3 hours per week
You'll get life time access to a library of content from our best experts. We'll hold you accountable with weekly exercises to complete in your own time.
Why should I participate?
2.
FAQs
Doors are open
