We get founders funded
210 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 seven-weeks
Why you should apply for the funding school
Testimonials from our global Kinship 
Romek Goj, Founder, Notebits 
"The Alternative Funding School has been a wonderful experience! A true wealth of perspectives, resources, guidance, inspiration and fundraising support - both in the course sessions and online materials themselves, i.e. Esme's and guest speakers' knowledge, as well as in the incredible people who participated!!"
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, 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, 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!"
Meet our founder
Esme Verity
Fundraising coach and Alternative Funding Expert
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.
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.
- The cohort includes 90-minute live workshops every Wednesday with the best funding experts globally.
- Available both live and on-demand
- Each session includes Q&A's with your instructor and group work with your peers
- Lifetime access to 20+ hours of expert content from our video library
- Access to a Global Funding Directory full of grants, non-dilutive funding and impact investors
- Weekly exercises to hold you accountable and turn thought into action
- Practical worksheets, tools & guides, that will save you hours of work
- Case studies of innovative companies and their financing structures
- Discounts on selected specialist services and fundraising platforms
- Lifetime access to an online network of purpose-led founders where you can meet, ask questions and share knowledge.
- An online digital space built just for your cohort
- After the Alt Funding School, you'll have access to The Kinship to continue your learning journey with 200 other Alt Funding School alumni
- An accountability group with four other founders with similar interests to help hold you accountable, share knowledge and build new connections - a student favourite!
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.
Accountability = confidence
We recognize that accountability is a key ingredient to the confidence you need to go out there and fundraise for your business. Our one-to-one coaching with Esme is built on this principle. We want to offer tailored support at every step of your funding journey. Our coaching isn't just about providing information; it's about ensuring that your focus is sharp and confidence is high. With Esme as your dedicated coach, guiding you throughout your fundraising process, you’ll not only build your fundraising knowledge, but you’ll get expert advice and accountability to propel you forward.
If this interests you, then select the package that includes two one-to-one coaching calls with Esme.
Coaching testimonial
I’ve now spent a good few hours exploring, filing away, prioritising the resources, and making notes based on our conversation. I feel it’s been very, very valuable. With the combination of the foundation of The Alternative Funding School, its wealth of resources, and Esme's one-to-one guidance, I must say this combination feels just perfect!
- Romek Goj, Founder of Notebits
Some of the funders in our network
Early Bird Pricing
without coaching
with coaching
Single founder seat
£795 £595
- Price for one founder to enrol in our seven-week Alt Funding School
- Available as 4 payments of £148.50
- Bulk discount available for Co-Founders & Teams
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
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
Learning exercise: complete your investor profile
Week five and six
Types of funding: innovative funding
Revenue-based funding
Structured exits
Steward-ownership
Meet the alternative funders
Learning exercise: complete your fundraising database
Week seven
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:
- financial reporting and getting the numbers right
- legal and governance structures for impact business
- networking hours
2 BONUS interactive workshops
Access to a live Deep Dive into:
- coming soon!
Our expert network
Get personalised guidance from experts, instructors and coaches with years of fundraising experience. Our global network consists of impact angels, impact investors, VCs, debt providers and innovative funders.
Jem Stein
Daring Capital
Impact Angels
Sibi Murugesan
Calm Company Fund
Shared Earnings Agreement
Daria Urman
Purpose Fund
Steward-Owned aligned financing
Jenny Kassan
Attorney 🇺🇸
Debt & Equity
Asher Ismail
Uncapped 🇬🇧
Revenue Based funding
Laura Marras
Roots Of Impact 🇪🇸
Impact linked finance
Will Stringer
Chisos
The Convertible Income Share Agreement
Danny Spitzburg
Exit to Community
Alternative Exits
Jess Bailey
Crowd 360
Crowdfunding
You'll get lifetime access to an ever-growing library of resources and videos from experts
You'll be building founder friendships for life and leave with a new-found fundraising confidence
“With the knowledge, tools, and global community offered by Alternative Funding School, you'll empower yourself to take the lead in any funding discussion and make informed funding decisions for your impact startup.
- Derya İzgür
“I’m speaking a whole new language having completed Esme’s Alt Funding School. I've learnt more about the options available to our business than I could ever have imagined. Whilst it has felt overwhelming the tools I now have to map out our funding strategy are invaluable and we’re enjoying working through them all. ”
- Natalie Silverman
“I feel more confident about my fundraising journey !”
- Atinuke Awe
“I would absolutely recommend the Alternative Funding School to a friend who is wanting to learn the bones of fundraising. I have made a group of solid friends to whom I am now accountable for my fundraising, and have most of the tools at my disposal to seek funding.”
- Donna Stimson
“I loved how candid it was. I feel like I've learned a lot from having this personal look at VC funding from the other side. Thank you!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Romek Goj
“it was a really safe space to ask questions and get solid foundations about fundraising.”
- Caitlin Rozario
Why should I participate?
2.
FAQs
Doors are open now
For Organisations
contact@consideredcapital.io