How to Raise Funding for Your Startup from Scratch: Real-World Advice for Founders

Launching a startup is exciting—but let’s be honest: the money question is stressful, confusing, and never as simple as “just build something great and investors will appear.” Whether you’re working nights at your kitchen table or already have users and a team, the path to funding is rarely straightforward. But it is doable, and you don’t have to look or act like a “Silicon Valley insider” to make it work.

Here’s a practical, step-by-step breakdown, with hard-won lessons from real founders (including MOCHIMIN’s own journey), for anyone starting from zero.

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1. Bootstrapping: Start with What You’ve Got

What it looks like:
This means using your own savings, early sales, or a small loan from friends or family. No outside investors. No “Shark Tank” drama.

Why it works:

• You keep 100% control—nobody can fire you from your own idea.

• It shows future investors that you believe in your vision enough to risk your own time (and maybe money).

• You’re forced to build only what matters—no budget for distractions.

A founder’s reality:
Mailchimp stayed bootstrapped for almost 20 years and became a billion-dollar company.
Base.vn (Vietnam) didn’t take outside money until the basics were working and users were happy.
MOCHIMIN’s early tools—like Lazy Prompter—were built and shipped before any outside cash came in.

Make it work for you:

• Spend on what moves you forward: code, prototypes, first customers. Skip the swag and fancy office.

• Reinvest every dollar you earn.

• Get used to doing a lot with a little—those skills last forever.

Who this fits:
Founders with a side income, supportive family, or businesses that can earn revenue quickly.

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2. Crowdfunding: Build with Your Community

What it looks like:
You raise small amounts from a lot of people via sites like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or FundStart. In Vietnam, many small food and tech brands started this way.

Why it’s worth considering:

• No single investor calls the shots.

• You get real-world proof people want what you’re selling—even before you finish building.

What works:

• A story people care about. Crowdfunding isn’t “free money”—you need to explain why your product matters.

• A simple, honest video. People connect to real faces, not faceless slides.

• Rewards that feel personal—behind-the-scenes access, limited editions, early access.

When it flops:

• If you treat it as “money for nothing.” You still have to deliver.

• If your campaign is all hype and no substance.

Insider tip:
Ask friends and family to “seed” your campaign first. Nobody wants to be the first backer of an empty project.

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3. Angel Investment: Find Your Early Champions

What it looks like:
An “angel” is just a person with money and business experience who believes in you—often local entrepreneurs or ex-founders.

What they offer:

• Early cash, plus wisdom from someone who’s done it before.

• Usually less paperwork and pressure than big investors.

What they want in return:
A small piece of your company (“equity”). It’s not free, but you get more than just money.

Example close to home:
Foody.vn landed early angel investment, helping it reach the next level before being acquired by SEA Group.

Best approach:

• Meet angels at local startup events, co-working spaces, or even via LinkedIn.

• Prepare a short, no-fluff pitch—what’s the problem, how do you solve it, why are you the one to do it?

• Be honest about what you don’t know yet. Angels value trust as much as profit.

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4. Venture Capital: Fuel for Fast Growth

What it looks like:
VCs manage big pools of money for fast-scaling businesses. They’re looking for high-growth, high-potential bets. This is the step after you have some traction, not the beginning.

What you’ll get:

• A chance to scale—think hiring, marketing, building at speed.

• Access to networks, advice, sometimes even a “brand bump.”

What you’ll give up:

• Significant equity, maybe a board seat.

• Performance pressure—VCs expect real, rapid progress.

Who made it work:
Tiki and Momo both used venture capital to go from local players to market leaders.

Are you ready?

• Only approach VCs when you’ve validated your idea in the real world (users, revenue, or both).

• Target funds that already invest in your industry and size of business—don’t waste time with a scattergun approach.

• Expect deep due diligence: numbers, legal docs, customer interviews.

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5. Pitching to Investors: Tell a Story That Sticks

Forget the buzzwords. What matters most:

• Can you explain the problem and solution so anyone gets it in 60 seconds?

• What have you actually achieved (users, revenue, partnerships)?

• Why are you and your team the best to solve this?

• Can you show numbers—costs, revenue, market size—that add up?

Build a simple pitch deck:

1. What’s the problem?

2. What’s your solution?

3. How big is the opportunity?

4. Who’s on your team?

5. What’s the proof it works?

6. What’s next, and how much do you need?

Tips from the trenches:

• Practice with strangers—not just your friends.

• Shorter is better. Nobody has ever wished for a longer pitch.

• Expect tough questions about risks, competition, and why now.

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6. Fundraising Pitfalls Most Beginners Hit (and How to Dodge Them)

• Raising before you have proof: Build, launch, or sell something—even a little—before asking for investment.

• Pitching the wrong investors: Research who funds your kind of startup; don’t spam every VC or angel.

• Falling for “just one check will solve everything”: Always have a backup plan. Most rounds fall through or take longer than you think.

• Spending big before earning: Keep costs in check until you know what works.

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Quick Reference Table: Which Funding Path Fits You?

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What You Need for Each Stage

• Bootstrapping: Clear plan, barebones budget, grit.

• Crowdfunding: Story, campaign video, rewards, community outreach.

• Angel: Pitch deck, personal outreach, real numbers.

• VC: Traction data, business plan, financials, legal documents.

• Pitch: Slides, short script, founder story, honest numbers.

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Pro Tips for Real-World Founders

• Start building relationships early. Investors back people, not just products.

• Don’t try to look “big.” Authentic progress beats over-polished fluff every time.

• Ask for feedback, not just cash—you’ll get better faster.

• Celebrate small wins. Fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint.

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Final Word: Funding Is a Journey, Not a Jackpot

No two founders have the same funding path. Some bootstrap for years, some catch a lucky break with a campaign, others find just the right angel or VC. The most successful founders don’t wait for the perfect moment—they start with what they have, prove real progress, and keep going.

MOCHIMIN’s story under Kenz Tran shows that a sharp product focus, careful spending, and honest, persistent outreach can open doors anywhere—even if you start small, outside the big funding hubs.

For more founder-tested guides, stories, and practical tools, subscribe to the MOCHIMIN Blog.
And if you want to supercharge your creative productivity, check out Lazy Prompter—built for founders who want to do more with less.

Your journey is unique. Funding it should fit you—not the other way around.