“The Fundraising Blueprint delivers exactly what first-time founders need: a tactical guide to raising capital in weeks, not months. No theory. No fluff. This is the proven process behind millions in successful raises.” That’s the promise on the back cover of Abhishek Maran’s debut, and for the most part he delivers.
Written by venture capitalist Abhishek Maran, formerly of Rampersand and author of the Superfluid newsletter, the book draws on his experience working with hundreds of startups and “thousands of pitches and founders from Silicon Valley to Australia.” He distils that experience into a book that feels less like a theory-heavy text and more like a field guide. For first-time founders, access to this kind of candid insider perspective is rare.
I first picked up the book after attending the launch event in Sydney this April, where Maran signed copies and spoke to a packed room of founders and operators. The fundraising climate in Australia has cooled, with investors more cautious, deal flow slowing, and higher benchmarks set for traction. At recent events and VC panels, I’ve heard the same concerns echoed: founders feeling the squeeze of longer fundraising timelines, sharper investor scrutiny, and valuations that no longer match market reality. In that context, a guide that strips fundraising down to the essentials couldn’t be better timed.
One of the book’s standout qualities is its no-nonsense clarity. Maran writes in plain English, strips away fluff, and organises the material into a logical, step-by-step guide. The structure is reinforced with visuals and diagrams that break up heavier text, making the content easier to digest. I read it cover to cover in about three and a half hours.
What makes the book especially useful is how practical and sharp the guidance is. Maran doesn’t just rehearse generic startup wisdom; he’s willing to expose the realities of perception, power, and investor behaviour in ways that first-time founders rarely hear spelled out. That candour is refreshing. For founders who are often piecing together scattered advice from podcasts, Twitter threads, and blogs, having a cohesive, insider-backed playbook in one place is a genuine advantage.
Here are some examples of the kind of cut-through advice Abhi gives:
- “Your pitch deck has ONE goal – to secure a first meeting with an investor. It is NOT meant to convince them to invest in your business.”
- “By artificially benchmarking lower, you're creating the perception that your business is comparatively more mature and more successful than other companies in that stage. This is a pretty sly tactic, but has definitely worked in the past to increase demand for rounds.”
- “The one channel where you can make some missteps is through attending too many events. Put simply, if you attend too many social or panel style events most VCs will assume that you probably don't have enough going on with your startup or you're managing your time poorly.”
- “VCs don't always invest in companies where they have a strong thesis. In many cases, a VC will chase deals that they think are hot or will get marked up heavily in the next round. They don't actually have a thesis in the area, and they'll spend a lot of their time trying to sell you on their ability to be helpful (spoiler alert: they won't ever be helpful).”
This type of advice shows why the book is valuable: it provides founders with a straightforward process, equips them with practical tactics, and offers a rare insider’s perspective on the dynamics of fundraising. For first-time founders, these are useful reality checks.
The book also includes helpful resources beyond the main chapters, including an appendix covering what to include when constructing a data room and the questions VCs like to ask. Readers also receive bonus access to digital versions of all the worksheets, plus additional tools such as AI prompts.
Still, the book has limits. For a novice founder encountering these ideas for the first time, some of the language presumes prior knowledge. Common phrases that investors use — like “minimum loveable product,” “returning a fund,” or acronyms such as “GTM” — are mentioned without explanation. Even key documents like a “term sheet” are referenced, but there’s no example of what a typical one looks like in practice.
Sometimes, I felt unprepared to fully understand the context and needed to pause and look things up. The absence of these explanations isn’t a dealbreaker — it’s a tactical manual, not a glossary — but first-time founders may need additional resources for a more comprehensive understanding.
Certain sections feel text-heavy; incorporating more visuals and founder case studies would help bring the lessons to life. That said, Maran isn’t trying to be exhaustive. He’s offering a process you can act on.
Readers looking to deepen their understanding of how deals are negotiated and explore the details of term sheets will find this in Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson’s Venture Deals. Meanwhile, readers interested in understanding the long-term influences on the venture capital industry will find that perspective in Sebastian Mallaby’s The Power Law.
Abhishek Maran's 'The Fundraising Blueprint'
Maran closes with a grounded reminder: “Remember, successfully raising capital is a huge achievement, but is only the start of your journey… Building a startup is meant to be one of the hardest things you can do, so don't take your opportunity lightly.”
The Fundraising Blueprint offers an insider’s perspective that is practical, providing a straightforward and tactical starting point for founders navigating a tougher fundraising environment. And for many, that’s exactly what matters most.
