# Founder funding preparation worksheet

MLAI editorial worksheet | revised 9 September 2026

Purpose: prepare questions and an evidence record, not determine whether you
should raise, how much you should raise, or whether an investment is suitable.
Save a copy and edit the blank fields. Do not include confidential customer data.

## 1. Name the decision

- Customer and specific problem:
- Existing evidence, date and source:
- Assumption still untested:
- Proposed milestone and acceptance criteria:
- Evidence that would cause us to narrow, delay or stop:
- Alternatives to this plan and unresolved constraints:

## 2. Build a dated cash plan

Do not assume a universal runway duration. Include applicable obligations,
payment dates, operating costs, taxes and financing costs. Get qualified advice
where required. Keep uncertain receipts separate from cash already available.

- Cash available after accounting for other obligations:
- Work required, dependencies and responsible person:
- One-off costs, quote/estimate status and due dates:
- Ongoing costs and payment dates:
- Confirmed receipts and expected dates:
- Uncertain receipts (exclude from a no-receipts scenario):
- Milestone completion date and basis:
- Delayed scenario, changed costs and earliest cash shortfall:
- Unpriced obligations or unresolved assumptions:

### Fictional example (AUD), not a recommended raise

Assume $30,000 available, $6,000 setup and $12,000 monthly costs.
No revenue or new investment is assumed.

| Scenario | Cost | Gap against available cash |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Three months | $42,000 | $12,000 |
| Five months | $66,000 | $36,000 |

The two-month delay adds $24,000. This example omits tax, financing costs and
other obligations, and does not model dates within each month. A real plan must
include everything applicable. Neither gap automatically determines a raise
amount or shows the milestone is worth pursuing. Expected investment is not
cash in hand. Do not commit to costs on the assumption that funding will arrive.

## 3. Prepare a checkable account

- Claim about current progress:
- Supporting evidence and permission to share:
- Limitations, failures and contradictory evidence:
- Planned work (clearly separate from completed work):
- Legal, tax or financing questions for qualified advisers:
- Non-confidential question for a relevant founder learning event:

An update tool or community discussion does not verify investability, provide
financial advice, or guarantee funding. Peer feedback is not customer validation.

## Sources and next steps

- [Australian Government venture-capital preparation guidance](https://business.gov.au/finance/funding/pitch-for-venture-capital)
- [YC seed-fundraising guide, January 2016](https://www.ycombinator.com/blog/how-to-raise-a-seed-round): historical context, not current Australian runway or financing advice.
- [Read the MLAI article](https://mlai.au/articles/featured/startup-company-investment-for-ai-founders)
- [Find a relevant MLAI event](https://mlai.au/events)

Sources checked 9 September 2026. The example and worksheet are editorial
teaching material, not an individual funding assessment or verified case study.