Educational session #1:
Fundraising 101 Cap table best practices,
Recording now available
November 25, 2025
The first EIC ACCESS+ Educational Session, “Fundraising 101 and cap-table best practices,” took place on 13 November 2025, bringing together EIC Awardees and Seal of Excellence holders for a deep dive into early-stage fundraising fundamentals and cap table structuring. The session organised by EIC ACCESS+ in collaboration with the EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme, was delivered by the EIC Ecosystem Partner Roundtable and offered participants clear, practical guidance to prepare for their next investment round.
An introduction to early-stage fundraising
Raising capital as a deep-tec h start-up requires more than a promising technological solution. Investor readiness depends strongly on the clarity, organisation and strategy behind a company’s cap table — a key element investors examine before making any commitment.
During the session, Evan Testa (Founder at Roundtable) presented an end-to-end overview of the fundraising process, outlining the essential elements that influence investor perception and decision-making:
How to structure a clean, balanced and investor-friendly cap table
How team distribution, option pools and early allocations affect later-stage rounds
How to navigate negotiations and understand typical terms in early investment documents
Best practices to avoid common pitfalls that can block or significantly delay fundraising
Participants learned how to prepare effectively for investor discussions, structure long-term ownership strategies, and manage equity distribution to support sustainable company growth.
Key Takeaways:
- The typical fundraising roadmap
- How to prepare your fundraise
- How to approach different types of investors
- Raising with Business Angels: pros and cons
- Cap table, what it is and best practices
- Typical clauses to have in mind
- What are SPVs, why are they important and how they work in detail
Useful resources to go deeper
About Roundtable
Roundtable is Europe’s leading platform and financial infrastructure for private markets. Founded in 2022 in Paris, the company has quickly established itself as a key player in democratising access to private markets through a unique combination of community-driven marketplace and automated investment infrastructure. The platform serves a diverse range of users, from investment clubs leaders looking to structure their networks professionally, to founders seeking to maintain clean cap tables while fundraising, and fund managers launching and running funds with institutional-grade infrastructure. Roundtable credentials include EUR 500M+ under administration, 450+ investment communities, 15+ funds onboarded, 25.000+ investors across 100+ nationalities, and 800+ deals completed.
About the Educational Sessions
The EIC ACCESS+ educational sessions are part of a broader effort to offer a practical and value-driven format to help EIC Awardees and Seal of Excellence holders navigate their most common challenges. Each session is led by experienced EIC Ecosystem Partners who share use cases, expert guidance, and actionable tools drawn from their service offerings. The aim is to help beneficiaries better understand the specialised support available within the EIC Service Catalogue, make informed decisions based on their needs and maturity level, and build meaningful connections supported by the EIC ACCESS+ initiative.