The Founder's Guide to Venture Capital
The Founder's Guide to Venture Capital

The Founder's Guide to Venture Capital

James Fuller, co-founder of Hnry, builds the guide he wishes he'd had before raising six rounds of funding.

From First Raise to Fully Funded: Lessons from a Founder Who’ll Help You Do It Too

Raising venture capital is a critical decision that can dramatically change your business - and your life as a founder. It can bring rapid growth and valuable connections, but it also comes with significant trade-offs. This page is designed to help you, as a New Zealand founder, quickly and clearly evaluate whether taking VC funding is right for you - and if it is, how to actually go out and raise it successfully.

Designed for first-time NZ founders, this resource helps you decide whether venture capital is the right path - and if it is, how to raise it the right way. Clear, founder-tested insights on navigating the decision, managing investor pressure, and closing rounds that actually benefit your business.

What You’ll Get from This Page:

  • Decide if VC is the right path for your startup — based on your goals, traction, and appetite for growth.
  • Raise venture capital that suits your business — including how to navigate continued rounds of global venture capital without losing focus or control.
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James Fuller

Co-Founder & CEO, Hnry

James Fuller is the co-founder and CEO of Hnry - a world-first digital accounting service founded in Wellington in 2017.

James and wife Claire co-founded Hnry as just a couple of spreadsheets at their dining room table, Hnry now has over 150 staff across 3 countries, is one of the largest accountancies in Australasia, and processes in excess of $3bn of transactions annually.

Hnry has raised over NZD$65m in venture funding across 6 rounds, with investment coming from New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

Connect: LinkedIn | Hnry

Part 1: Is VC Right for My Startup?

  1. Should I Raise Venture Capital?
  2. VC vs Bootstrapping: A Quick Comparison
  3. Is My Startup Ready to Raise VC?
    • Capital Readiness Checklist
    • Readiness vs Reality

Part 2: The Fundraising Process

  1. How to Raise Venture Capital as a Founder
    • Where to Start: The 4 Key Questions to Ask Yourself
  2. What to Look for in an Investor
    • Red Flags that Indicate you Should Walk Away
  3. How the Capital Raise Process Plays Out

Part 3: How to Raise a Successful Round

  1. How to Engage Investors: A Step by Step Process
  2. The Best Intro Framework
    • Fillable Company Intro Template
    • Example Best Practice Email
  3. The Risks of Raising Venture Capital

Part 4: How It Feels to Run a VC-backed Startup

  1. What Changes After You Raise VC?
  2. Getting the Most from VC Relationships
  3. When Do VC Relationships Break Down?
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Accounting and tax automation for sole traders

Hnry is a New Zealand-based digital accounting service built for sole traders, freelancers, and contractors. It automatically handles tax payments, invoicing, expense tracking, and end-of-year filings—so users never have to worry about tax again. With a simple 1% pay-as-you-earn model (capped annually), Hnry combines automation with expert accounting support. It’s a stress-free, all-in-one solution for self-employed professionals who want to save time, save money and stay compliant. https://hnry.co.nz/

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