Summer is coming, and this is probably the best time to get ready for a fundraising campaign!

As summer approaches—a time when things calm down and slow to a crawl—it’s the perfect time to learn something new! The pace often slows down in the entrepreneurial ecosystem during this time.

As an entrepreneur, this month we invite you to learn about venture capital and, above all, to try to figure out how much money your business needs.

Over the past few weeks, MAIN participated in the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) Summit,, which brought together investors and key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem from across the country. How are investors looking ahead to 2026? What stood out to us is that investors are now focusing much more on discipline than on ambition alone.

When does a fundraiser start?

A fundraising campaign begins when you truly understand why you want to raise funds, how much money the company actually needs, and what that money will enable you to accomplish.

Investors now place much greater emphasis on discipline than on ambition alone. In other words, unrealistic growth plans are less impressive, and entrepreneurs who can clearly explain their actual needs stand out more.

In a more cautious economic climate, understanding one's financing needs becomes a strategic advantage.

Fundraising is not a goal

Raising funds sometimes becomes a symbol of success because it can lead to a media article or be the subject of a LinkedIn post.

But, as explained in the training, fundraising isn't an end in itself—it's a tool! It's like refueling your startup along the way.

What will this money actually help achieve?

Here are a few examples of specific goals:

• reach a certain level of income;
• launch a product;
• enter a new market;
• achieve profitability;
• speed up customer acquisition.

Funding then becomes a means of achieving these goals, rather than an end in itself.

This kind of reflection takes time, and summer can actually provide the space needed to do it properly!

Take Advantage of the Slowdown to Prepare Better

Jumping into a fundraising process without preparation can quickly become extremely costly. Conversely, entrepreneurs who take the time to understand the rules of the game are often much better prepared when the time comes to raise funds.

That is precisely why, at MAIN, we believe that the first step in effective fundraising is not to convince investors, but to develop an understanding of them!

You can purchase your training course here.

— Training program developed by @Front Row Ventures, in collaboration withmain @Espace CDPQ.