You need to raise money.
You don’t know when.
You need milestone-based planning.
You need strategic fundraising.
Milestone-based funding. Strategic planning. Measurable progress. Your success.
This guide shows you how.
Milestone identification. Funding timing. Progress tracking. Your strategy.
Read this. Plan milestones. Time fundraising.
Key Takeaways
- Identify milestones—define key business milestones that require funding
- Calculate funding needs—use Funding Need Calculator for each milestone
- Time fundraising—raise 3-6 months before milestone to ensure execution
- Track progress—monitor milestone progress to adjust funding timing
- Plan next round—use milestone completion to plan next funding round
Table of Contents
Why Milestones Matter
Milestones enable strategic fundraising.
What happens without milestones:
- Fundraising is reactive
- Timing is wrong
- Capital is misallocated
- Growth is constrained
What happens with milestones:
- Fundraising is strategic
- Timing is optimal
- Capital is allocated properly
- Growth is accelerated
The reality: Milestones enable success.
Identifying Milestones
Identify key business milestones:
Product Milestones
What milestones:
- MVP launch
- Product-market fit
- Feature completion
- Platform launch
Why it matters: Product milestones require funding.
Revenue Milestones
What milestones:
- First revenue
- $10K MRR
- $100K ARR
- Break-even
Why it matters: Revenue milestones show progress.
Growth Milestones
What milestones:
- 100 customers
- 1,000 users
- Market expansion
- Geographic expansion
Why it matters: Growth milestones require capital.
Strategic Milestones
What milestones:
- Key partnerships
- Major contracts
- Team expansion
- Market position
Why it matters: Strategic milestones enable growth.
Pro tip: Identify milestones. Product, revenue, growth, strategic. Milestones drive funding needs.
Calculating Funding Needs
Calculate funding for each milestone:
Use Funding Calculator
Calculate it:
- Use our Funding Need Calculator
- Enter burn rate
- Set runway for milestone
- Include milestone costs
- See funding need
Why it matters: Calculator shows funding need.
Include Milestone Costs
What costs to include:
- Direct milestone costs
- Supporting infrastructure
- Team needs
- Marketing and growth
Why it matters: Complete costs enable accurate calculation.
Add Buffer
What buffer to add:
- 10-20% contingency
- For timing delays
- For cost overruns
- For unexpected needs
Why it matters: Buffer provides safety.
Pro tip: Calculate funding. Use our Funding Need Calculator. Include milestone costs, add buffer. Accurate calculation enables success.
Timing Fundraising
Time fundraising around milestones:
Raise Before Milestone
When to raise:
- 3-6 months before milestone
- Enough time to execute
- Before cash runs low
- While runway is adequate
Why it matters: Early raising enables execution.
Avoid Last-Minute
Why to avoid:
- Desperation signals
- Poor terms
- Limited options
- Execution pressure
Why it matters: Last-minute raising hurts you.
Use Runway Calculator
Calculate it:
- Use our Cash Runway Calculator
- See current runway
- Plan fundraising timing
- Ensure adequate runway
Why it matters: Runway calculation enables timing.
Pro tip: Time fundraising. Raise 3-6 months before milestone. Avoid last-minute. Use runway calculator for timing.
Tracking Progress
Track milestone progress:
Monitor Milestone Progress
What to monitor:
- Milestone completion status
- Timeline progress
- Cost tracking
- Resource allocation
Why it matters: Monitoring enables adjustment.
Adjust Funding Timing
What adjustments:
- Accelerate if ahead
- Delay if behind
- Adjust amount if needed
- Revise plans
Why it matters: Adjustment maintains strategy.
Use Burn Rate Tracking
Track it:
- Use our Burn Rate Calculator
- Monitor monthly burn
- Compare to plan
- Adjust as needed
Why it matters: Burn tracking enables monitoring.
Pro tip: Track progress. Monitor milestones, adjust timing, track burn rate. Progress tracking enables success.
Planning Next Round
Plan next round based on milestones:
Use Milestone Completion
What to use:
- Milestone completion
- Progress made
- Value created
- Next milestone needs
Why it matters: Milestone completion enables next round.
Calculate Next Funding Need
Calculate it:
- Use our Funding Need Calculator
- Enter new burn rate
- Set runway for next milestone
- Include next milestone costs
- See next funding need
Why it matters: Calculation enables planning.
Plan Timing
What timing:
- After milestone completion
- Before next milestone
- With adequate runway
- At optimal valuation
Why it matters: Timing enables success.
Pro tip: Plan next round. Use milestone completion, calculate next need, plan timing. Next round planning enables growth.
Your Next Steps
Identify milestones. Calculate funding. Time fundraising.
This Week:
- Review this guide
- Identify key milestones
- Calculate funding for first milestone
- Plan fundraising timing
This Month:
- Execute milestone plan
- Track progress
- Adjust timing as needed
- Plan next milestone
Going Forward:
- Use milestone-based planning
- Calculate funding accurately
- Time fundraising strategically
- Track and adjust continuously
Need help? Check out our Funding Need Calculator for funding calculation, our Cash Runway Calculator for runway calculation, our Burn Rate Calculator for burn rate tracking, our funding needs calculator walkthrough for step-by-step guidance, and our funding plan guide for different capital strategies.
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Sources & Additional Information
This guide provides general information about milestone-based funding planning. Your specific situation may require different considerations.
For funding need calculation, see our Funding Need Calculator.
For cash runway calculation, see our Cash Runway Calculator.
For burn rate calculation, see our Burn Rate Calculator.
Consult with professionals for advice specific to your situation.
