Founder Resources
Analysis Tools
Innovate@BU revenue model — an excellent, robust financial model that generates extensive reports and metrics
MIT Financial Model — another excellent downloadable financial template
Overview of Disciplined Entrepreneurship vs. Lean Startup vs. Business Model Canvas
Funding Instruments
Investibule’s discussion of Community Investing
Video on the Four Types of Crowdfunding
Pitching and Funding
List of dozens of small business grants, loans and programs
Angel Capital Association member directory of angel groups
List of New England-based startup accelerators
Going VC’s Due Diligence Scorecard
Article on Types of Funding
Croatan Institute’s Racial Equity Investment Database
TechCrunch guide on How to approach the 3 types of corporate VCs
NSF Funding Overview - As of December 2025, the NSF has paused submission of grant proposals “due to the lapse in congressional authorization.” You can still get information on the program at the url above.
Seraf downloadable Valuation Worksheet. This is an excellent resource that outlines specifics of the factors investors consider when coming up with a valuation and determining “investability.”
Crunchbase: The Ultimate Guide to Raise Startup Capital — an excellent guide that includes definitions of startup phases
Directory of US-Based Accelerators
Discussion of VC Math
Lisa’s Calculators for Founders and Investors
Convertible Note Calculator - This is a calculator I developed to show you what happens when a convertible note converts. You start with basic assumptions about the note and an initial equity financing to see how the conversion mechanics play out.
Equity Dilution with Multiple Funding Rounds — This is another calculator I built that shows you what happens to founder equity with multiple funding rounds. You can choose assumptions, including valuations, amount of the round and whether you have an option pool and the calculator shows you who ends up with how much equity.
Books and Workbooks
Disciplined Entrepreneurship - An excellent open source guide developed by MIT’s Bill Aulet that takes you, step-by-step, through how to turn your idea into a product
Entrepreneurship - An opensource text on founder basics with lots of good discussion on what it’s really like to design a product, assess a market and launch a company
Terminology
Glossary of Startup Terms
Pillar VC’s Termsheet Grader
Going VC’s high level overview of term sheet terms
Structuring the Deal
Funding When Capital Isn’t Cheap - An excellent discussion of how valuation, deal structure and founder and VC interests interact when the funding environment gets tough
General Resources
Founder Playlist, Pillar VC advice and tools on a wide range of startup topics with articles and guidance from founders and funders
MIT library of founder resources, including links to funders, accelerators, competitions and other extensive resources
MIT’s Nuts and Bolts of New Ventures — a course on creating and launching a company with lots of specifics ranging from starting a board to funding to startup costs and more