Bridge the Gap from “Good Idea” to “Funded Company”
I help pre-seed founders raise their first 500k to 1.5M from angels, even if they do not have a strong investor network yet.
Explore the ways we can work together.
"Lance Cottrell can identify the superpowers in a founding team and bring them to the surface like none other."
-Torrey Smith - CEO Endiatx
First Council Call
One structured hour, once per founder
This is where most founders should start.
Send me your deck and any other materials a few days ahead. I read them before we talk, so we don't burn the hour on background. We spend it on what's actually blocking you, whether that's the narrative, the numbers, the targeting, or the process.
Within 48 hours you get a written summary of what we found and what to do about it.
It's $500, and you can book it once. My standing rate is $1,500 an hour, so this is a one-time introductory price rather than what an hour normally costs. The point is to let you find out whether working together is worth it before you commit at the full rate.
Ongoing Advisory
For founders who want someone in their corner through the whole raise
This is my main way of working with founders now. I've stopped running cohort programs so that time goes into one-on-one work instead.
Each month you get two working sessions, sixty minutes each, scheduled in advance. We spend them on whatever is actually live: your pricing, the deck, a hiring decision, which investors to approach and in what order. Between sessions you can email me. I answer within one business day on weekdays.
You also get the full workshop library from day one, every Founder Quest workshop, immediate access. It leans toward fundraising, so how much you'll use it depends on where you are.
It's $2,500 a month. Month to month, no contract, no minimum term, cancel any month.
If you'd rather not commit monthly, I also take single sessions at my standing rate of $1,500 an hour.
Who this isn't for: if you're pre-idea and looking for a business to start, or you want someone to do the work rather than sharpen your thinking, this is the wrong fit. I also don't sell investor introductions, and the retainer buys none.
Free Resources
Not Ready Yet? Start here.
If you are still validating your idea or just getting oriented, start with my free Feel the Boot content.
You will find videos, blogs, and podcast episodes on fundraising, pitching, and startup strategy.
These are a great way to climb the early part of the learning curve before you are ready for a program or advisory.
High Impact Advice
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"In a wild-west of Advisors ... Lance is an expert, high-caliber, high-integrity, highly-effective and truly cares about the companies he works with."
Laura Bloomer - CEO/Founder Redaim
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"Lance’s guidance was invaluable for us. He quickly identified the key strengths of our pitch and showed us how to clarify our story in a way that truly resonates with investors."
Rishabh Gupta - Co-Founder Actuality
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"His clarity of thought and focus on the key drivers of a business have proven to be invaluable to my team and me."
Chase Palmieri - CEO Credder
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![Torrey Smith]()
"Lance Cottrell can identify the superpowers in a founding team and bring them to the surface like none other."
Torrey Smith - CEO Endiatx
