Global fundraising, capital raising trends and technology developments. He also writes The Raise or Die Letter and hosts Deal Makers (& Fakers).
/ Resource hub
Everything spectup publishes
Six formats, on one page.
Who publishes it
Two accounts, two halves of a transaction. The subjects under each name are the ones each of them posts on most.
spectup on LinkedIn
How limited partners and family offices decide, and what makes a fund manager easy to back. He also posts on capital concentration data and off-market deal origination.
Deal Makers (& Fakers)
17The people who just closed a round or a deal, on how it got done. For anyone raising, allocating or buying.
Every episode
Martin JanickiHe Planned His Entire VC Career 15 Years AheadDr. Andreas SchmidtThe Biggest Problem in Startup Fundraising Isn't MoneyAndy GoldsteinHow to Spot Unicorns in 2026?Sam Tidswell-NorrishHow Private Equity Actually Works? The $10B PlaybookChristian RebernikHow to Raise $15M & Build a University?Denis KalyshkinWhy This $400M Fund Ignores SaaS?Vlad SarcaFrom a €15M market operator to a €30M VC – Secrets of a Venture CapitalistDr. Emanuela MaggioniFrom academic research to raising €4.5M Capital for AI-powered Scent TechKirk DonohoeFrom Mastercard to Raising $5M from 20VC on a WeekendArmon ShareiHe raised $400M for Biotech, an MIT PhD and a secret to the Roche deal.Florian Myter€75 MRR and 3 Customers, and then Figma Pivoted Him to €1.2M.Marnix StokvisA Cold DM Booked the Ex-Philips CEOJames MarksThe AWS Insider Who Saw a $500B InefficiencyJuanjo MestreHe Raised €2M at Just €70K ARR, Without Pitching a Single InvestorDr. Nick KanopoulosHe Raised €18.6M+ For A Deeptech Startup During Greeks CrisisLars EickhoffHe Built A 24‑Person PropTech. 19% MoM. $0 VC Funding.Jessica LiewShe Raised $1M Pre-Seed in Berlin – How Jessica Liew Did It
Write-ups
64Filed under 10 subjects, newest first.
Earnout in M&A: What the Deferred Price Is Worth
Management Buyout: Funding, Tax and Owner Protection
Continuation Fund: LP Elections, Pricing and the Next Fund
Limited Partnership Agreement: Waterfall, Key Person, MFN
Venture Capital Fund Structure: What LPs Check First
What Is a Bridge Round, and When Does It Pay Off?
Venture Debt Financing: How It Works and What It Costs
Term Sheet Explained: Binding Terms and Red Flags
Capital Introduction: How It Works and Who Offers It
Deal Sourcing: How PE Buyers Reach Owners Before a Sale
Buy-and-Build Strategy: How PE Platforms Price Add-Ons
Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM): What Goes in It
Lehman Formula: How M&A Advisory Fees Are Calculated
The Sell-Side M&A Process: 9 Steps From Mandate to Signing
Pre-IPO Funding Rounds: Structure, Investors, Lockups
Series B Funding in 2026: Valuations, Investors and Terms
Fund of Funds: How FoFs Pick Managers and Charge LPs
Private Equity Secondaries: LP-Led, GP-Led and NAV Pricing
Angel Investing Trends 2026: What Changes in Your Next Round
AI Fundraising Tools for Startups: Where AI Stops in a Raise
How Much Does a Pitch Deck Cost in 2026? What Sets the Price
Term Sheet vs LOI: What a Seller Signs and What It Starts
What Is a Pitch Deck? Meaning, Slides and Who Reads It
Airbnb Pitch Deck Analysis: All 14 Original Slides
Investor Outreach: A Step-by-Step Guide
Venture Capital vs Investment Banking: Who Works for Whom
Private Placement Memorandum: Contents, Rule 506 and Filings
How to Raise Venture Capital: A Step-by-Step Playbook
Pitch Deck Outline: The 12 Slides and What Each Must Prove
TAM SAM SOM: Worked Examples and What Investors Test
Startup Funding Stages: Pre-Seed to Pre-IPO, Explained
What Is a Private Equity Placement Agent?
Business Exit Strategy: Trade Sale, PE, MBO or IPO
Silent Partner vs Investor: What Owners Give Up and Keep
Investment Memo: What PE and Corporate Committees Read
How Long a Pitch Deck Should Be: Perfect Length
Investment into a Startup Company: How It Works
Non-Dilutive Funding Guide for Startups
What Is a Virtual Data Room? Guide to Investor Due Diligence
Choosing a VC Fund Administrator: The 2026 Framework
Investor Due Diligence: Founder's Guide
Series A Traction Metrics: Benchmarks & Investor Requirements
Family Office Investing: How to Access Patient Capital
Convertible Notes for Capital Seed Raise
How VCs Make Investment Decisions?
Angel Investors Vs. Venture Capitalists: Which Path Fits
Pitch Deck Traction Slide: Metrics That Move Investors
Pre Seed Funding: Raise $100K–$500K Without Over-Diluting
Pre-Seed vs Seed Funding: Key Differences & Guide
Corporate Venture Capital: 5 Strategic Goals & 2026 Trends
How to Get Warm Introductions to Investors
What Do VCs Look For? The 4 Pillars Investor Framework
How to Send Pitch Deck to Investors Strategically
How to Present a Pitch Deck That Closes Funding Rounds
Pitch Deck vs Business Plan: When to Write Each
Seed Funding: The Metrics That Separate Closes from Declines
Startup Valuation: How Founders Actually Get Funded in 2026
Financial Pitch Deck Slide: Design That Closes Investors
How Pitch Deck Changes by Stage: What Investors Expect
How to Protect Your Idea When Pitching It to Investors
Financial Projections for Startups: Build One That Survives
Competitive Slide Pitch Deck: What Investors Actually Want
Key Metrics Investors Look for in Startups - Our Guide
Post Money Valuation vs Pre Money: What Founders MissNothing matches that.
Comparisons
6The firms a company or a fund shortlists, ranked. spectup is in all 6 and the case against it is in each one.
/ 0112firmsBest Private Placement Agency in 2026: 12 Firms Compared/ 0210firmsBest Startup Consulting Firms in 2026: 10 Compared/ 0314firmsBest Pitch Deck Design Agencies in 2026: 14 Compared/ 0411firmsBest Capital Raising Firms in 2026: 11 Compared/ 0512firmsBest Pitch Deck Consultants in 2026: 12 Firms Compared/ 0610firmsBest Fundraising Consultants for Startups in 2026
Calculators
4The arithmetic a term sheet turns on, run in the browser.
The Raise or Die Letter
9What we see in the market before it prices in.
Every issue
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Free, and every issue is public.
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