Raising external capital is a milestone for any company  but it is also a decision that will affect your business for many years to come. The investors you choose, the terms you accept, and the governance structures that are implemented will shape your company’s future. In this article, we walk through what you as a founder should consider, from choosing investors and negotiating term sheets to corporate governance, control, and common pitfalls. 

 

## **Choose Your Investors Wisely** 

 

Raising capital is not just about securing funding, it’s about finding the right partner. Potential investors will conduct due diligence on you, and you should do the same in return. Ask about their track record and how they support their portfolio companies when things get tough. Speak to other founders they have invested in. A good investor can make a real difference for your company, but choosing the wrong partner can cost far more than it contributes. 

 

## **Pay Attention to the Term Sheet**&#x20;

 

A term sheet may look like a simple summary, but it sets the framework for the negotiations that follow.

&#x20;

### As a founder, you should pay particular attention to the following key areas: 

 

**Preference shares**&#x20;

Investors often receive shares with special rights, including the right to get their money back first in a sale or liquidation. Make sure you understand how these preferences work and what they would mean for you in an exit. 

 

**Dilution**&#x20;

Every funding round dilutes existing shareholders. Know how much of your company you are giving away – not just today, but also after future rounds. If a founder has given away too much at an early stage, the company may also become less attractive to future investors. Negotiate anti-dilution protections if you can. 

 

**Board composition**&#x20;

It is reasonable for investors to want board seats, but make sure you retain meaningful influence. If the board is dominated by investor representatives, you may find it harder to make your voice heard. 

 

**Drag-along clauses**&#x20;

These provisions can force minority shareholders to sell if a majority approves a transaction. Although common, the thresholds and conditions matter  make sure they do not deprive you of influence in a future exit. 

 

## **Ensure Sound Corporate Governance** 

 

A well-drafted shareholders’ agreement and articles of association are your safety net. These documents govern how decisions are made, how disputes are resolved, and what happens if someone wants to leave. Do not treat these as boilerplates. Negotiate terms that protect your interests, such as supermajority requirements for material decisions, clear processes for share transfers, and what happens if a co-founder leaves. Ambiguity in governance documents often leads to conflicts down the road. 

 

## **Maintain Control** 

 

Taking on investment does not have to mean giving up control of your company, but it requires careful consideration. 

 

**Protect key decisions**&#x20;

Identify which decisions are critical to your vision - hiring key personnel, changing the business model, issuing shares and other securities  and negotiate veto rights or consent requirements. 

 

**Structure voting rights thoughtfully**&#x20;

Consider share classes with different voting rights if appropriate for your situation. 

 

**Build relationships**&#x20;

Corporate governance is largely about trust. Be sure to maintain open communication with your investors and involve them strategically. If something goes wrong, investors should be informed at an early stage so that you can work together to find a solution. Investors who feel involved tend to be more collaborative. 

 

## **Avoid Common Pitfalls** 

 

As in any commercial negotiation, there are pitfalls. Some common ones we frequently encounter are: 

 

**Rushing**&#x20;

The pressure to secure funding can lead founders to accept unfavourable terms. Take the time to understand every clause  and do not be afraid to walk away if something does not feel right. Ask questions. 

 

**Underestimating legal costs**&#x20;

Good legal advice is not cheap, but bad agreements are far more expensive. Budget for experienced advisors who specialise in investment transactions. 

 

**Focusing only on valuation**&#x20;

A high valuation means nothing if the terms erode your ownership or control. Look at the full picture, including liquidation preferences, anti-dilution protections, and governance rights. 

 

**Neglecting founder alignment**&#x20;

Before raising capital, make sure you and your co-founders are aligned on vision, roles, and what happens if someone leaves. Investor due diligence can expose cracks in the founding team. 

 

## **Final Thoughts** 

 

Raising capital is ultimately about more than money, it is about building the right foundation for your company’s future. If there is one lesson to take into your next fundraising process, it is to be thorough. Ask questions, read the fine print, and surround yourself with advisors who have your back. 

 

You have worked too hard to build your company, do not give away more than you have to, and do not compromise on what matters to you. If you negotiate wisely, you can continue to grow your company on your own terms.

 

  [![alt text](https://feminvest-storage.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/feminvest-storage/b94b1007-25b1-46e3-bce8-c1c50dcbfa57-Wiggelogo.webp)](https://wiggepartners.se/)

 

*Article written by lawyers at Wigge (*[*wiggepartners.se*](https://wiggepartners.se/)*) specialising in transactional law and investments.*  

 

Please contact Louise Sörelind at Wigge if you are about to raise capital, or have questions about fundraising, shareholder agreements, or investment terms. 

 

Louise Sörelind, Counsel – [<u>louise.sorelind@wiggepartners.se</u>](mailto:louise.sorelind@wiggepartners.se) 

 

[![alt text](https://feminvest-storage.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/feminvest-storage/d479da4a-dd4e-4bf0-ab94-d2aff4e7e2d5-33louisesorelind37151794x2100.webp)](https://wiggepartners.se/)

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Raising Capital: What to Know Before You Sign

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Swedish insurtech company and Feminvest Ventures portfolio company Charly has entered into a new partnership with Söderberg & Partners, bringing Charly’s digital platform to more employers and working parents. 

 

Charly’s platform helps parents and expecting parents understand how decisions such as parental leave, working part-time and taking on unpaid work at home can affect their future pension and personal finances. The aim is to make the long-term financial consequences of everyday family decisions more visible and easier to understand. 

> \*\* 

> *“We are delighted to partner with Charly and to be able to offer our clients a platform that clearly and simply illustrates the consequences of decisions made by working parents. With Charly by our side, we further strengthen our pension and insurance offering and can deliver even greater value to our clients through our advisory services,” says Erik Jennefelt, Client Manager at Söderberg & Partners Insurance Consulting.* 

 

Through the partnership, Söderberg & Partners will offer Charly’s platform to its customers as part of its pension and insurance advisory services. According to Erik Jennefelt at Söderberg & Partners Insurance Consulting, the collaboration is intended to give working parents clearer insight into how different choices can affect their financial future, while strengthening employers’ ability to turn gender-equality ambitions into practical action. 

 

For Feminvest the development is particularly relevant because the the fund has invested in the company recently and furthermore the gender pension gap is closely connected to how paid and unpaid work are distributed throughout working life. Making the financial impact of parental leave, part-time work and unpaid care work more transparent can give individuals better information when making these decisions and give employers another practical tool for supporting financial equality. 

 

The partnership also illustrates a broader trend in financial services: technology is increasingly being used not only to manage money, but to help people understand the long-term financial consequences of major life decisions.

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Charly and Söderberg & Partners: Making the Gender Pension Gap More Visible

✨ Female Role Model of the Year 2026 was this Friday handed out in Strängnäs for the first time! ✨

We are incredibly proud to be invited by Charlotte Breyer and Sofia Carlzon Företagarna Strängnäs-Mariefred to establish an award celebrating a woman who not only creates success for herself, but creates opportunities for others.

It’s about opening doors.
Creating community.
Sharing knowledge.
And making it easier for the next woman to take the leap

🏆 Female Role Model of the Year 2026 was given to Malin Mörner with the following motivation.

"She had the courage to leave a ten-year career in finance behind and build a creative business of her own. Today, she runs successful businesses across photography, storytelling, branding and social media. But what truly sets her apart is not only what she has built for herself it’s what she creates for others. She uses her experience and her platform to champion other women, inspiring them to believe in their ideas, recognise the value of their expertise and build sustainable businesses of their own. Through creative spaces, education and community, she creates opportunities for women to grow, connect and step confidently into their own potential. She leads by example, choosing her own path and encouraging others to be brave enough to choose theirs. She doesn’t just build businesses or create content. She creates opportunities, community and meaningful change."

Angelina Lee-Lundin from Feminvest Fund Accelerator, Michaela Berglund and Mareauline Bernitz from Feminvest Ventures where invited to take part and all dressed in @ivory fields.

Female Role Model of the Year 2026

**Farida Banu once had no stable income of her own. Today, she runs a jewellery business that employs 15 women in her village. Her story makes the connection between entrepreneurship, ownership and independence tangible.** 

 

What does financial independence make possible? For Farida Banu, the answers are concrete: buying food, paying for her children’s schooling and affording medicine when it is needed. 

 

Growing up in northwestern India, Farida had little economic security and few opportunities to shape her future. Starting her own business gave her a way to begin changing that. 

 

*“I wanted to show that it's possible to create something of your own,”* she says. 

 

With a small loan and entrepreneurship training through Hand in Hand, Farida founded Seyfu Pearls Creation, producing handcrafted pearl jewellery. Today, the company employs 15 women in her village. 

 

Behind that number are women earning an income of their own—and families with more resources to meet everyday needs. 

 

### An income of her own. More choices for her future. 

 

Farida and the women she employs work with beads, tools and materials to create jewellery by hand. Each sale contributes to the livelihoods supported by the business. 

 

*“Having our own income gives us freedom and confidence,”* Farida says. “*I'm proud to give more women the chance to support themselves.”* 

 

Her words capture something that revenue and employment figures alone cannot: the confidence that comes with being able to support yourself and contribute to someone else’s opportunity. 

 

![alt text](https://feminvest-storage.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/feminvest-storage/73d3cd02-d715-4365-be97-7dcf656dc0cd-DSC00199.webp) 

 

### Why this story belongs in the ownership conversation 

 

At Feminvest, we talk about increasing women’s ownership. Farida’s experience gives that ambition a concrete meaning: a woman building a business, earning her own income and creating jobs for others. 

 

It also brings the conditions for entrepreneurship into focus. Farida had the determination to build something. A small loan and access to training helped her put that determination to work. 

 

Her story is a reason to ask: how many more women could build businesses if they had access to the capital and support to get started? 

  

 ![alt text](https://feminvest-storage.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/feminvest-storage/fcb45826-c559-42b6-9245-ad58c3f262e6-Handinhand.webp)

  

 

*Hand in Hand Sweden empowers women to turn ideas into thriving businesses — and into economic independence, ownership, and long‑term security. Through entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and community‑driven leadership, we unlock the transformative power that emerges when women gain the tools to build something of their own. The result is growing enterprises, stronger communities, and a future where more women own their economy, their opportunities, and their path forward.* 

 

![alt text](https://feminvest-storage.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/feminvest-storage/81ae9b34-cb27-4b11-ad5b-58572c4cc186-DSC01527.webp)

She started with a small loan. Today, her business employs 15 women!

What if we used our lunch break to move? 

Introducing **Feminvest Lunch Run**: a community run for anyone that wants to join. On the 4th we step away from our desks and run together.

No matter your pace. No matter your level.

This isn't about running the fastest. 

Bring your colleagues, your friends, your running shoes and your ambition. 

 

[@runforwomensownership](https://www.instagram.com/runforwomensownership/)

Fearless returns for its 13th edition, this time in a more intimate and curated setting at AtSix in the heart of Stockholm. 

 

Fearless brings together **women who invest, women who build companies and the partners helping them make smarter decisions, create stronger businesses and grow their ownership.** 

 

This is not a traditional conference! 

 

It is a meeting place designed around conversations that can actually lead somewhere: a new investment, a new client, a new partner, a new perspective or the introduction that changes what happens next.

 

#### How to join: 

 

## &#x20;Buy your ticket [HERE](https://feminvest.confetti.events/fearless-stockholm-autumn26) or  

 

Get your free ticket by logging into feminvest website below if you are a member in Feminvest ***Core or Investor Network**. If you are not a member,* *b*[*ecome a member HERE.*](https://www.feminvest.se/medlemskap/)

Feminvest Membership

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The Feminvest latest

Raising Capital: What to Know Before You Sign

Charly and Söderberg & Partners: Making the Gender Pension Gap More Visible

Female Role Model of the Year 2026

She started with a small loan. Today, her business employs 15 women!