Summer Quiet Weeks: An Ideal Time for Founders to Get Fundraising Ready
For startup founders planning to raise capital later this year, the quieter summer weeks can be the perfect time to prepare. Dr. Florian Kandler’s online Fundraising Summer Camp helps build a professional fundraising strategy before the September rush.
While many startup founders slow down during summer, this period may actually be the best time to prepare for fundraising. According to Dr. Florian Kandler, many early-stage startups fail to secure funding not because their company is uninteresting, but because they enter the process unprepared. Common issues include an unclear story, a random investor list, a constantly changing pitch deck, and a lack of momentum.
To help founders get ready, Kandler organizes the Fundraising Summer Camp 2026, a three-week live online program designed for those planning a serious fundraising push after summer. Rather than waiting until September when investors return from holidays and inboxes crowd, participants can use July to work on the fundamentals of their fundraising strategy.
The program focuses on building key building blocks: an investor story, fundraising strategy, pitch materials, outreach approach, and answers to typical investor questions. The goal is to turn a startup from an “interesting company” into a clearer investment opportunity by addressing fundability, investor fit, round objectives, and positioning of traction, market, team, and timing.
Dr. Florian Kandler is a serial founder, fundraising advisor, pitch coach, and author. He has personally raised millions for his own startups and helped thousands of founders prepare for investor conversations. The camp, now in its 10th consecutive year, is limited to 10 startup spots (2 remaining) to ensure a focused group.
The program includes six half-day live online sessions, practical worksheets, templates, checklists, guides, and access to recordings. Participants also receive implementation support after the camp to refine their process during more active investor periods. The camp starts on July 1 and is aimed at pre-seed and seed stage founders who want to avoid going into conversations with a half-ready deck or a vague strategy.
