Diverse Founders Programme  ·  Applications Open
For Seed to Series A Founders

From deck
to term sheet.

The fundraising programme that puts you in front of investors who are actively deploying capital — not a database. Real introductions. Live feedback. A structured path to close.

Who can apply
Seed Stage Series A Diverse Founding Teams Female-Led Teams EU  ·  UK  ·  US

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis · No commitment to apply

Application received.

We review all applications within 5 working days.
You'll hear from us at [email protected]

What's included in the Founders Programme
01
Self-Paced Modules
Fundraising mechanics, narrative construction, investor psychology, term sheet literacy — built for founders who need to close, not study.
02
Live Group Sessions
Cohort calls with pitch practice, peer feedback and hot-seat sessions with Blossom's IC. Learn as much from watching others pitch as from pitching yourself.
03
Pitch & Deck Review
Your full deck and narrative reviewed by Maria Koletsou — an active investor who has seen both sides of the table. Specific, actionable, honest.
★
1:1 Investor Introductions
Warm introductions into Blossom's network of 70+ active investors across Europe, Asia and the US. This is the differentiator no other programme offers.
70+Active Investors
EU · Asia · USGeographic Reach
Seed → AStage Focus
WarmIntros Only
LiveIC Feedback
Free Resources

Understand the room before you're in it.

Three free resources for founders preparing to raise. No application required.

Free Guide
What Investors Actually Look For in a Deck
The 8 questions every angel asks in the first 60 seconds — and how to answer them before they're asked.
Get the Guide →
Free Framework
The Founder Narrative Framework
Why you, why now, why this market. The three-part story structure that makes investors lean forward — not lean back.
Download Free →
Free Reference
Term Sheet 101: What You're Actually Signing
Valuation caps, pro-rata rights, information rights. The clauses that matter — explained plainly before you negotiate them.
Get the Reference →
The Problem We're Solving

Diverse teams outperform.
The market hasn't priced it yet.

9.3%
Higher IRR from diverse-led teams
EWVC data. Diverse founding teams consistently outperform on returns.
2%
VC funding to female-only teams
Europe, 2024. The performance gap is real. The access gap is larger.
89%
Of VC partners are male
The network gap — not the performance gap — is what we close.
The evidence is unambiguous
Diverse founding teams outperform male-only teams by 9.3% IRR (EWVC). This isn't a social argument — it's a return argument. Blossom invests on evidence, not advocacy.
The gap is access, not performance
Most fundraising programmes teach you how to pitch. Very few put you in the room. The Founders Programme solves both — the preparation and the investor introductions.
We built the network first
Blossom's 70+ investors are actively deploying capital and specifically looking for diverse teams. The Founders Programme is the structured bridge — not a promise, a pathway.
Programme Format

Self-paced. Live. Introduced.

Three layers working together — because knowledge alone doesn't close rounds.

01
Self-Paced Foundation
Modules covering fundraising mechanics, investor psychology, narrative architecture, term sheet literacy and data room preparation. Work at your pace, reference forever.
On demand  ·  Lifetime access
★
1:1 Investor Introductions
Curated, warm introductions to active investors in the Blossom network — matched to your sector, stage and geography. Not a list. A conversation.
Curated matching  ·  Warm intro only
02
Live Group Sessions
Cohort calls with pitch practice, peer feedback and hot-seat sessions with Blossom's IC. Small cohorts, high quality.
Weekly cadence  ·  Small cohorts
03
Pitch & Deck Review
Your full deck, narrative and data room reviewed by an active investor who has seen both sides of the table. Specific, actionable, honest.
1:1 review  ·  Written feedback
Who Should Apply

Built for founders who are
ready to raise.

Not for founders still figuring out product-market fit. For founders who have traction and need capital to scale it.

Diverse Founding Teams
Teams where diversity of background, experience, gender or discipline is a competitive advantage. You build differently because you see differently.
Primary cohort
Female-Led Teams
Female founder or co-founder at seed to Series A. You have traction and a strong thesis. You need investors who understand the market you're building for.
Actively sought
EU · UK · US Founders
Building in Europe with global ambitions, or building globally with European roots. Blossom's network spans all three geographies.
Pan-European + US
The Introductions

Not a database.
A warm conversation.

Every introduction made through Blossom Raise is curated, contextualised and consensual. The investor has been briefed. You've been prepared. The meeting has a purpose.

The Network
70+ Active Angel Investors
Blossom's syndicate spans Europe, Asia and the US. All are qualified, accredited investors who are actively deploying capital — not passive observers.
The Process
Matched. Briefed. Introduced.
We match your company to relevant investors by sector, stage and thesis. We brief them before making the introduction. You walk in with context, not cold.
★
Blossom invests in founders it meets through this programme Founders who complete the Founders Programme are eligible for consideration by the Blossom syndicate. Not a promise of investment — but a genuine path to the investment committee.
How It Works

Four steps from
application to close.

Step 01
Apply
Short application. We review within 5 working days. Selective cohorts — quality over volume.
Step 02
Prepare
Self-paced modules + 1:1 deck review. Get pitch-ready before you get in front of investors.
Step 03
Pitch
Live cohort sessions. IC hot-seat. Warm investor introductions begin here.
Step 04
Close
Ongoing introductions, follow-up support, and potential Blossom syndicate participation.
Why Blossom

We don't just teach fundraising.
We do it.

The Founders Programme is run by an active angel syndicate with 10 live investments across the full lifecycle. The investors in the room are real. The capital is real.

✓
Active Deal FlowBlossom deploys capital across seed to pre-IPO. Founders in this programme are seen by investors actively looking for the next deal.
✓
VC of the Year 2025 ShortlistMaria Koletsou, founder of Blossom, is a recognised figure in European venture — peer and founder voted, GP Bullhound Allstars Awards.
✓
Women Invest EU MemberBlossom is part of the European ecosystem supporting gender-smart capital allocation.
✓
Practitioner-Led, Not AcademicEvery module, session and introduction comes from lived experience — not a textbook. 30+ personal investments. Active today.
Blossom Portfolio — Active Investments
Canva  Pre-IPOSpaceX  Pre-IPOGAIA  Series A Phagos  Series AFiber Foods The Better MenopauseAgave Health Messaging StudioFit Collective
Via LP Position · US Secondary Fund
LP position in a US secondary fund with pre-IPO exposure to the most consequential private technology companies in the world. Blended discount to last round.

Founders who complete the Founders Programme are eligible for syndicate consideration.

Applications Open

Ready to be
in the room?

Selective cohorts. Rolling applications. The sooner you apply, the sooner we can make the introductions that matter.

Application received. We'll be in touch within 5 working days.

[email protected]  ·  No commitment to apply

Not ready to raise yet?
Learn how investors think — before you pitch them.

The Blossom Angel Academy teaches you how active investors evaluate deals, structure terms and make decisions. The best founders know this before they walk into the room.

Explore the Academy →
€295  ·  Self-paced  ·  Q2 2026