In this hands-on masterclass, Dwayne van der Klugt walks entrepreneurs through the key mechanics of closing investment deals with equity investors – from understanding term sheets to structuring deals that stand up in future rounds.
Raising capital from business angels or venture capitalists is about much more than valuation alone. The real dynamics of a deal are determined in the term sheet – and the way those terms are structured can either enable growth or create serious constraints in later funding rounds.
This 90-minute masterclass is designed for entrepreneurs who want to understand how investment deals really work, what matters most to investors, and how to protect their company’s long-term flexibility while still closing the deal.
What to expect
The session starts with a concise, practical overview of the most important elements of deal closing with risk capital investors. You will learn how to read a term sheet through an investor’s lens, which terms are truly value defining, and where founders often underestimate the long-term impact of certain clauses. Special attention is given to deal structures that either support or complicate future funding rounds.
The second part of the masterclass moves from theory to practice. Participants will work with real-life term sheets and case examples, translating legal and financial language into concrete business consequences. Entrepreneurs are invited to bring their own term sheets for discussion or to submit them as cases for group analysis. This creates a highly interactive session with direct relevance to your own situation.
The masterclass is delivered in English and focuses on clarity, practical insight and decision-making confidence – not legal fine print for its own sake.
What you will learn:
- How equity investors think about deal structure and control
- The most important terms in a term sheet – and which ones really matter
- Common pitfalls for founders when closing deals
- Practical interpretation of real term sheets and founder cases
This masterclass offers a clear, founder-focused view on investment dealmaking and will help you close funding rounds with greater confidence while keeping your company ready for growth and future investors.
Conversations can continue over lunch, starting directly after the masterclass. Let us know if you will join when you register for the event.
About the presenter
Dwayne van der Klugt, partner at KplusV, is an experienced dealmaker working at the intersection of entrepreneurs and equity investors. With experience as a startup and scale-up consultant, as well as over 10 years as an investment manager, he supports both founders and investors in structuring and closing funding rounds. His approach combines strategic insight, financial discipline and practical deal experience. He is also the host of the upcoming Space Investor Event.
This event is free for SBIC community members; students get a 50% discount!
(Join as a member today; join two events this year and you’ve made your money back!)
(Students click here to request the discount code; it will be sent out before 18 Mar.)