Free template · Startups & Founders
Investor Pipeline Template (Fundraising CRM)
An investor pipeline, or fundraising CRM, lists every investor a founder is talking to, with their fund, typical check size, how you were introduced, the current stage of the conversation and the next step. It keeps a fundraise organised and shows how close the round is to closing.
Who it's for: Startup founders raising pre-seed, seed or Series A rounds, and angel-backed companies.
Free, no email needed. Google Sheets: download the .xlsx, then File > Import > Upload.
Preview
These are the real columns with example rows. Click Try it here to type your own rows and download them.
| Investor | Type | Check size | Intro via | Stage | Last contact | Next step | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Rahman, Northwind Ventures | VC fund | 250,000 | Former cofounder | First meeting | 2026-09-18 | Send data room link by 25 Sep | Wants more retention data |
| L. Ortiz | Angel | 25,000 | Accelerator demo day | Committed | 2026-09-10 | Send SAFE for signature | |
| Harbor Seed Fund | VC fund | 500,000 | Cold email | Contacted | 2026-09-15 | Follow up 29 Sep | Invests in B2B only |
| K. Mensah | Angel | 50,000 | Customer referral | Passed | 2026-09-02 | Too early for them |
What goes in each column
| Column | What goes in it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Investor | Person and firm | A. Rahman, Northwind Ventures |
| Type | Angel, VC fund, Accelerator, Strategic | VC fund |
| Check size | Typical amount they invest | 250,000 |
| Intro via | Who introduced you | Former cofounder |
| Stage | Target, Contacted, First meeting, Diligence, Term sheet, Committed, Passed | First meeting |
| Last contact | Date | 2026-09-18 |
| Next step | Specific action and date | Send data room link by 25 Sep |
| Notes | Objections, interests, fit | Wants more retention data |
Why these columns: Fundraises are won by follow-up. Stage, Last contact and a dated Next step make it obvious who needs a nudge, and Committed totals show progress toward the round.
How to use it in 5 steps
- List every investor you plan to approach before starting, grouped by fit.
- Update Stage and Last contact after every interaction, the same day.
- Write Next step as an action with a date. Vague next steps are how fundraises stall.
- Filter by Stage weekly. Move investors who go quiet for three weeks to a follow-up list.
- Sum Check size for Committed rows to see how much of the round is filled.
Spreadsheet, dedicated software, or Notion?
| Option | Best for | Falls short when |
|---|---|---|
| This spreadsheet | Early rounds with 20 to 80 investors | No link to your data room, metrics or updates |
| Sales CRM (HubSpot and similar) | Teams already using one for sales | Built for customers, not investors |
| Notion version | Investors, deal pipeline, data room and updates in one place | Needs Notion |
If the free spreadsheet does everything you need, stick with it. The Notion version is for when you want the pieces connected.
Want it connected? Fundraising OS: Investor CRM & Deal Pipeline
The spreadsheet is one table. The Notion system links it to everything around it:
- Investor CRM and deal pipeline with stages and follow-ups
- Data room readiness tracked alongside conversations
- Round summary: committed, pending and target
- Part of a full startup operating system in the Startup Playbook
See Fundraising OS: Investor CRM & Deal Pipeline
Also a fit: The Startup Playbook
Instant duplicate link after purchase.
Questions
How many investors should be in my pipeline?
Many founders contact dozens to over a hundred investors for a seed round. Track all of them; most will pass.
What stages should a fundraising pipeline have?
Target, Contacted, First meeting, Diligence, Term sheet, Committed and Passed cover most rounds.
Should I track angels and funds together?
Yes, with a Type column so you can filter them.
When should I follow up with an investor?
Many founders follow up after one to two weeks of silence. The Next step column makes it a habit.