So You Want to Raise: A Founder's Fundraising Playbook

​So You Want to Raise: A Founder's Fundraising Playbook

​About the Event

​Most founders spend weeks perfecting their pitch deck and barely an afternoon on their legal setup. The result? Cap tables that don't reflect reality, founder arrangements that fall apart under pressure, and a due diligence process that grinds everything to a halt.

​Join us for a hands-on session with Claire Thompson from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer as she walks through the legal roadmap for an early-stage raise in Australia. You'll see exactly how investors read your cap table, what founder arrangements need to be in place before you start conversations, and the common legal missteps that slow down — or kill — a round.

​Expect real scenarios drawn from deals Claire has worked on, practical frameworks you can apply immediately, and a clear checklist of what to fix before due diligence starts.

​👉 This is a live online session, open to the public. Come ready to ask the questions you've been too embarrassed to Google.

​About Claire Thompson

​Claire Thompson is a Partner and Co-Head of Venture Capital (Australia) at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, one of the world's largest global law firms. She specialises in venture capital and technology sector transactions, with a focus on capital raising and M&A — acting for both founders and investors across rounds from pre-seed to Series C and beyond.

​Her deal work includes some of Australia's most recognised tech companies: Blinq (US$25M Series A), Brainfish (multiple rounds), SafetyCulture (A$165M Series C3), and Linktree (US$110M raise). She also brings the investor side of the table — having advised NAB Ventures across a portfolio of early-stage investments including Spriggy and Athena Home Loans.

​Claire holds a double degree in Laws (Honours) and Arts from the University of Melbourne.

​About Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

​Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a global law firm with deep roots in the Australian startup and venture capital ecosystem. Their VC practice works with founders and investors across every stage of the funding journey — from structuring early cap tables to navigating Series C rounds and exits. With more than 2,700 lawyers globally and over US$2 billion in revenue, HSF Kramer is widely regarded as one of Australia's leading firms for high-growth tech companies raising capital.