Once the numbers are set: principles and the mindset of someone who has a choice

Today, in a meeting of our leadership team with a strategic advisor, we sat down for a final review and locked in the company valuation.

Thanks to hands-on experience and earlier preparation, building the financial metrics this time went fairly smoothly and clearly. When I presented the valuation, the figure I proposed as founder quickly won the agreement of the advisor's seasoned eye. He judged it a well-fitted valuation: in line with our current strength, large enough for the future, and above all fair to those who came before and those who will join later.

The principle of respect

By now the most important pieces, the Financial Projection and the Exit Plan, are complete. Before that, many people urged me to simply name a number for how much we "need".

I hold to one principle: I will not offer a rough valuation figure before showing the other side the full picture. Seriousness in every table is the most credible commitment I can give a partner. I am now finishing the last parts of the Pitch Deck so that we are ready for formal conversations with investors.

A choice for both sides

With a sound valuation and complete materials, I enter the meeting phase with confidence. But I want to be clear about the mindset: working together is a choice made by both sides, not only the investor's right.

I have my criteria and investors have their own appetite. For our list of prospective angel investors, I plan to follow this process:

• Those who are genuinely interested and serious: sign an NDA to view the Data Room.
• Those who feel aligned in thinking and vision: sign a reservation agreement to hold a place for the coming investment stages.
• Those who are not a fit at this point: I will ask to reconnect at a later stage.

Looking for companions on the road

This journey is not about convincing someone to rescue us or give us money. With our current strength and growth momentum, I believe we can pursue our financial goals on the strength of the team itself.

So why raise capital? Because I want companions: complementary pieces that let us move faster together and build greater value than we would take longer to build alone.

HOPE's door is open, but it is for people who truly value what we are building and are ready to commit. We come together through shared conviction, not through numbers alone.