Pitching & Fundraising
A four-week clinic that ends with an investor-ready deck, a defensible model and a pitch you have already survived being grilled on.
Duration
4 weeks
Commitment
8 hrs / week
Format
Evening clinic in the Mbarara studio
Level
Founders raising in the next 12 months
What you walk away with
Tell a story an investor can repeat to their partners without you.
Build a deck that survives the ten-slide test.
Model revenue, costs and runway you can defend line by line.
Assemble a data room before diligence, not during it.
Handle hostile Q&A after being drilled by real operators.
4 modules · 4 weeks
Week 1
Narrative & Story Architecture
- The problem story: why now, why you
- Structuring a narrative arc across ten slides
- Traction: what counts and what gets ignored
- Cutting the parts investors skip
Week 2
The Deck & The Numbers
- Slide-by-slide deck build with critique
- Financial model: revenue drivers, costs, runway
- Unit economics that hold up under questioning
- The ask: amount, use of funds, milestones
Week 3
Investor Landscape & Data Room
- Mapping angels, VCs, grants and DFIs in East Africa
- Warm intros, cold outreach and pipeline tracking
- Term sheet vocabulary and dilution basics
- Data room checklist and diligence readiness
Week 4
Pitch Clinic & Live Demo
- Three-minute and ten-minute pitch drills
- Hostile Q&A under time pressure
- Demo choreography and live-failure recovery
- Final pitch to an invited investor panel
Tools & skills you will use
Who this track is for
Founders preparing a pre-seed or seed raise.
Teams with traction who cannot explain it clearly.
Grant and competition applicants who keep placing second.
Anyone who has to pitch internally for budget.
Your mentor
Marcus Thorne
Startup Strategist
Serial entrepreneur with 3 successful exits and extensive VC network knowledge.
Professional Track
UGX 750,000/ program
or 3 monthly instalments of UGX 270,000
Rolling admissions, with applications reviewed weekly. Payment plans and partial scholarships are available; tell us which you need on the form.
Join Pitching TrackBefore you apply
Do I need a laptop of my own?+
Yes for the engineering, design and marketing tracks. You will be building every week and studio machines are shared. Tell us in your application if this is a blocker; we hold a small number of loaner machines for scholarship applicants.
Can I keep my job while I train?+
Most participants do. Sessions run in the evenings and on weekends, with studio time available during the week. Expect the weekly commitment listed on this page. The tracks are hands-on and falling behind is hard to recover from.
What happens after I apply?+
We review every application within 48 hours, then invite you to a short conversation about your goals and fit for the track. Successful applicants get an offer letter with cohort dates and payment options.
Are there scholarships or payment plans?+
Yes. The Professional Track fee of UGX 750,000 can be paid in three monthly instalments of UGX 270,000, with the first due before the cohort starts. Partial scholarships are available for each cohort, and we accept mobile money, bank transfer and employer sponsorship. Choose the option that fits in the funding question on the application form.
Do I get a certificate?+
Every participant who completes the capstone receives a Joshtecs Academy certificate, plus lifetime access to the alumni network and our hiring partners.
Ready to join?
Applications for the Pitching & Fundraising track are open. It takes about five minutes and we reply within 48 hours.
Join Pitching Track