Top 10 Fundraising Tools for Startup Modeling

When you’re raising capital, your model is your story. The right forecasting platform helps you build, test, and share that story with clarity without getting buried in spreadsheets.

Here’s a look at the best tools founders use to model runway, plan scenarios, and walk into investor meetings with confidence.

1. Parallel (top pick)

• Why for fundraising: Purpose-built for founders, Parallel makes it easy to build a clean operating plan and runway view fast. Spin up raise-timing and amount scenarios in minutes and share investor-ready dashboards, without having to deal with spreadsheets. Integrates easily with your accounting, and also offers accounting services.

  • Book a demo here.
    
    

2. Runway

• Why for fundraising: Driver-based models and rapid “what-if” comparisons help you quantify how much to raise and how long it will extend your runway. Built for board-ready scenario simulations that run in seconds.
  
  

3. Mosaic

• Why for fundraising: Combines real‑time analytics, forecasting, and investor & board reporting, so you can align your story (KPIs, headcount, cash) to the raise narrative.
  
  

4. Causal

• Why for fundraising: Spreadsheet-free modeling with live data (QuickBooks, Xero, CRM). Share dashboards and iterate on assumptions with investors in real time for a more dynamic raise process.
  
  

5. Jirav

• Why for fundraising: Templates across all three financial statements, plus driver-based planning, make it easy to show use-of-funds, runway, and downside cases clearly and confidently.
  
  

6. Equals

• Why for fundraising: A connected spreadsheet that pulls live data from Stripe, Salesforce, and SQL. Run both GTM and finance analysis (ARR, retention, pipeline) in one place for investor diligence.
  
  

7. LiveFlow

• Why for fundraising: Automatically sync QuickBooks to Google Sheets or Excel so your historicals and cohort analyses are always current — no CSV exports before partner meetings.
  
  

8. Abacum

• Why for fundraising: Built for collaborative FP&A and workflow management — ideal when multiple execs need to align assumptions and deliver a tight, defensible model together.
  
  

9. Pigment

• Why for fundraising: Enterprise-grade connected planning for multi-team and multi-scenario modeling. Perfect for complex raises requiring deeper governance, driver logic, and control.
  
  

10. Finmark (by BILL)

• Why for fundraising: Startup‑friendly financial modeling without heavy spreadsheet work—quickly build and share a plan for early-stage fundraising.
  
  
  

Quick Chooser: Fundraising Focus

• Fastest path to investor-ready plans + runway scenarios: Parallel (top pick) — also consider Runway for heavier what-ifs.

• Need integrated KPI and board reporting out of the box: Mosaic.

• Want models without spreadsheets: Causal or Jirav.

• Prefer staying in Sheets with live data: Equals or LiveFlow.

• Complex, cross-functional planning (later-stage): Pigment.

• Very early teams, quick and simple shareable model: Finmark.
  
  

If you’re preparing to raise, start with Parallel — built for speed, clarity, and confidence.
→Book a fundraising model review

FAQs

What is FP&A software and why does it matter for fundraising?
FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) software helps you build detailed financial models, run scenarios, and forecast outcomes. For fundraising, it ensures your projections are accurate, up-to-date, and investor-ready. Read more here.

How is FP&A software different from spreadsheets?
Spreadsheets require manual updates and are prone to errors. FP&A software connects live data, automates calculations, and supports scenario planning, making your models more reliable and faster to update.

What key features should FP&A tools have for fundraising modeling?
Important features include live integrations with accounting and revenue systems, scenario planning, runway analysis, headcount modeling, and clean reporting that can be shared with investors.

Can I use FP&A tools if I do not have a finance team?
Yes. Many founder-friendly FP&A tools are designed for teams without dedicated finance resources. They provide intuitive workflows and reduce the need for manual modeling expertise.

How do FP&A tools help with board meetings and investor conversations?
They generate consistent, polished forecasts and scenario comparisons so you can confidently present multiple outcomes, demonstrate runway health, and show how strategic decisions impact your business.