# Pre-Seed Fundraising Advice & Founder Stories | LongJump > Pre-seed fundraising guides, founder playbooks and portfolio news from LongJump's founder-led team: pitch decks, term sheets, SAFEs and what VCs look for. Source: https://longjump.vc/insights Blogs, News from the Portfolio, And Events # Insights [Subscribe](https://longjumpfund.substack.com/subscribe) [View All](https://longjump.vc/insights) [Spotlight](https://longjump.vc/insights/category/spotlight) [News](https://longjump.vc/insights/category/news) [Insights](https://longjump.vc/insights/category/insights) [Events](https://lu.ma/calendar/cal-7pDaQwQ3o5fo78L) [Insights](https://longjump.vc/insights/a-newcomers-guide-to-chicago-startups-vc) [October 29, 2026](https://longjump.vc/insights/a-newcomers-guide-to-chicago-startups-vc) ### [How to Get Started in Chicago Tech: A Newcomer’s Guide to Startups and Venture](https://longjump.vc/insights/a-newcomers-guide-to-chicago-startups-vc) [Wondering how to get started in Chicago tech? LongJump VC Fellow Fiona Chen mapped the accelerators, programs, communities, reading and 81 local VC firms worth knowing, all in one free guide.](https://longjump.vc/insights/a-newcomers-guide-to-chicago-startups-vc) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/a-newcomers-guide-to-chicago-startups-vc) September 29, 2026 [Five Years of LongJump](https://longjump.vc/insights/five-years-of-longjump) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/five-years-of-longjump) July 27, 2026 [KICKing off TechChicago Week 2026](https://longjump.vc/insights/kicking-off-techchicago-week-2026) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/kicking-off-techchicago-week-2026) March 30, 2026 [The Raise 2026: A Look Back](https://longjump.vc/insights/the-raise-2026-a-look-back) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/the-raise-2026-a-look-back) January 16, 2026 [LongJump's December Community Gathering](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-december-community-gathering) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-december-community-gathering) July 30, 2025 [Seen and Heard at TechChicago Week 2025: Founder Advice, Fundraising Tactics, and a Little Soccer](https://longjump.vc/insights/seen-and-heard-at-techchicago-week-2025-founder-advice-fundraising-tactics-and-a-little-soccer) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/seen-and-heard-at-techchicago-week-2025-founder-advice-fundraising-tactics-and-a-little-soccer) July 11, 2025 [Inside LivNow’s LinkedIn Strategy: A Founder’s Guide to Nurturing Pipeline](https://longjump.vc/insights/inside-livnows-linkedin-strategy-a-founders-guide-to-nurturing-pipeline) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/inside-livnows-linkedin-strategy-a-founders-guide-to-nurturing-pipeline) June 18, 2025 [What Ale Breuer Looks for in Founders, and Why She’s Joining LongJump](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-introduces-new-founder-partner-ale-breuer) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-introduces-new-founder-partner-ale-breuer) May 14, 2025 [LongJump Invests in GridLink, Houndsy, and Qixent](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-invests-in-gridlink-houndsy-and-qixent) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-invests-in-gridlink-houndsy-and-qixent) December 17, 2024 [From Pharma to Founder: Jordan Karim on Quitting Her Job to Build in a $75B Market](https://longjump.vc/insights/from-pharma-to-founder-jordan-karims-story-of-quitting-her-job-to-enter-a-75b-market) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/from-pharma-to-founder-jordan-karims-story-of-quitting-her-job-to-enter-a-75b-market) December 4, 2024 [Bootstrapping a Marketplace: How Bilin Academy Grew from a Simple Idea to a Global Platform](https://longjump.vc/insights/bootstrapping-a-marketplace-how-bilin-academy-grew-from-a-simple-idea-to-a-global-platform) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/bootstrapping-a-marketplace-how-bilin-academy-grew-from-a-simple-idea-to-a-global-platform) October 14, 2024 [LongJump Invests in UnVale](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-invests-in-unvale) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-invests-in-unvale) July 8, 2024 [Thinking of Applying to LongJump? Nine Things You Should Know.](https://longjump.vc/insights/thinking-of-applying-to-longjump-nine-things-you-should-know) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/thinking-of-applying-to-longjump-nine-things-you-should-know) June 27, 2024 [LongJump’s 2024 Founder Summit](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-2024-founder-summit) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-2024-founder-summit) June 18, 2024 [LongJump Invests in FreshX and Tercero Technologies](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-invests-in-freshx-and-tercero-technologies) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-invests-in-freshx-and-tercero-technologies) May 29, 2024 [Grapefruit Health’s CEO on Selling B2B to Hard-to-Reach Markets](https://longjump.vc/insights/grapefruit-healths-ceo-on-selling-b2b-to-hard-to-reach-markets) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/grapefruit-healths-ceo-on-selling-b2b-to-hard-to-reach-markets) May 16, 2024 [Considering an Accelerator? A Techstars Managing Director Shares His Experience](https://longjump.vc/insights/considering-an-accelerator-a-techstars-managing-director-shares-his-experience) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/considering-an-accelerator-a-techstars-managing-director-shares-his-experience) April 17, 2024 [Your Startup is Probably Wasting Time with Ineffective Meetings - How to Meet with Intention](https://longjump.vc/insights/your-startup-is-probably-wasting-time-with-ineffective-meetings-how-to-meet-with-intention) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/your-startup-is-probably-wasting-time-with-ineffective-meetings-how-to-meet-with-intention) April 1, 2024 [Addressing Burnout as You Build](https://longjump.vc/insights/addressing-burnout-as-you-build) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/addressing-burnout-as-you-build) March 18, 2024 [International Women’s Month Celebration with Poker Power](https://longjump.vc/insights/international-womens-month-celebration-with-poker-power) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/international-womens-month-celebration-with-poker-power) March 2, 2024 [LongJump ❤️ Techstars](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-loves-techstars) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-loves-techstars) January 24, 2024 [How Pre-Seed VCs Make Money (and Why It Matters to Founders)](https://longjump.vc/insights/how-pre-seed-vcs-make-money-and-why-it-matters-to-founders) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/how-pre-seed-vcs-make-money-and-why-it-matters-to-founders) January 4, 2024 [LongJump Invests in Cuentologia and Flora & Noor](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-invests-in-cuentologia-and-flora-amp-noor) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-invests-in-cuentologia-and-flora-amp-noor) November 28, 2023 [Navigating a Pivot in the Early Stage: Lessons from OrdrSmart](https://longjump.vc/insights/navigating-a-pivot-in-the-early-stage-lessons-from-ordrsmart) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/navigating-a-pivot-in-the-early-stage-lessons-from-ordrsmart) November 27, 2023 [LongJump’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-2023-holiday-gift-guide) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-2023-holiday-gift-guide) November 20, 2023 [LongJump’s 2023 Annual Meeting](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-2023-annual-meeting) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-2023-annual-meeting) November 7, 2023 [Meaningful Relationships in a Startup Ecosystem in Just Six Months - A How-to with Anj Fayemi of Rivet](https://longjump.vc/insights/meaningful-relationships-in-a-startup-ecosystem-in-just-six-months-a-how-to-with-anj-fayemi-of-rivet) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/meaningful-relationships-in-a-startup-ecosystem-in-just-six-months-a-how-to-with-anj-fayemi-of-rivet) October 10, 2023 [Finding the One and Lasting: Questions for Co-Founders](https://longjump.vc/insights/finding-the-one-and-lasting-questions-for-co-founders) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/finding-the-one-and-lasting-questions-for-co-founders) September 26, 2023 [LongJump Announces Rebecca Kahnweiler as Managing Partner](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-announces-rebecca-kahnweiler-as-managing-partner) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjump-announces-rebecca-kahnweiler-as-managing-partner) September 12, 2023 [How Fillow Raised Over $116,000 on Kickstarter to Bring Innovation to Menstruation](https://longjump.vc/insights/how-fillow-raised-over-116000-on-kickstarter-to-bring-innovation-to-menstruation) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/how-fillow-raised-over-116000-on-kickstarter-to-bring-innovation-to-menstruation) August 28, 2023 [7 Tips for Founders on Pitching Their Startups to Journalists](https://longjump.vc/insights/7-tips-for-founders-on-pitching-their-startups-to-journalists) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/7-tips-for-founders-on-pitching-their-startups-to-journalists) August 1, 2023 [Startup Term Sheets 101: Demystifying Terms and Approach](https://longjump.vc/insights/startup-term-sheets-101-demystifying-terms-and-approach) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/startup-term-sheets-101-demystifying-terms-and-approach) July 25, 2023 [What do Pre-seed funds look for?](https://longjump.vc/insights/what-do-pre-seed-funds-look-for) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/what-do-pre-seed-funds-look-for) July 17, 2023 [How to Build a Compelling Pitch Deck](https://longjump.vc/insights/how-to-build-a-compelling-pitch-deck) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/how-to-build-a-compelling-pitch-deck) July 11, 2023 [LongJump’s TechChicago Week 2023 KICKoff](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-techchicago-week-2023-kickoff) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/longjumps-techchicago-week-2023-kickoff) June 22, 2023 [From Application to Investment: How LongJump Decides](https://longjump.vc/insights/from-application-to-investment-how-longjump-decides) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/from-application-to-investment-how-longjump-decides) September 23, 2022 [Join Us for Our First LongJump Founder Showcase on 9/29/22!](https://longjump.vc/insights/join-us-for-our-first-longjump-founder-showcase) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/join-us-for-our-first-longjump-founder-showcase) April 22, 2022 [Tips for Applying to LongJump from Andy Freivogel and Luisa Castellanos of Science on Call](https://longjump.vc/insights/tips-for-applying-to-longjump-from-science-on-call) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/tips-for-applying-to-longjump-from-science-on-call) April 13, 2022 [Tips for Applying to LongJump from Luis Suarez, Founder of Sanarai](https://longjump.vc/insights/tips-for-applying-to-longjump-from-luis-suarez-founder-of-sanarai) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/tips-for-applying-to-longjump-from-luis-suarez-founder-of-sanarai) September 29, 2021 [Meet LongJump's First Four Portfolio Companies](https://longjump.vc/insights/firstcohort) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/firstcohort) September 20, 2021 [Join us at Chicago Venture Summit!](https://longjump.vc/insights/join-us-at-chicago-venture-summit) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/join-us-at-chicago-venture-summit) May 4, 2021 [Our 1st Application Cycle: 168 Companies, 91% Underrepresented](https://longjump.vc/insights/our-1st-application-cycle-168-companies-91-underrepresented) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/our-1st-application-cycle-168-companies-91-underrepresented) April 3, 2021 [Introducing Tim Grace, GP](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-tim-grace) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-tim-grace) April 2, 2021 [Meet Garry Cooper, GP](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-garry-cooper) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-garry-cooper) April 1, 2021 [Meet Brian Luerssen, GP](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-brian-luerssen) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-brian-luerssen) March 30, 2021 [Introducing Ablorde Ashigbi, GP](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-ablorde-ashigbi) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-ablorde-ashigbi) March 23, 2021 [Hey Chicago, Meet LongJump!](https://longjump.vc/insights/hey-chicago-meet-longjump) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/hey-chicago-meet-longjump) March 3, 2021 [Meet Kristen Sonday, GP](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-kristen-sonday) [read More](https://longjump.vc/insights/introducing-kristen-sonday)