Build a company investors actually want to fund.
A 4-month deep dive that transforms how you build, pitch, and position your startup for investment.
Base Layer is a 1:1 strategic advisory helping founders build a company investors actually want to fund.
Base Layer is part of the educational and consulting arm of Tundra Ventures, a pre-seed investment fund investing in companies that make the 99% healthier, wealthier, and more resilient.
Base Layer is for domain experts becoming venture-backed founders for the first time.
It's for founders who are deeply knowledgeable in their industry and/or the pain point they are solving and already building something real.
If this is you, you probably have an MVP, you might have started shipping a product, and you're starting to see some traction or customer demand.
Maybe you have bootstrapped a bit. Maybe you raised a little friends-and-family money or some angel dollars. And now you're stepping into your first real fundraising process.
You've got a great product idea and understand your space. What's still new is everything around building a company investors want to fund.
So Base Layer is for people who are:
Deeply knowledgeable in your industry and/or about the pain point you are solving
Already building (not just ideating)
At (or close to) MVP, beta, or actively shipping product
Seeing real traction or early demand
Maybe having success raising friends & family funding or are bootstrapped
Now getting ready for or starting to raise your first round of funding
And are now realizing: You're smart enough to research everything, and it's gotten you this far, but you can't get there alone, and you're definitely not getting there fast enough.
Here's what you probably haven't figured out yet (because these are skills learned over time):
So you're doing a ton of work, but often in the wrong order, not knowing what you don't know, and without truly understanding what actually matters to VCs.
VCs like me see founders like you ALL THE TIME. We might really like you as a person, we can see your potential, and we are interested in keeping in touch…but it's glaringly obvious that you're still too green to fund.
So what you hear is "we think this is interesting, but you're too early."
Most VCs don't have the time or money or incentive to help fix this "earliness" problem. A few might have time for a coffee meeting, but they just don't have the capacity to dig deep.
And so you keep pushing and keep pitching, but are hustling in the dark without understanding what exactly is going wrong.
This is where I can help.
So what exactly is Base Layer, and how can Amanda help get your startup ready to raise your first round of funding?
Base Layer is a strategic 1:1 advisory that goes beyond the pitch deck for startup founders raising their first investor dollars. It's a process designed to help you, a first-time startup founder, develop what you need under the hood of your business.
You need to know how to create and protect financial value in your company because that's what investors, bankers, and buyers are looking for.
This process is based on my 15+ years of experience working with diverse founders as a business attorney, startup founder, accelerator director, and venture fund manager.
Base Layer also helps founders:
Save money
Increase business survivability
Avoid common, business-killing mistakes
Impress business associates with founder savvy
Increase confidence and ability as a startup CEO
I know Base Layer works; I've seen firsthand what it can do for the dozens of founders I have personally supported using this framework.
Here's the Base Layer framework:
Choose Your Funding Path
A 10,000-foot view of available funding options and associated pros and cons. Select a funding strategy to fit personal and business goals.
Ownership & Power
Ensure legal control, develop a cap table, and understand how to protect personal assets. Create a setup that makes funders feel comfortable.
Lock Down Your IP
Discover how to prioritize and protect different types of intellectual property. Learn how to keep valuable IP from leaving with contractors & employees.
Back It Up
Learn about due diligence and how to build a solid data room for prospective funders (including financials, legal documents, market research, and more).
Make The Ask
Practical tools for getting more than just a first meeting. Covers meeting and follow-up etiquette, marketing materials, and stakeholder updates.
Every step of the way, I'll be providing 1:1 implementation support, and we'll prioritize the parts of the framework that are most urgent for your business while also ensuring we address every piece over time.
This is the kind of specialized guidance you can't Google or get from ChatGPT.
You and your business are unique, and you need personalized advice to navigate the always-dangerously-icy startup terrain. (It's never summer in startupland.)
We'll start where it's most helpful and move at a pace that fits your timeline. You'll also have 24-7 access to a searchable digital support platform with templates, tools, and just-in-time learning.
Each tool in the platform is linked to the milestones in the Base Layer program, and you'll receive your own personalized Base Layer Milestone tracker.
Base Layer is particularly on point for folks who have mastered a non-startup way of life like corporate, government, or academia — led teams, managed budgets, navigated org charts — but are realizing that startup life is an entirely different sport.
How The 1:1 Base Layer Program Works
Complimentary Consult Call
We'll talk through your goals, your traction, and where you are in your fundraising journey. The goal of this call is to discover if we are a good fit for each other.
Because the program is super high-touch, I only have a few consulting spots available. I want to make sure you are in the right place to get the most value out of the program.
Deep Dive + Strategy Sprint
I'll do a deep dive into your business and get to know all the ins and outs. We'll pinpoint your strategic priorities over the next four months and build a customized action plan. I'll have you complete a self-assessment and milestone tracker to pinpoint investor-readiness gaps.
For your deep dive, we'll schedule an initial 75-minute Zoom call to set the strategy. I will analyse the results of your personalized Base Layer Milestone tracker and we'll design an experience that will achieve your high-priority goals.
Implementation Support
This is where the true value happens. We'll work side-by-side to strengthen your company's foundation — fundraising strategy, investor materials, and data room. You'll continue working with me as your strategic thought partner through investor preparation, vendor navigation (lawyers, CFOs, designers, tax advisors, etc.), stakeholder updates, and growth milestones.
You never have to wait for a call to get clarity or talk through something sticky. I'll review documents, provide input on anything you're stuck on and so much more.
You'll have an experienced, objective third party who understands how to play the game, can help you remove blockers, and can help your brain relax so you can move faster without overthinking.
Examples of milestones I've seen founders reach in conjunction with the program include:
You snag your first investor check (or more) from a serious, experienced investor!
You understand the pros and cons of each type of fundraising path (bootstrapping, loans, equity investors, grants, etc.), and you have a plan for your fundraising goals and actionable steps to achieve them.
You have applied for federal trademark protection and understand how to protect your company's intellectual property.
You have a data room that is beautifully organized and contains exactly what investors are looking for.
You are comfortable sharing the right details in investor meetings and follow-up communications, and you broaden your network of investor relationships required for a venture-scale startup.
You have a set of evidence-based financial projections for your business, and/or you know who to contact to help you do projections if you need to create them.
You have written agreements with all interns, independent contractors, and/or employees. Each written agreement protects company intellectual property.
You have a bookkeeping system that works for your business and ensures that you are not mixing personal and business funds.
You secure a bank loan as part of your non-dilutive funding strategy that maintains your ownership and control of the business.
You know how to play the funding game and are ready to confidently lead your startup as its founder and CEO.
The overall goal is to provide structure, tailored support, and expertise to get you to your next funding milestone.
Check-In Calls
Two 30-minute consulting calls per month (7 total), pre-scheduled (Zoom or audio)
Personal Support Between Calls
Unlimited asynchronous support — we'll make sure you keep moving and aren't overthinking. I'll set up a Google Drive folder so we can easily edit and share materials, and we can communicate via Whatsapp and/or email.
24-7 Digital Platform Support
You'll have full access to my proprietary startup library on Kajabi. The Base Layer platform contains curated, battle-tested tools and templates to build an investor-ready company. Protect intellectual property, manage finances, hire employees, draft effective investor updates, and more.
Optional Virtual Coworking
Monthly Zoom calls with dedicated time to do deep work on those important yet annoying items that might not be your favorite. Coworking gives you that extra energy that comes from knowing others are working alongside you.
This is the beta price for a few lucky early adopters — it will definitely increase soon.
Book a Call With Me to Learn More
Amanda Heyman
Hi, I'm Amanda Heyman — a startup lawyer, former venture-backed startup founder, accelerator director, and venture capital fund manager. I'm a Founding Managing Partner of Tundra Ventures, a pre-seed venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies making the 99% healthier, wealthier, and more resilient.
At Tundra, I work directly with portfolio founders to strengthen their investor readiness and to build the operational and financial infrastructure that attracts capital and sustains long-term growth. I've sat on both sides of the table — as a fund manager deploying capital, and as a startup founder raising it — so I understand exactly what investors are looking for and what it takes to get a deal across the finish line.
Before launching Tundra Ventures, I co-founded and built Lunar Startups, the first inclusive startup accelerator in Minnesota. At Lunar, I helped lead 77 diverse early-stage founders through the process of building fundable companies. Base Layer is built on what I learned during that process.
Bottom Line: I've seen what works and what doesn't. I know what investors are looking for right now — because I'm doing it every day. And I know how to translate your strengths into venture credibility.
Advisory services only. Not legal representation or legal advice.
Results You Can Expect From Base Layer
Build the materials and mindset that make you a founder investors can take seriously.
Become fully investor-ready with a polished narrative, data room, and email forwardable that inspire confidence.
Position your company as credible and ready for investment when opportunities arise.
Save $20K–$100K by avoiding legal and operational missteps.
Build a structure that protects your ownership and screams credibility, positioning your company as ready for investment when opportunities arise.
Gain the clarity and confidence to raise investor capital — or build a better capital stack.
If you've made it this far, you already know this is your next step.
You need a trusted, strategic partner who knows what investors actually want — and how to get you there fast. Let's build your foundation the right way.
Base Layer turns: "I'm building something real" → "I'm institutionally investable."
Book a Call With Me