Event Recap: Founder Nova Bootcamp with Krungsri Finnovate

Bangkok — Oct 27–28, 2025. The Founder Nova Bootcamp with Krungsri Finnovate brought early-stage founders together for practical, finance-first learning. WOWS Global’s Gagan Singh led the Fundraising & Finance content, keeping sessions focused on decisions founders make under real constraints. The program blended frameworks, worked examples, and live Q&A to translate investor expectations into founder-ready actions.

What was covered

The Fundraising & Finance track, led by WOWS Global’s Gagan Singh, focused on pragmatic mechanics founders ask about most: how SAFEs convert, how to maintain an accurate cap table (including ESOP), and how to navigate a term sheet before a priced round. Sessions emphasized investor perspective and readiness for the next raise. 

Gagan framed the fundraising climate and the real time cost of a raise. Outreach through closing often spans months, not weeks. He advised treating the process like a project with clear owners, milestones, and weekly checkpoints. This structure preserves runway and signals discipline to capital partners.

In addition to that, Gagan focused on investor mapping and approach strategy. Angels, micro-VCs, venture firms, and strategics differ in check size, speed, and value-add. Warm introductions work best when paired with crisp materials and tailored context. A lean data room and a living diligence checklist reduce friction and last-minute surprises.

He put emphasis on instruments and the clauses that change outcomes. Teams compared ordinary versus preferred equity, convertibles, and SAFEs, linking each to dilution, control, and future rounds. Term sheets were decoded across liquidation preference, anti-dilution, pro-rata, information rights, and reserved matters. Scenario walkthroughs showed who gains or loses in down rounds, secondaries, or exits.

He closed by outlining levers to improve fundability without over-raising. Defensibility, via IP, network effects, or contractual and regulatory moats, should be explicit in the narrative. Alternative financing options (venture debt, revenue-based financing, factoring) can complement equity when matched to cash-flow reality. The rule of thumb: match instrument and investor to stage, metrics, and the milestones that unlock the next round.

Why it mattered

In today’s market, literacy in instruments, sequencing, and diligence is a competitive edge. The bootcamp prioritized clarity over hype, so founders could forecast ownership, avoid avoidable dilution, and progress toward a priced round with clean governance. By grounding every clause in scenarios, it replaced folklore with numbers. The result: faster, better-structured raises.

Who joined us

Founders heard from contributors across Thailand’s startup ecosystem, including Kevin Brockland (Indelible Ventures), Tiwa York (Angel Investor), คุณภีม เพชรเกตุ (PEAK), คุณชญาน์นัทช์ ไชยวัฒนพงศ์ (Amable), and คุณสิรสิทธิ์ สุริยพัฒนพงศ์ (ChocoCRM), alongside the Krungsri Finnovate and TED Fund teams.

How the format worked

Participants selected from the four pillars to tailor their learning path, then applied it in working sessions. The Pitching Showcase offered direct feedback from VCs and mentors, and an evening Founder Nova Circle Night extended conversations into potential collaborations. 

Three practical takeaways

• Instrument literacy beats guesswork. Model post‑money SAFE scenarios (caps, discounts) before stacking notes, understand ownership impact early.
  
  

• Cap tables are living documents. Keep them current, reflect ESOP accurately, and simulate outcomes through seed and Series A.
  
  

• Terms > headlines. Know the clauses that actually shift risk/reward so you can negotiate clarity before committing.

Want to know about the startups who made it? Learn more at Krungsri Finnovate socials, or connect with WOWS Global by scheduling a call at your convenience.

FAQS

What did the Fundraising & Finance track cover, and who led it?
The track focused on how SAFEs convert in practice, keeping an accurate cap table (including ESOP), and reading term-sheet clauses with investor expectations in mind. It was led by Gagan Singh of WOWS Global, emphasizing practical modeling and readiness for the next raise.

Who partnered on Founder Nova, and who contributed as speakers?
The bootcamp was co-presented by Krungsri Finnovate with support from TED Fund. Contributors included Gagan Singh (WOWS Global), Kevin Brockland (Indelible Ventures), Tiwa York (Angel Investor), plus leaders associated with PEAK, Amable, and ChocoCRM, alongside mentors and investors from the ecosystem.

How was the program structured, and who is it for?
Attendees chose from 12 intensive workshops across four pillars, Resilience & Conflict, Team & Delegation, Growth Strategy, and Fundraising & Finance, with a Pitching Showcase and networking. It targeted early-stage founders seeking practical, decision-grade guidance, and was limited to about 60 startups across Oct 27–28, 2025.