Liftoff 2026
A 10-week fundraising sprint for energy & climate founders. Starting May 1st, 2026.
Liftoff helps early-stage founders navigate their first raise with structure, clarity, and confidence. Through expert-led sessions, hands-on practice, and a live negotiation simulation, you’ll learn how real deals get done and how to lead your own.
Included with Cephyron Boost.
Removing the barriers between innovation and investment
Fundraising in energy and climatetech is complex. Founders juggle dozens of conversations, shifting expectations, and technical narratives often with little guidance on how investors actually make decisions.
Liftoff was built to change that.
This program gives founders the tools, structure, and practice they need to run a disciplined, calm, and credible fundraising process.
A clear path through your first raise
Liftoff takes founders through the full fundraising journey, step by step, with practical guidance and real-world examples. Over seven weeks, you’ll learn how to prepare your business, understand investor expectations, and run a disciplined fundraising process from first outreach to negotiation.
You’ll cover:
How to define your investment “bet” and identify the KPIs that make your business fundable
How investors evaluate opportunities and what drives their decisions
How to build the materials investors expect—teasers, pitch decks, executive summaries, and data rooms
Cap tables, term sheets, financial instruments, and deal mechanics (SAFEs, notes, equity)
How to structure outreach, qualify investors, and run effective discovery calls
How to create momentum through a roadshow and manage follow-ups with confidence
How to prepare for due diligence and avoid the common pitfalls founders make
How negotiations actually unfold and how to secure the right lead investor
Alternative funding paths, grants, customer financing, and strategic partnerships
Every session builds toward one outcome: giving you the knowledge, structure, and confidence to raise your first $1M.
Program Highlights
Weekly expert-led sessions on fundraising, cap tables, storytelling, due diligence, and more
Interactive workshops and practical exercises you can apply immediately
Live feedback from active investors and experienced founders
Templates, tools, and checklists including teasers, financial models, and data rooms
Full access to the Cephyron IRM platform to organize your raise
The Liftoff Capstone
The simulation founders never forget
The final week of Liftoff culminates in a fast-paced, role-playing negotiation. Founders pitch their deal live in a simulated market with real investors. The stakes are real because investors have limited cash (simulated) and a clear thesis about where they want to deploy their capital. Across three rounds you will: engage in investor discovery, identify and secure a lead investor, and fill out your round.
Learn how a real deal comes together and what it actually takes to secure your first million dollar financing. Liftoff Capstone is a hands-on, in-the-room experience that prepares founders for the realities of raising capital.
Who Liftoff is for
Founders raising capital for the first time
Early-stage energy or climatetech startups preparing to enter the market
Innovators who want structure, practice, and guidance
Students and emerging founders looking to understand fundraising deeply
If you plan to raise in the next 12 months, Liftoff is for you.
Included with Cephyron Boost
Liftoff is part of the Cephyron Boost tier ($6,000/year). Participants for Liftoff 2026 will be selected from Cephyron Boost members.
2025 Cohort Showcase
Ready to raise with clarity and confidence?
Join Cephyron Boost and apply for Liftoff 2026.