201 Deep Dives
Build on the foundations. Deep dive into Innovative Finance topics.
Innovative Finance for Early-Stage Investing
Doors close Monday 2 November 2026
Who is the 201 course for?
This course is targeted toward funders, entrepreneurs, and advisors working at the early stage of innovative finance, whether you've completed our 101 Fundamentals Course or are coming in with existing experience or knowledge in the field.
What can participants expect to learn, and how?
Innovative Finance for Early Stage Investing is a 201-level course where you learn about the levers of impact that you can pull in to structures across risk capital, working capital, and innovative grant capital. The cohort has been filling fast, and only a few places are left. The sessions are hands on and interactive, will take place online, 4 sessions over two weeks and each one with a duration of 90-minutes.
We'll cover:
Innovative risk capital │ revenue-based finance, redeemable equity and SME mezzanine structures and exploring the levers within each that make capital fit for the ventures closest to the problems.
Working capital structures │ supply chain finance and guarantees with real deal case studies that show how these tools can be designed around what the work actually needs.
Innovative grant capital │ recoverable grants, forgivable loans, and convertible grants and the deeper questions of power and purpose that should shape how we deploy them.
The course is hands-on and super interactive. You'll work with funders, founders and intermediaries across different types of structures, and leave able to apply the learnings to your own deals.
Participants benefit from highly participatory live sessions, curated resource libraries, and peer-to-peer group discussions.
When does the 201 course take place?
The next Innovative Finance for Early Investing 201 cohort launches in November 2026. It's a blended course by design, so you can learn live and in your own time. Live online sessions (90 minutes each) starting at 09:30 UTC with Aunnie Patton Power, Esme Verity and some incredible guest speakers will take place via Zoom. Each of the 4 sessions are highly participatory with peer exchange throughout. You're applying concepts to your own work and asking real questions, not sitting through a 90-minute presentation. Alongside live sessions, are self-paced resources to deepen your learning. Expect self-paced video on Podia (yours as soon as you enrol), with in-depth case studies that bring real deals to life, plus quizzes to lock in what you've learned. You'll also have access to diagnostic tools, so you can pressure-test your own structures against the frameworks as you go.
09:30 UTC
09:30 UTC
09:30 UTC
09:30 UTC
Can't make it?
Our 201 courses take place throughout the year in the form of cohort-based courses and training days. To accommodate different time zones, the timings are changed for each cohort. Take a look at our calendar for more on upcoming dates. All times are UTC - convert to your time zone using this tool.
Ready to enrol?
Sign up for Innovative Finance for Early-Stage Investing — our 201 Deep Dive course
Doors close Monday 2 November 2026