Retainer
Advisory retainer terms.
Effective date: The date the Client accepts these Terms & Conditions and completes the initial payment.
These Terms & Conditions ("Agreement") govern the provision of startup advisory and fundraising preparation services by PitchCraft Global, a brand of Startup Labs Global Innovation Ltd ("PitchCraft", "we", "us") to the individual or business purchasing the services ("Client", "you").
By accepting this Agreement and completing payment, the Client agrees to the following terms.
1. Scope of Services
PitchCraft provides strategic advisory services designed to support founders and businesses in strengthening their investment readiness and preparing for fundraising.
Services may include:
- Business model assessment and commercial validation.
- Investment proposition and fundraising strategy development.
- Pitch deck assessment and strategic feedback.
- Financial model and commercial assumption reviews.
- Market positioning and competitive analysis.
- Investor readiness and fundraising preparation.
- Pitch coaching and investor Q&A preparation.
- General strategic business advisory.
The specific areas of support will be agreed between PitchCraft and the Client based on the business's priorities and stage of development.
PitchCraft provides advisory and strategic guidance, not operational execution or guaranteed fundraising outcomes.
2. Retainer Fees and Payment
The advisory retainer is priced at £250 per month, payable quarterly in advance.
- Quarterly payment: £750.
- Minimum engagement: 6 months.
- Minimum contractual commitment: £1,500.
- Initial payment: £750, payable upon commencement.
- Second quarterly payment: £750, payable before the start of month four.
The initial payment activates the advisory engagement.
All fees are quoted exclusive of VAT, where applicable.
The Client agrees to maintain payments in accordance with the agreed billing schedule.
PitchCraft reserves the right to pause advisory services where an invoice remains unpaid after reasonable notice.
3. Minimum Engagement and Renewal
The minimum engagement period is six consecutive months from the commencement date.
Following the initial six-month period, the retainer will continue on a quarterly basis unless either party provides at least 30 days' written notice before the end of the current engagement period.
There is no obligation to renew beyond the initial six-month commitment.
Any changes to the scope, fees, or structure of the engagement will be agreed in writing.
4. Monthly Advisory Allocation
The Client is entitled to:
- Four hours of dedicated advisory support per month.
- Two comprehensive pitch deck reviews per month.
Advisory time may be delivered through scheduled video calls or other mutually agreed advisory activities.
PitchCraft and the Client will work together to schedule sessions at mutually convenient times.
To maximise the value of each engagement, the Client agrees to provide an agenda or key discussion points ahead of scheduled advisory calls.
This allows PitchCraft to prepare appropriately and ensure sessions remain focused on the Client's priorities.
Unused advisory hours and deck reviews do not automatically roll over into subsequent months unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Additional support beyond the monthly allocation may be arranged by mutual agreement and may incur additional fees.
5. Pitch Deck Reviews
The retainer includes two comprehensive pitch deck reviews each month.
Reviews may cover:
- Investment narrative and storytelling.
- Commercial positioning and value proposition.
- Market opportunity and competitive differentiation.
- Financial assumptions and fundraising strategy.
- Investor expectations and potential objections.
- Structure, clarity, and consistency of information.
PitchCraft will provide strategic feedback and recommendations.
The Client remains responsible for implementing feedback, producing revised materials, and maintaining the accuracy of all information presented.
Graphic design, slide production, and the creation of complete pitch decks are not included in the standard retainer.
6. Client Responsibilities and Accountability
PitchCraft operates as a strategic advisory partner.
The Client acknowledges that the success of the engagement depends on active participation, openness to feedback, and the implementation of agreed actions.
The Client agrees to:
- Provide accurate and relevant business information.
- Attend scheduled advisory sessions and communicate availability.
- Share relevant documents in sufficient time for review.
- Prepare agendas ahead of advisory calls.
- Take ownership of agreed actions and business decisions.
- Communicate material changes to the business or fundraising strategy.
PitchCraft may challenge assumptions, question strategic decisions, and provide direct feedback where appropriate.
All final business, commercial, financial, and fundraising decisions remain the responsibility of the Client.
7. Confidentiality and Mutual Non-Disclosure
Both parties acknowledge that confidential and commercially sensitive information may be exchanged during the engagement.
By entering into this Agreement, PitchCraft and the Client mutually agree to obligations of confidentiality and non-disclosure.
Each party agrees to:
- Keep confidential all non-public business, financial, strategic, technical, and commercial information received from the other party.
- Use confidential information solely for the purposes of the advisory engagement.
- Not disclose confidential information to third parties without prior written consent, except where necessary for the engagement and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations.
- Take reasonable measures to protect confidential information from unauthorised access, use, or disclosure.
- Not use the other party's confidential information for personal or commercial advantage outside the agreed engagement.
These obligations do not apply to information that is publicly available through no breach of this Agreement, independently developed, lawfully received from another source without confidentiality restrictions, or required to be disclosed by law.
Where disclosure is legally required, the disclosing party will, where legally permitted, provide reasonable notice to the other party.
Confidentiality obligations will continue for three years following termination of the engagement. Trade secrets will remain protected for as long as they retain their legally protected status.
Either party may request a separate Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), which may be entered into by mutual agreement.
8. No Guarantee of Funding or Investment
PitchCraft provides strategic advice and fundraising preparation services intended to strengthen the Client's investment proposition.
PitchCraft does not guarantee:
- Successful fundraising.
- Investment commitments or term sheets.
- Introductions to specific investors.
- Investor meetings or responses.
- Particular valuations or investment terms.
- Commercial or financial performance.
Fundraising outcomes depend on multiple factors outside PitchCraft's control, including market conditions, investor preferences, business performance, and the Client's execution.
The Client acknowledges that PitchCraft's services are advisory in nature and that all investment decisions are made independently by investors.
9. Intellectual Property and Materials
The Client retains ownership of its existing business information, pitch decks, financial models, intellectual property, and proprietary materials.
PitchCraft retains ownership of its pre-existing methodologies, frameworks, templates, processes, and proprietary advisory materials.
Upon payment of the applicable fees, the Client receives a perpetual, non-exclusive licence to use PitchCraft's advisory materials provided during the engagement for its own internal business and fundraising purposes.
Neither party may reproduce, distribute, or commercially exploit the other party's proprietary materials beyond the permissions granted under this Agreement without prior written consent.
10. Conflicts of Interest and Independence
PitchCraft may provide advisory services to multiple startups, founders, and businesses, including organisations operating in similar sectors.
PitchCraft will take reasonable steps to protect confidential information and manage any material conflicts of interest.
Where a material conflict is identified, PitchCraft will notify the Client and discuss an appropriate resolution.
11. Limitation of Liability
PitchCraft will exercise reasonable care and skill in delivering its advisory services.
The Client acknowledges that business and fundraising decisions involve commercial risk.
PitchCraft will not be responsible for losses arising solely from investment decisions, market conditions, investor rejections, or business decisions made independently by the Client.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, PitchCraft's total aggregate liability arising from the engagement will be limited to the total fees paid by the Client under this Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
12. Termination
Either party may elect not to renew the engagement by providing at least 30 days' written notice before the end of the applicable contractual period.
During the initial six-month minimum engagement, the Client remains responsible for the agreed minimum contractual fees, except where termination or another remedy is required by applicable law or arises from PitchCraft's material breach.
Either party may terminate the Agreement where the other party commits a material breach and fails to remedy that breach within 14 days of receiving written notice, where the breach is capable of remedy.
Where PitchCraft terminates the Agreement without Client fault, any fees paid for services not yet provided will be refunded on a fair, proportionate basis.
The parties may also agree to terminate the engagement early by mutual written agreement.
13. Professional Advice
PitchCraft provides business strategy, fundraising preparation, and general commercial advisory services.
Unless expressly agreed otherwise, PitchCraft does not provide regulated investment advice, legal advice, tax advice, audit services, or formal accounting services.
The Client should seek appropriately qualified professional advice where required.
PitchCraft does not act as an investment broker, placement agent, or authorised financial intermediary under this Agreement.
14. Data Protection
Both parties agree to comply with applicable data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, where relevant.
Personal data exchanged during the engagement will be used only for legitimate business purposes and handled in accordance with applicable legal obligations.
Where necessary, the parties will enter into additional data processing arrangements.
15. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The courts of England and Wales shall have jurisdiction over disputes arising in connection with this Agreement, subject to any mandatory legal rights or jurisdictional requirements that apply.
16. Acceptance of Terms
By booking a discovery call, the Client accepts these Terms & Conditions and confirms that they:
- Have read and understood these Terms & Conditions.
- Agree to the six-month minimum engagement.
- Understand the £250 monthly fee and £750 quarterly advance payment structure.
- Understand the monthly advisory and pitch deck review allocations.
- Accept the mutual confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations.
- Acknowledge that PitchCraft does not guarantee fundraising outcomes.
- Agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
The discovery call itself is free. Fees and the minimum engagement apply only if the Client goes ahead with the retainer and completes the initial payment.
PitchCraft Global
Strategic fundraising advisory for ambitious founders.