Allison Byers' book, Fundraising for the Rest of Us, is out now. Get your copy
Our North Star

Build trusted relationships that unlock access for innovators.

For too long, the relationships that lead to capital formed in rooms The Rest of Us were never invited into. We're building the infrastructure so programs, and the founders, investors, and supporters they serve, can build those relationships on purpose.

Screw bias. Be Scroobious.

Named for a poem about being celebrated for being different.

The Scroobious Pip, from the Edward Lear poem, is celebrated for being different. Entrepreneurs who don't fit the traditional founder mold should be celebrated for the opportunities they bring, and the investors and programs who back them should have the relationships to find them.

Allison Byers holding Fundraising for the Rest of Us
Allison Byers
Founder & CEO, author of Fundraising for the Rest of Us
Founder's story

Why I built Scroobious

I built a medical device company that hit every milestone founders are told will unlock capital. We raised $9.6M, earned FDA registration, secured paying pharma and clinical customers, and published peer-reviewed evidence.

And still, I couldn't raise our Series B.

Our board ultimately authorized an asset sale. The acquiring company, run by an all-male management team, went on to raise $55 million after purchasing our technology, IP, and customer relationships.

I researched the root causes and analyzed data on capital allocation and pattern matching in VC. The bias wasn't anecdotal; it was systemic. Talking with hundreds of founders, investors, and program leaders showed me what was missing: the relationships, and the infrastructure to build them.

I'm not here to fix people or fix VC. I'm here to build a new capital system designed to serve The Rest of Us.

What we believe

Capital follows trust.

Relationships come first

The best opportunities start long before there's an ask on the table.

Networks should outlast programs

The communities programs build are valuable. They shouldn't fade when a cohort ends or a staff member moves on.

Access should be affordable

Anyone can join on their own, whatever role they play, at a price that keeps the door open.

Fundraising for the Rest of Us by Allison Byers
The book

Fundraising for the Rest of Us

Allison's guide to raising capital when you don't come from the insider network. A free group discussion guide is available for book clubs, cohorts, and classrooms.

Ordering for a program or event? Ask about bulk orders
Speaking

Bring Allison to your stage

Keynotes, panels, and workshops on capital access, building trusted networks, and fundraising for the rest of us.

Allison speaking at SXSW 2025 on strategic fundraising
SXSW 2025
Allison on the Social Entrepreneurship: Funding and Founders panel at the Yale Innovation Summit
Yale Innovation Summit
Allison speaking on a panel at Harvard WECode
Harvard WECode
Stages and programs include

SXSW · Yale Innovation Summit · Harvard Innovation Labs · Harvard WECode · MIT · Nasdaq · AWS Impact Accelerator · Techstars · Babson College · Cornell University · Vanderbilt University · Boston University · Northeastern University · MassRobotics · TiE Boston

Request Allison to speak

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