15 questions every forest and bio-based innovator should consider before seeking investment
Understanding investment readiness
Many innovators approach investment before they are truly ready. They build a promising product or service, or business or initiative, reach a point where investment seems like a necessary next step, and begin approaching investors, only to find that the conversation does not go as expected. Sometimes the issue lies in the innovation or business idea itself, but more often it reflects mismatched expectations, gaps in preparation, or a limited understanding of how the investment world works.
This guide, “15 questions every forest and bio-based innovator should consider before seeking investment”, is structured in four parts: understanding the investment world, defining your position and intent, articulating your value proposition, and preparing for the investment process. Together, they provide a structured framework for engaging with investors.
These questions do not have simple right or wrong answers. Their purpose is to prompt reflection and support the clarity and confidence required when engaging in an investment process.
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Content: 15 questions every forest and bio-based innovator should consider before seeking investment
Authors: Lia Sweetman de Clar, Siebe Briers, and Jan Debets
Year: 2026
Contact the authors
The guide is drawn from the webinar series “Preparing early-stage innovations for investment readiness” delivered by EFI Bioregions in collaboration with Jan Debets of META Group, designed for researchers and early-stage innovators in the forest and bio-based sectors, with principles that apply broadly to science-based and impact-oriented ventures. Feel free to contact the authors:
Lia Sweetman de Clar (EFI): lia.sweetman@efi.int
Siebe Briers (EFI): siebe.briers@efi.int
Jan Debets (META Group): j.debets@meta-group.com