There is always a small chance that an early round can fill up or that one greedy investor will try to take the whole round. If this happens, you can always take a shot by asking the founder, “Is there any way you can fit me in by expanding the round or carving someone else back? I want to work with you and help make this company a huge win for everyone involved.” These kinds of heartfelt pleas rarely go unrewarded. If they absolutely can’t get you in this round, you can always stay in touch and jump in down the road because startups never stop raising money. Ever.
