The Pipeline Project Group · Stage 02 — Finance
The money a ready story can unlock.
Story Forward makes a project funding-ready. The Finance stage matches that project to the right blend of catalytic capital — grants, co-production, debt, equity and pre-sales — and structures the deal so it can close.
Grants & Catalytic Capital
Non-dilutive capital that de-risks the rest of the stack.
Concessional and grant capital from public bodies, foundations and creative-economy programmes — the first money in that lets a project attract everything else without giving up equity or rights.
What you'll need
Impact framework, eligible budget, match-funding letters, submission pack.
0 of 4 steps done
What it looks like
- A clear, measurable impact case programmes reward
- Eligibility confirmed against the funder's framework
- A budget and use of funds that fit the grant's scope
- Match funding identified or in progress
How to reach it
Co-Production Finance
Borderless capital, shared rights and tax incentives.
Finance assembled across partner territories through co-production treaties, tax incentives and partner broadcasters — letting a single project draw from multiple national funding pools at once.
What you'll need
Chain of title, finance plan, co-production qualification, incentive schedule.
0 of 4 steps done
What it looks like
- Chain of title clean and partner-ready
- A finance plan with room for partner contributions
- Qualifying co-production status confirmed or in reach
- Identified partner regions and treaty or fund routes
How to reach it
Debt & Revenue Finance
Capital repaid against future revenue, not ownership.
Loans, advances and revenue-based finance repaid from the project's own earnings — useful where a project has confirmed rights, pre-sales or guaranteed income but needs working capital to deliver.
What you'll need
Pre-sale agreements, cashflow forecast, security/guarantee, delivery budget.
0 of 4 steps done
What it looks like
- Confirmed pre-sales, commissions or minimum guarantees
- A repayment source that a lender can underwrite
- Costed delivery and a realistic cashflow timeline
- Security or guarantees the lender can rely on
How to reach it
Equity Investment
Patient capital for a share of upside.
Capital from investors or funds that take an equity stake in the project or its holding company, in exchange for a share of revenue, profit or IP upside — best suited to projects with clear scale and return potential.
What you'll need
Return model, cap table, team profiles, IP rights map, term sheet.
0 of 4 steps done
What it looks like
- A business model an investor can model a return on
- A team and track record that can deliver at scale
- Clean IP and rights retained where value accrues
- A clear exit or recoupment path
How to reach it
Pre-Sales & Market Advances
Commitments from buyers that finance production.
Minimum guarantees and pre-sales from distributors, broadcasters and platforms — commitments against future rights that can be leveraged as production finance before the work is finished.
What you'll need
Comparables, buyer conversations, MG/pre-sale letters, territory rights map.
0 of 4 steps done
What it looks like
- A marketable, comparable title with proven demand
- Named distributors, broadcasters or platforms in conversation
- A sales estimate grounded in comparable performance
- Rights split into territories a buyer can take
How to reach it
Not yet funding-ready?