As a business founder presenting your opportunity to potential investors, there are a few key things you should communicate to make your pitch effective. Here are some examples: Clearly define your business Start by providing a clear and concise explanation of your business, including…
As a business founder seeking capital funding, there are certain things that you should avoid telling investors. Here are some examples: Exaggerating financial projections It’s important to be realistic about your financial projections and not to exaggerate them in an attempt to impress investors….
A common question is, “What type of capital structure is best for my company?” The answer to that question is individually dependent upon your company, its stage of development and its needs. In the broadest sense there are two types of financing, debt financing…
Having sat on both sides of the desk as an investor over the past 20 years and as a capital seeker as well, I could tell you, there is some eye catchers that are going to pop out at you and really grab your…
Here are the 6 things companies need to do in this altered financing environment to survive and raise angel funding: 1. Bootstrap Companies must pinch every dollar, when possible. Get individual contributors to work for free, pay upon performance and do everything you can…
We have the opportunity to meet a lot of entrepreneurs at different funding stages in their life cycle. One thing that I’ve found is that it is important that you communicate to investors which stage you’re in and, if possible, how many rounds of…
In general, the following milestone of your business usually attracts, and become more valuable in the eyes of an investor: and, be prepared to deliver all these on a pitch in no more than 20 minutes. Key Takeaways Think of the capital raising process…
Despite the fact that there is plenty of money out there, investors are still risk averse and more often than not prefer to say “no”. So, instead of trying to raise money on your own, should you engage a professional advisor? You probably want…
The answer is “Yes” if the firm and its team are ready to earn the commitment of investors. In my experience of watching market cycles of more than 20-years, general market conditions, no matter whether good or bad, do not correlate with effective fundraising….
There are two main types of money out there – smart investors’ money and dumb investors’ money. Dumb investors (e.g., friends and family) are not necessarily bad, since they have money and often with very good intentions. They tend to invest based on first…