Thursday 22 March 2018

Tips From Experts To Entrepreneurs Trying To Secure Venture Capital Funding

By Donna Hayes


Expanding a newly established business takes a lot of money. For those entrepreneurs whose business assets are primarily intangible, getting a conventional loan from a traditional financial institution or from an angel investor may not be appropriate. They need venture capital funding instead, and should consider the advice of experts.

First of all, they say entrepreneurs have to understand the difference between venture capital investors and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals or firms that fund new businesses in the form of loans or equity in the company. Friends and family often become angels for entrepreneurs. Rapidly growing businesses in need of additional funds to expand often approach investors willing to on take high risk projects, usually in exchange for a certain percentage of equity in the company.

These individuals and firms operate at the highest levels. It won't be easy to convince them that the value you place on your company is realistic or that the company will continue to grow at impressive rates. You will have to do plenty of research to find the firms that invest money in the type of business you run and are willing to offer you the kind of sums you need for expansion.

While you are researching you will probably come across companies offering to sell leads and investor databases that will ensure you find the funds you need. They might advertise that they can get the attention of the decision maker, who will read your business summary and be so impressed that you will get a call from him right away. Experts say that's not the way it works.

Trying to create your own shortcuts won't be successful either. Mass emailing investors is a waste of time. They see these kinds of tactics all the time and aren't fooled by them. You never know when someone you contacted this way might have been interested in your business plan if your approach had been smarter. Instead you need to narrow the field of potential investors and go after them individually.

Once you have this information in hand, you should try and find a way to personally introduce yourself. Networking is invaluable. You might know someone who belongs to the same alumni association or has worked with a decision maker in the investment firm. If a principal in the company is speaking at an event, try to wrangle a seat and introduce yourself after it concludes.

You will have to be smart to get the attention of one of these investors. They are inundated with requests, and only respond to a few. You need a great tag line that describes your company in a few words and a summary video good enough to get you through the door to make a pitch.

Successful businesses often start with a little idea and smart marketing. Once it takes off, an entrepreneur needs sufficient capital to keep it on its trajectory. There are professionals willing to invest big money on the calculated risk they will get a big return.




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