Category: Funding
11 Things Not to do When Trying to Raise Capital From Family or Friends
Q. What’s one thing NOT do when trying to raise capital from family or friends for your startup? The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. The YEC promotes entrepreneurship as a solution to unemployment and underemployment and provides entrepreneurs with access to [...]
The Downsides of Raising Money for Your Startup
Raising money should be seen as a means to accomplish ambitious goals for your company, not an accomplishment on its own. Securing investment from a prestigious venture capital firm can make headlines, but there are many downsides to raising money for an early-stage company. Here are a few: 1.) Dilution The earlier stage your company [...]
14 Ways to Keep Your Startups Costs Down
Q. What’s one tip you have for keeping startup costs under control in the early stage of a new company? The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. The YEC promotes entrepreneurship as a solution to unemployment and underemployment and provides entrepreneurs with [...]
4 Most Common Myths Entrepreneurs Believe About Raising Capital
I work at a technology-based business incubator, and one of my roles is to help our clients raise capital. Whether these companies are trying to raise capital through debt or equity, the entrepreneurs tend to have some pretty interesting assumptions about the process of raising capital. I hate to be a “dream-crusher”, but I often [...]
New Law Will Help Entrepreneurs Raise Money: Crowdfund Act
It could be easier for you to launch your next great idea. Now, thanks to a provision of the recently enacted JOBS Act authorizing “crowdfunding,” instead of trying to convince big banks and Wall Street to back your business, you will soon be able to turn to Main Street. The provision, dubbed the CROWDFUND Act, [...]
5 Ways To Finance Your Startup
Your business is never going to get off the ground unless you have the money to do so. Most small businesses fail simply because they do not have the money to keep going. Employee salaries, equipment and supplies are all costs that can hinder the development of your company. Fortunately, you have many options when [...]
5 Pieces of Investment Advice Entrepreneurs Should Ignore
Entrepreneurs know what it takes to get things done. When it comes to funding your ventures, making decisive management calls, and propelling projects forward – you’re motivated and effective. But because of your intensely focused approach, you often overlook some of the key investment considerations that will help you become a sustainable “career” entrepreneur. Every [...]
5 Tips for Crowdsourcing Your Next Launch
With the growing popularity of crowdsourcing and the government’s efforts (as they may be) with regard to regulation of crowdfunding platforms, you may be considering using crowdfunding to finance your next startup venture. I am an advocate for crowdfunding (and am co-developing a campaign to launch at the end of next month); however, as an [...]
10 Ways to Turn Your Business Into a Cash Flow Machine
To say that cash flow is important for any business is simply and understatement. Cash is what keeps your doors open, your lenders happy, and your employees from going on strike. Cash flow is ultimately what your investors want to see, and is what gives your business life. Here are 10 ways that you can [...]
Poll: How Much Money Did You Use to Start Your Business?
The saying goes, “You need to spend money to make money”. So we want to know how much money did you spend right at the start to get your business up and running? How big was your first leap? Let us know in the poll below:
