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Startup Valuation: 3 Tips For Putting A Price On Your Company
When raising angel or venture capital, startup founders are often concerned with questions about the valuation of their company. Putting a value on an early stage company-- especially one with very little or no revenue and negative cash flow-- is difficult to do, since most traditional valuation methods do not work well for startups. In this article, we discuss how startup companies are valued by investors and how you should set a valuation range when dealing with seed, angel, or VC investors.

How does my firm attract Venture Capital?
The article discusses facts regarding venture capital firms, who they are, and what they are looking for in an investment .

Venture Capital and Angel investors - Challenging to raise money outside of Canada
Both Venture Capital and Angel investors worldwide have been challenged to raise a significant amount of money because of the challenging times world-wide. In Canada, administrative hurdles like Section 116 makes tax treatment for United States investors a time consuming affair!

Small Business Financing Options-Despite the Credit Crunch
There's no question that the financial crisis and ensuing credit crunch have made it more difficult than ever to secure small business financing and raise capital. This is especially true for fast-growth companies, which tend to consume more resources in order to feed their growth. If they aren't careful, they can literally grow themselves right out of business. Amidst all the gloom and doom, however, it's important to keep one thing in mind: There are still options available for small business financing. It's simply a matter of knowing where to look and how to prepare.

Factoring: A Commercial Financing Alternative to Venture Capital
In today's difficult credit environment, companies are turning over every stone and looking in every nook and cranny in their efforts to obtain the commercial financing they need to grow and prosper. Many owners think that venture capital is going to be the solution to their financing problems, but VC investors are very cautious even in the best of times, and especially so today. In the current credit environment, many companies are finding that factoring services are often a better and cheaper way to obtain commercial financing than venture capital.

UK Business Finance - The Options Available To You
This article gives you a straight-forward overview of the typical financial products and options available to your business in the United Kingdom. For some businesses, taking a lease rental may not be ideal - they may instead need an operating lease. Others require an investment for example, or venture capital to aid their growth. This article breaks down what finance options you have available to explore.

The Overwhelming Logic of Sustainable Business
Steady consumer demand and the rapid growth of green industries makes sustainable business irresistibly appealing. For all economic enterprises from large corporations to small businesses, sustainable strategies and best practice are an important part of intelligent business planning. With numerous consumer and industry reports corroborating the ongoing growth of the green market, green is not just about adding cache, it is increasingly a matter of survival.

Innovation Gets a Boost with SBIR Cap Increase - But Commercialization Remains the Challenge
The recent increase in the SBIR funding caps look good to entrepreneurs, but their challenge of actually making money from their innovations is still a big challenge. The Valley of Death is hard to bridge. Congress has recently woken up to this, but will that be the answer?

Warning Signs You May Be Dealing With a Decoy Angel Investor Or Venture Capital Fund
Decoy Investors are people who pose as an investor usually with an alternative motive to get the unsuspecting entrepreneur to pay them some sort of a fee before closing. Unfortunately, for deceitful people, the easiest thing to sell an aspiring entrepreneur is HOPE. What are the warning signs? How can you spot a scam artist posing as an investor? What can you do to protect yourself and your business? We list 7 different types of Decoy Investors to beware of when trying to find early stage capital.

Is there Venture Capital and Angel Investment Capital in a Down Market?
The down turn in the economy is affecting every one in different ways. Is it harder for Entrepreneurs to raise capital, because the investors are conservative in their investments-- But not impossible. Many companies are raising capital and taking advantage in the reduced cost of most everything as they build their business.

Investor Options
Raising capital is never easy. Conventional financing options are running thin and banks close their doors to a lot of lending right now. However, within conventional financing methods exists an arena of creative financing.

Fred Smith Has Lift-Off: The Beginnings of Federal Express
“By the early '70s when I'd gotten out of the service it was very clear that this new society was coming in earnest,” recalls Smith. “And so, at that point I said, ‘What the hell, let's try to put it together.’” After leaving the U.S. Marine Corps, Smith purchased a controlling interest in Ark Aviation Sales, a company that focused on aircraft maintenance. This was the first step towards realizing his goal of what would soon become Federal Express.

Lesson #3: Focus On the Inside Out
“I believe that Yahoo! is too often defined by the competitive landscape, rather than by what we can accomplish with our assets,” says Yang. “I’m determined for us to define our own path.”

What All VCs Share
In my PE Week column a while back I said that there no best practises in venture capital. A long-time industry veteran emailed agreement, but said that the best VCs do share two characteristics.

How Many Angels is the Right Number
I got the following question via email today: All things being equal and all things being perfect, is it better to have more or less 'angels' in the mix? I can come up with reasons for both more and less. Also, it seems to me that more and less are very relative - but, in this case, Ohio has a limit of 25 investors before exemptions no longer apply (we're still investigating that one), so that is the absolute upper limit. I'm thinking "more" is in the range of 4 - 10 and "less" is in the range of 3 or fewer -- allowing more growth later, if needed.

How to Get the Attention of a Venture Capitalist
At the Elite Retreat I gave an off-the-cuff answer to a question concerning getting the attention of venture capitalists. My buddy Wendy Piersall blogged about my answer, and it was a very popular. However, to truly help entrepreneurs, I’d like to provide a cogent list of the tips to get the attention of a venture capitalist.

Venture Capital & Picking vs. Poking
There is lots of partner tribalism in venture capital, but one worth noting is the schism between pickers and pokers.

How Not To Impress People
I answer my own phone. I always have. If I’m sitting at my desk working on something and my phone rings I’ll usually pick it up, even if I don’t recognize the phone number. I know this doesn’t fit the “be hyper-productive” method of life, but I like the randomness of it.

The Trouble with Theme-based Venture Investing
Pithy comments from Sequoia's Moritz on his trouble with theme-based venture investing:

Should You Force Your Investors To Use Your Product?
I had the following exchange with the CEO of one of my investments the other day. Q (Brad): It’s strange to me that only a few of the investors / board members are using Product X. Any insights?

Phrase du Jour: Venture Tourist
Here is my venture capital phrase of the day, complete with definition:

Financial Models for Underachievers: Two Years of the Real Numbers of a Startup
My buddy at Redfin, Glenn Kelman, decided he wanted to bare his financial soul so that other entrepreneurs could get greater insight into the witchcraft called financial modeling. In this two-part posting, he reveals his numbers and his lessons. They are eye-opening for most entrepreneurs.

Be it Resolved: Venture Capital is an Attractive Nuisance
Venture capital, as an institutional asset class, is pretty much dead.

The Ether and the Scrum
Every day I get emails from entrepreneurs that make me think. In this case, it’s from a friend who is on the fundraising trail. He started off the email with “I felt compelled to share this with you as someone who would appreciate it.” I thought it was dynamite and asked him if I could share it since – in its unedited form – it captured so nicely what I expect many entrepreneurs feel. And, just as importantly, it’s something I hope VC’s realize that entrepreneurs – even very experienced ones – feel.

Entrepreneurs Raising Early Stage Venture Capital are in a Beauty Contest
Startup and Early Stage entrepreneurs must compete for the attention and limited capital available from angel investors and early stage venture capitalists. In many ways it can be compared to a Beauty Contest. The business fundamentals of a successful business are in place, but to be "picked" from the other companies also pitching those investors, that company must be the most attractive to that investor, that judge who will decide if the company qualifies to go to the next stage in the process.

3 Key Factors For Raising Capital
Raising venture capital is hard. Statistics show that only 2 to 5% of startups successfully get their business plans funded by VCs. One of the main reasons startups are not able to raise capital is because they approach investors before they are really ready-- i.e., before they are "venture worthy." This article discusses three key factors that will help improve your chances of getting funded.

A Business Mentor Is Important For A Successful Entrepreneur
When you first start your business everything can be quite confusing. Having an experienced mentor guide you can make the difference between a successful venture and a failed endeavor. There are many pitfalls and problems that are difficult to work out on your own.

Bootstrapping Basics Entrepreneurs Need To Know
Practical assistance for entrepreneurs on how to start and grow a business by bootstrapping along with the importance of utilizing a small business mentor to assure success.

Entrepreneurs- How to Start-Up an E-Commerce Business on a Budget
Many entrepreneurs start e-commerce businesses due to the low initial costs involved. No store lease to pay for, good quality web designers will work for very reasonable fees and you can target your specific demographic will relative ease. Most e-commerce start-up entrepreneurs still need a steady income, but they lack start-up funds, and have little to no retail experience or technical expertise.

Entrepreneurs Make The Most Of Your Business Mentor Relationship
Finding a great mentor is one of the best ways to learn, to get feedback, and to take your start-up or small business to the next level. Here are ten tips for making the most of your mentoring relationships.

Ethos Mentor - The Ultimate Success Strategy for Serious Entrepreneurs
Ethos Mentor provides entrepreneurs with affordable one on one mentoring, business coaching and capital raising services so they can launch and grow their businesses. We help business owners at every stage, from how to start a business, start-up and growth stage, to established firms seeking large capital funding and expansion.

Women – The Innovative Entrepreneurs
In America, women start 424 new enterprises every day that’s more than twice as many as men. These mothers of invention have nurtured their creative ideas outside the corporate box.

Financing 101 for Entrepreneurs - Debt vs. Equity or Both?
Small business owners can choose from two basic types of financing- debt and equity. There are advantages and disadvantages of each type that may be used for different purposes.

How A Business Mentor Works With An Entrepreneur
My mother used to remind me that all relationships take time. Friendships, marriages, and even business relationships all require a little TLC and room to grow so that they can find their way to success. This is especially true for a business mentor relationship.

How to Fund a Small Business- The Entrepreneur Start-Up Money Hunt
Young and mature entrepreneurs alike, often get creative in finding money to start their own small business. Having the assistance of a business mentor can greatly improve your chance of success.

How To Increase Your Chances For Getting An SBA Loan
Many of our start up business clients at Ethos 360 come to us with basic questions on how to get financing from the SBA. There are a few things to have in your back pocket (and on the tip of your tongue) before going to them in order to increase your chances of getting approved.

How To Market Your Small Business For Little Money
Every business owner wants to use time-proven, effective marketing tactics that build strong brand awareness and increase its clientele. Small business owners today may not necessarily have the tools to spend an insane amount of money on television advertising, radio spots, or other costly advertising avenues such as billboards emblazoned with state-of-the-art graphics.

How To Pitch Angel Investors And Venture Capitalists
I hear from a great deal of my clients that they're looking for the secret to the, "best pitch to investors." To me, this always sounds like looking for the secret to, "the best pitch to ask someone to prom." There is no perfect method. There is no secret. At the end of the day, all you can do is show up and do your best. There are, however, things you should remember to do and things you should definitely avoid.

How To Start A Business For Under $5000
In today’s economic environment, individuals with entrepreneurial mindsets are exploring new ideas for businesses that will not only survive in a recession, but will also thrive. The key to starting a new business is maximizing its resources while remaining lean in operations.

How To Start A Successful House Cleaning Business
A house cleaning business can be started on a shoestring budget so you can get up and running relatively quickly and start making money. Service based businesses are often some of the best start-ups.

How to Start an Online Business for the At Home Entrepreneur
Some people believe it easy to start an online home business, but without having a handle on what is needed to make money online, they will fail like the rest of the 99% that try building a home business on the internet. There are things you must know and 'tricks of the trade' that will make the difference between success and failure.

Keys To A Powerful Business Plan
Whether you are planning to start a brand-new business, expand an existing company, or get financing for a business venture, you will need to write a business plan. There’s no way around this unless you have a dead rich uncle who just left you his two-car garage full of thousand dollar bills.

Leadership Secrets For Your Sales Team To Get Through The Down Market
Sales, sales sales. It's what makes your business, any kind of business, become and stay successful. What was once taken as a given in 2007-2008 no longer exists. It's time to discover and reward talent and manage your team as effectively as possible to maxmize potential. These are the times when talent shines and leaders thrive.

New Website, Sprowtt, Has Arrived To The Benefit Of Cleantech Entrepreneurs
Cleantech entrepreneurs receive assistance in obtaining financing and networking to get their deals done with the help of this excellent new website.

Online Entrepreneurial Opportunities During the Economic Downturn
Remember- Fortunes are built during the bad times and cashed in during the good. If you think a recession is a bad time to start a business, think again. An entrepreneur is adaptable and is always looking for opportunities. There are many logical reasons why this is a good time to start your own online venture. Your capital maybe limited and you feel the pressure of a recession that looks like it’s not going away anytime soon so let’s get serious and look at your options.

Preparation Is Key to a Successful Start-Up Business
Most new small business owners and entrepreneurs discover that getting starting is often the most difficult task. Inundated with often contradictory advice from the internet or friend and family they’re left more confused and frustrated than ever.

Raising Capital And What You Need To Prepare
Many people ask me if it's possible to raise capital in the traditional sense these days. Everyone knows and understands that lending practices have tightened and many VC firms have gently (and occasionally not so gently) refused to accept any more submissions. But is it impossible to raise capital? Of course not, it's just even harder now.

Small Business Brand Identity Strategies
"Does a brand identity matter when you are a start-up?" Sleepless nights, a staff of three to do the work of 20, and the doubters will test your stamina to survive the start-up game. I suppose if it were easy, every person with an idea would be doing it. Start-ups require lots more than possession of an idea. They require an uncanny drive to succeed, a fearless spirit, a sense of humor and thick skin.

Small Business Owners Need to Embrace The Web
The return on investment for website design and search engine optimization (SEO) is huge for small business owners. The result of not having a professional, effective web presence is being left behind.

The Current Paradigm Shift For Venture Capital Firms
Currently, the state of funding for start-ups from a venture capitalist seems to be on the wane. The keyword there is “seems.” Once again, what is actually happening in the realm of business and what is being perceived to be happening in the realm of business are too very different things.

The Holy Trinity Of Business Mentoring And Coaching
Whenever I’m discussing my philosophies on the purpose of hiring a mentor service, I sometimes notice an elephant in the room that no one wants to address: Just what the heck IS a mentor anyway? Sometimes it slips my mind that there isn’t a clear definition of what these types of services are for in business. My own personal definition of a mentor is pretty much the norm for the business world, but should probably be reviewed, regardless.

The Importance of Updating Your Business Plan
The importance of updating a business plan is simple: it creates a long-term strategy for your business, while alleviating the stress and headaches of operating a business if action is continually implemented. There are important factors to consider when revising and updating a business plan.

The Start-Up Blues – How to Keep Motivated
Nationally and locally, business are facing hardships that we as a country haven’t truly had to face in a few generations and we’ve done our best to persevere, but that doesn’t always keep us from being pushed to the mat and the breaking point. The world where business credit was easy to acquire, vendors were lax in their collections, and the consumer was hungry for new purchases is long gone and the small business owner isn’t getting any true encouragement on what to do next.

Tips For Creating Lender Ready Business Plans
Guess what? Lenders can’t approve every loan application that crosses their desk. I’m sure they wish they could, but the fact of the matter is that they deal with mostly very small businesses seeking small loans, usually less than $250,000. Lending to inexperienced, new business owners is one of the riskiest arenas for a lending agency. That’s where the eye for looking for those classic, “business plan killers” comes in.

Websites For Small Businesses- What You Need to Know
Whenever I meet a potential client that has a business they’d like to tell me about, the inevitable question follows: “Do you have a website?” You’d be amazed how often this answer is, “Uh…” It’s baffling to me that people don’t really find a web presence as important as it should be. At some point, no matter what type of business you’re about to start, establishing a website or presence on the internet will be vital. These days, almost every company has a web page. If you still advertise your small business only in print only, you’re just not paying attention to current trends. A professional web presence is a must for a small business, especially a start-up.

Woman Owned Start-Ups Outpace Men
Currently, women outpace men in new businesses about 2 to 3. Of this statistic, Latina women in particular are entering entrepreneurial ranks full speed ahead, outpacing every other demographic group.

What keeps millionaires from becoming angel investors?
It is estimated that only 10% of those millionaires that would qualify as accredited investors actually invest capital into early stage private companies. Recognizing that all investments with potential to produce at least double digit ROI have some risk associated with that asset class investment. So with the socio-economic benefits of angel investing - bring innovation to the market, create jobs, create wealth - why don't more millionaires at least dabble in angel investing? This article explores the theories uncovered by Author Karen Rands' investigative team.

Distressed Real Estate Continues to Grow
In preparing the federal budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, the White House and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) made a number of assumptions regarding the economy's direction. In almost every respect, those assumptions have been proven to be overly optimistic.

How To Lose An Investor Before You Finish Speaking
Start-up killers are those spoken statements that will lose the funding or customer deal for the entrepreneur. When speaking to someone about the new product or the business proposition, there is often the moment when you know that you have lost your listener. One misspoken comment and everyone wants to leave as soon as possible. They’ve made their decision and they want you to stop wasting their time. It’s their gut reaction. What are some of these turn–offs?

Joint Venture Equity
Since institutional equity providers prefer larger deals, developers looking for $3 million in equity, for example, have a hard time getting their attention. But if an organization has the capacity to do seven deals a year, for instance, then the amount of equity inches up in the aggregate of $20 million to $30 million over 12 months, and it hits the threshold where it makes sense.

Conversations with Venture Capitalists about Start-ups and Funding
What attracts a investor to an entrepreneur? Here's a conversation with two venture capitalists about start-up funding and other issues.

Entrepreneur's Coaching Center-When Optimism is Bad
One would almost think that optimism was essential to business success. No so say the panel of experts. Optimism can be responsible for failure. See what the experts have to say.

Alternative Franchise Funding - Check it Our Service Franchises!
The proliferation of B2B franchises - service based franchises - coaching and consulting franchise opportunities has created a whole new category and level of need for financing. It's been hard enough if you were a capital based franchise (we need build-out, equipment, vehicles, etc.) For a time it seemed all small business capital had dried up. It is a bit better but not a lot. Today, non-capital intense businesses whose primary needs are working capital, capital for growth (more territory, expansion of marketing efforts, etc.) and only minor capital expenditures compared to manufacturing and retail types still may require capital in addition to their candidates capabilities. Where do they go? Where does anyone go? Are there alternatives?

Getting Investors to Notice Your Business
Seeking private investment in your business but not getting noticed by investors, maybe you are not seeking the right introduction. Try something that works.

Crafting Your Wow! Statement
If you have only a few seconds to communicate the essence of your company, what is the most important message to deliver? You need a Wow! statement -- a distillation of your core value proposition that is clear, concise, and compelling.

The Numbers Myth: Why Internet Marketing is NOT a Numbers Game
I Can Personally Guarantee that this Article Will Change Your Mind Forever and Will Change the Way that You See Online Marketing and Business Promotion.

Game Developer's Conference - Day 2
Catching what is new, what is hot and what the trends are in social and mobile gaming. All spell opportunities.

Should you Start a Business in 2009?
Should you Start a Business in 2009?

Why do most Business Plans Fail to Raise Capital?
As an expert business planning consultant for over 20 years, I have been surprised by what people are willing to show to potential investors. It is rare that you ever get a second chance, so it is absolutely critical that you put your best foot forward when trying to raise capital.

Lesson #1: Does Your Business Have an SCA?
The first of 5 key lessons that every budding entrepreneur shoul learn. The five lessons are taken from Enterprise and Venture Capital: A Business Builders' and Investors' Handbook 5th Edition Allen & Unwin 2009 by Christopher Golis. The book is based on his 25 years as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist and his talk 5000 Business Plans, 50 deals, 25 Write-offs which he regularly gives to entrepreneurial workshops.

Lesson #2: Lease the Pencils
Lesson #2 of Chris Golis's talk 5000 Business plan, 50 deals, 25 write-offs lessons learnt from 25 years as a venture capitalist. Money talks but cash screams.

Victim of his own success
Small- and medium-sized businesses create products or services, they delivery those products and services; but in the current economy they can't finance the growth and either have to slow down or go out of business. They become victims of their own success.

Lesson #3 Know The Game Part I
Lesson #3 of Chris Golis's talk 5000 Business plan, 50 deals, 25 write-offs lessons learned from 25 years as a venture capitalist. It is 1986. I had been a VC for two years in Sydney and was making my first visit to Silicon Valley. How I finally learned the game.

5 Reasons Why You Need To Build A Financial Model For Your Startup
To be successful, entrepreneurs and startup founders need to have a good handle on their business. The best way to do this is to build a financial model, which will give greater insight into your company. It will also make your startup more attractive to venture capital investors, lenders, or angel investors.

Lesson #3 Know The Game Part II.
The follow up to part I http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/6509/Lesson-3-Know-The-Game-Part-I.html The most important lesson an entrepreneur can learn

Start Up Funding - Lessons From Success
If you need money start a home based business, where do you look? A good place to start is to consider where successful companies found the money they needed.

Meeting With The Venture Capitalist
Meetings with venture capitalists are also referred to as “the dog & pony show.” It provides the first opportunity for investors to meet the management of your company face to face and assess the people behind the business. You could have a brilliant business plan backed by poor management. This will only become apparent to the venture capitalist in the meeting.

Contacting The Venture Capitalist
Venture capitalists are in business to make money. They have to have the ability to select companies that will make more money than their rivals. There are 2 types of companies. The first is a lifestyle business. These types of companies are centered around the lifestyle of the entrepreneurs. The owners will use the business to drive expensive cars and purchase big houses. These are not businesses that attract venture capital.

Venture Capital - Preparing The Plan
Make it so that your mother or grandmother can understand it. Entrepreneurs too often fill their business plans with of acronyms, tech terms, and buzz words. Intermediaries can usually tell after the first paragraph how difficult it will be to raise capital for your business. Condense what you do and what you want into a statement that you can make very promptly in seconds or minutes. If you cannot communicate quickly, you will lose the investor’s interest.

How To Valuate Your Business
The venture capitalists will usually look at your projected, or pro forma, earnings 3 to 5 years from the point of their investment. From there they will deduct a 30% annual return that they expect to receive and will subtract a further percentage for the fact that you are a private and therefore non liquid company. This is known as the pre-money valuation.

Steps to Raising Money for Your New Venture
Raising money can be intimidating, especially if you are new at it. Learn the documents you need to prepare, in advance to maximize your chances of getting everything you want from investors. Prepare a "One Line Pitch," develop a Business Summary, and craft a Power-Point presentation that motivates rather than putting potential investors asleep.

Lessons from Solar
Why every entrepreneur and venture capital investor should read Solar, the latest novel by Ian McEwan.

The Law of Resources – An Idea Will Not Get Off the Ground Without Adequate Funding
A good idea will not get off the ground without adequate funding, suggests Mike Farrell with aspenIbiz. Read this short post to learn that you first get the product or service idea and then you go get the money to exploit it.

Recommendations
This report recommends that SUM reorient MicroStart to focus more clearly on finding and supporting organizations that have good potential to become major providers, while reducing the proportion of its resources devoted to low potential organizations.

Does It Make Sense for UNDP to Help Launch Small and New Organizations?
The most fundamental question that this evaluation addresses is the validity of UNDP's decision to build a program focused on supporting small MFIs.

Perfecting Your Pitch: Winning the Hearts and Minds of Investors
The keys to increasing your effectiveness with prospective investors. This article provides a detailed overview of the components of a winning presentation, and it provides tips on what to do, and what not to do, if you want to persuade investors to finance your company.

What Can Be Done in North America to Help Better Support African Entrepreneurship?
The most important support from North America could be training. Due to the difficulties in Africa, it is often found that people are necessity entrepreneurs.

Financing Options for Start-ups
One of the biggest challenges for many start-ups is to find money to keep the company running. This article outlines some ways in which start-ups can acquire financing for their business.

Alternative Funding Options to the Rescue
Looking for money to start up or expand your business? Due to a variety of reasons, many traditional funding sources may not be available to you at this time. Consider some new ways to raise the capital you need. Small business owners may be at a loss to find capital at this time. Their personal resources, such as home equity, have been drained. Perhaps their FICO scores have been injured during the recession, making it difficult to obtain SBA loans or other traditional financing. There are a couple of new options to consider.

THE FEMALE ASPECT
Changing lifestyles have seen many more women set up their own business later in life, capitalizing on re-found freedom after the children have left home

Finding Capital
Raising capital is the most basic of all business activities, but it may not be easy; in fact, it is often a complex and frustrating process. However, if you have studied and planned effectively, raising money for your business will go as smoothly as possible.

Handling Finances
Thanks to the enormous growth in personal wealth over the past two decades, there are now more funding opportunities than ever for entrepreneurs. The rapid growth of the Internet has made finding investors and lenders easy, but the legal issues involved in business financing are complex and should always be reviewed by a qualified attorney.

Understanding Equity Capital
Equity capital or financing is money raised by a business in exchange for a share of ownership in the company. Ownership is represented by owning shares of stock outright or having the right to convert other financial instruments into stock of that private company. Two key sources of equity capital for new and emerging businesses are angel investors and venture capital firms.

Other venture capital Related Articles

“Tips For Entrepreneurs In Selecting A Venture Capitalist”
As a business coach, I do get the opportunity from time to time to assist, guide and facilitate the search for venture capital and venture capital firms. Recently I have been involved in doing just that and here are some tips on what characteristics to look for when searching for venture capitalists. Characteristics of a good venture capitalist should include:

Venture Capital Financing
Venture Capital is a source for raising equity for your business. You must have a good proportion of your funding in the form of equity before lenders would feel comfortable about lending money for your small business. Venture capital funds also does not involve inflexible terms for payment of interest and repayment of the principal. What are the factors that affect your ability to raise venture capital?

Understanding Equity Capital
Equity capital or financing is money raised by a business in exchange for a share of ownership in the company. Ownership is represented by owning shares of stock outright or having the right to convert other financial instruments into stock of that private company. Two key sources of equity capital for new and emerging businesses are angel investors and venture capital firms.

Is Canada the New China for VCs? Or Just the New Colorado?
Granted, it's a tiny market, but with the disappearance of most of the tax-advantaged venture capital firms from the Canadian market it's interesting to see that U.S. venture firms are increasingly driving things. There was 21% growth year-over-year in Canadian venture investment, but that was largely a function of the growing dominance of U.S. VCs in the Canadian market, with such firms now accounting for more than half of investment spending in Ontario, Canadian's largest venture market.

Another reason for a business plan
It is logical, and a standard practice, for an entrepreneur to develop a business plan for his/her new business venture. As a matter of fact, it is impossible to obtain venture capital or a loan from the bank without a business plan...

VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN INDIA
In recognition of growing importance of Venture Capital as one of the sources of finance for Indian industry, particularly for the smaller unlisted companies, the Government has announced a policy governing the establishment of domestic Venture Capital Funds/Companies. An amendment has also been carried out in the SEBI Act empowering the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to register and regulate Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) and Venture Capital Companies (VCCs) through specific regulations.

Factoring: A Commercial Financing Alternative to Venture Capital
In today's difficult credit environment, companies are turning over every stone and looking in every nook and cranny in their efforts to obtain the commercial financing they need to grow and prosper. Many owners think that venture capital is going to be the solution to their financing problems, but VC investors are very cautious even in the best of times, and especially so today. In the current credit environment, many companies are finding that factoring services are often a better and cheaper way to obtain commercial financing than venture capital.

Outcry Over Section 116 Clearance Certificates: Legitimate Barrier for Foreign Investment Firms or Convenient Scapegoat?
New York, October 12, 2009 – Just 17 venture capital funds raised $1.6 billion in the third quarter of 2009, according to Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). This level represents the smallest number of venture funds raising money in a single quarter since the third quarter of 1994 when 17 funds were also raised and the lowest level of dollars committed since the first quarter of 2003 when $938 million was raised.

The CATA Press Release RE Their 116 Campaign: A Just Cause Lost in a Sea of Self-Serving Rhetoric
Canada's venture capital industry is in trouble. That industry is seriously underfunded, while Canada's emerging technology and life sciences companies are so capital-starved they risk being uncompetitive in the North American market. At the same time, much needed and sought after US capital that could richly fund that industry and those companies is being blocked by Canada's cross-border tax laws.

3 Key Factors For Raising Capital
Raising venture capital is hard. Statistics show that only 2 to 5% of startups successfully get their business plans funded by VCs. One of the main reasons startups are not able to raise capital is because they approach investors before they are really ready-- i.e., before they are "venture worthy." This article discusses three key factors that will help improve your chances of getting funded.

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your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.