The Six Secrets Of Raising Capital

Based on Bill Fisher’s three-day seminars that regularly sell out all over the world, this book offers the kind of capital-raising street smarts no entrepreneur can do without. As a banker in Silicon Valley in the ‘80s and a businessman who founded a number of successful companies beginning in the ‘90s, Fisher has seen firsthand the kind of rookie mistakes aspiring entrepreneurs make that end up stopping them before they have a chance to get started. Fisher looks at six traditional steps in the capital-raising process and digs beneath the surface to expose subtle but critical aspects of each—knowledge that, until now, could come only with experience. For example, entrepreneurs believe that great business ideas get funded. Not true—just look at the failure rates of venture-backed companies. Great business stories get funded, and all great business stories have a similar construction and shape. And of course the entrepreneur needs an investor, but each investor comes with his or her own personality issues. You need the right match for long-term success, not just whoever is waving the biggest check—a temptation that is easy for cash-strapped entrepreneurs to succumb to. Having this book is like going into your investor meetings with a trusted advisor who knows all the ins and outs of raising capital.

Based on Bill Fisher's master - class seminars - featured at The World Bank, The University of California, and Draper University - this book offers the kind of capital - raising street smarts that most entrepreneurs never tap into until it is too late. Fisher organizes the capital - raising process into six clear steps, and then breaks through the myths to reveal the triggers for success. For example, entrepreneurs are told that great business ideas get funded. Not true - great business stories get funded, and those stories all have a similar construction and shape, which can be learned. And yes, you need investors, but investors come with their own personality issues. You need the right match for long - term success, not just whoever is waving the biggest check. This book allows you to prepare for your investor meetings with a capital - raising expert coaching your every step.

In this book, the author offers capital-raising advice for entrepreneurs. He looks at six traditional steps in the capital-raising process and digs beneath the surface to expose subtle but critical aspects of each.

Six Secrets is a concise, no-nonsense approach to raising startup capital. This guide to real-world capital raising was written not by academics, but by an executive banker and entrepreneur with rampant experience and a proven track record. Through detailed real-life examples, Six Secrets arms entrepreneurs with all of the necessary tools to successfully attract investor capital. Trial and error is a costly way to learn lessons; this book sidesteps the majority of trial and error and allows entrepreneurs to focus on what works. While many books targeting entrepreneurs offer readers academic advice on the process of raising capital, Six Secrets aims to provide practical application that can be put to use immediately. Instead of telling readers what could be done theoretically, Six Secrets shows entrepreneurs the specific steps to take to acquire the startup capital that will make their business dreams become something tangible.

A hands-on guide with real life examples to get money you need for your business.

The entrepreneur's step-bystep guide to venture capital--where to find it, how to secure it, and what to do with it Fewer than 40 percent of entrepreneurs seeking new business funding each year actually get that funding. How to Raise Capitalimproves those odds, providing prospective as well as current business owners with the knowledge they need to prepare an effectiveloan proposal, locate a suitable investor, negotiate and close the deal, and more. The all-star team of entrepreneurial experts behind How to Raise Capital gives readers top-level educational theory with hands-on, real-world knowledge. This thorough examinationof the inner workings of the venture capital industry explores: Resources available to entrepreneurs, from SBA loans to angel investors Proven strategies for identifying and approaching equity sources Characteristics of a "superdeal"--from the investor's perspective

While raising capital has never been easy, it has become a lot more difficult over the past few years. The dot-com debacle has made investors skittish, especially when it comes to financing early-stage start-ups. As a result, more and more entrepreneurs are being forced to compete harder and harder for a spot around the money well. At the end of the day, all most have to show for their efforts are tattered Rolodexes and battered egos. What they need is the competitive edge that comes with having a friend in the business–an advisor who’ll cut through the mumbo-jumbo and tell them in plain English how to get the money they need. What they need is Raising Capital For Dummies. Whether you’re just starting your business and need a little seed capital to launch your first product, or you’re looking for a little help expanding an established business into a new market, this friendly guide helps you get the financing you need to realize your dreams. You’ll discover how to: Tap personal sources of financing, as well as family and friends Approach customers and vendors for financing Hook up with commercial lenders Find angel investors Get an SBA loan Raise cash through private equity offerings Woo and win investment bankers and venture capitalists Venture capital guru, Joseph Bartlett explains in plain English the capital-raising strategies and techniques used by some of today’s most successful businesses, including tried-and-true methods for: Assessing your financial needs and creating a solid financial plan Researching sources of financing and making first contact Finding, contacting, and convincing angels Getting your customers to finance your company Understanding and exploiting matching services Exploring commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, finance companies, and the SBA Qualifying for a loan Working with placement agents Raising cash through IPOs and mergers From raising seed capital and funds for expansion to IPOs and acquisitions, Raising Capital For Dummies shows you how to get the money you need to survive and thrive in today’s winner-take-all marketplace.

Get the Funding You Need From Venture Capitalists and Turn Your New Business Proposal into Reality Authoritative and comprehensive, Raising Venture Capital for the Serious Entrepreneur is an all-in-one sourcebook for entrepreneurs seeking venture capital from investors. This expert resource contains an unsurpassed analysis of the venture capital process, together with the guidance and strategies you need to make the best possible deal_and ensure the success of your business. Written by a leading international venture capitalist, this business-building resource explores the basics of the venture capital method, strategies for raising capital, methods of valuing the early-stage venture, and techniques for negotiating the deal. Filled with case studies, charts, and exercises, Raising Venture Capital for the Serious Entrepreneur explains: How to develop a financing map How to determine the amount of capital to raise and what to spend it on How to create a winning business plan How to agree on a term sheet with a venture capitalist How to split the rewards How to allocate control between founders/management and investors

From nineteenth-century whaling to a multitude of firms pursuing entrepreneurial finance today, venture finance reflects a deep-seated tradition in the deployment of risk capital in the United States. Tom Nicholas’s history of the venture capital industry offers a roller coaster ride through America’s ongoing pursuit of financial gain.

A Wall Street Journal Bestseller! What are venture capitalists saying about your startup behind closed doors? And what can you do to influence that conversation? If Silicon Valley is the greatest wealth-generating machine in the world, Sand Hill Road is its humming engine. That's where you'll find the biggest names in venture capital, including famed VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, where lawyer-turned-entrepreneur-turned-VC Scott Kupor serves as managing partner. Whether you're trying to get a new company off the ground or scale an existing business to the next level, you need to understand how VCs think. In Secrets of Sand Hill Road, Kupor explains exactly how VCs decide where and how much to invest, and how entrepreneurs can get the best possible deal and make the most of their relationships with VCs. Kupor explains, for instance: • Why most VCs typically invest in only one startup in a given business category. • Why the skill you need most when raising venture capital is the ability to tell a compelling story. • How to handle a "down round," when startups have to raise funds at a lower valuation than in the previous round. • What to do when VCs get too entangled in the day-to-day operations of the business. • Why you need to build relationships with potential acquirers long before you decide to sell. Filled with Kupor's firsthand experiences, insider advice, and practical takeaways, Secrets of Sand Hill Road is the guide every entrepreneur needs to turn their startup into the next unicorn.