Fundraising

Conduct Research on Potential Investors

Authors: David C. Clarke, StartupPercolator

Raising capital for a new startup can be a daunting task for the founders. There are several types of investors and capital sources for startup projects, including friends and family members, angel investors (high net worth individuals), venture capital funds, corporate/strategic investors, and government grants.

Each of these capital sources has different investment criteria and expectations. It’s important for founders to understand those factors and take them into account in developing a fundraising and investor outreach strategy that is appropriate for the company’s stage of development, industry, and funding needs.

In addition, founders should recognize that being introduced to an investor prospect by someone they know and trust is always a better approach than contacting them cold. Doing your homework and being thoughtful about what types of investors you approach (and don’t approach), and about how you approach them, will save valuable time and increase your chances of getting funded.

Fundraising Without General Solicitation

When you’re building the next big thing in the startup world, it’s easy to overlook some crucial regulatory requirements in your quest for success—especially when it comes to fundraising. Securities laws (which apply to any fundraising) tend to be an afterthought for many founders, but this oversight […]