Instigator Blog - Latest Comments in An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

hhnacupuncture — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:12:10 -0000

bootstrapping involves a risk for the founders, the absence of the founders gives others more freedom to develop the company. Many successful companies like Dell Computers was founded in this way.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

S. Marks — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:58:49 -0000

I don't have a college degree, but lots of work experience in the real world. I found this article to be very informative and simple to read without a lot of the legal mumbo-jumbo type of verbage that most others use. I will be sure to check out all of the suggested links also. Thank you so much...

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

BusinessWoman — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:16:33 -0000

As an entrepreneur who has never had a boss, I cannot imagine doing what my investors told me. For me, raising the money myself and retaining full control is the only way to go.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Brian — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:06:02 -0000

Great Post! Another important consideration to getting funding as a start-up is making sure the start-up entity is structured / organized correctly. In many instanced, a venture capital fund (if that is the funding vehicle you choose to pursue) will prefer a "c" corporation to other entity types. I recently made a blog entry about properly setting up a start-up in anticipation of venture capital: http://bvplegal.com/indiana...

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Ryan Caldwell — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:55:14 -0000

Sometimes startup funding takes a lot of creativity and thinking outside the box. Here's a really nice article a friend of mine wrote outlining 33 unique ways to get startup funding.

http://www.brainz.org/start...

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Hugo Sausagemen — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:59:52 -0000

This has really cleared things up for me about funding, thank you

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Yale Zeuqsalev — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:45:39 -0000

Very interesting. In fact, in my blog, I'm also advocating raising start up capital using only time and skills because, unfortunately, some aspiring entrepreneurs sometimes think that the only way to raise a capital is through banks or by borrowing from their family/friends. If they do not succeed from these two, they end up putting their dream enterprise at the backseat.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Think Money — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:45:28 -0000

Finding investment can indeed be a nightmare...

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Oyun indir — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:10:57 -0000

Of course entrepreneurs may take advantage through over-valuation from friends & family (without even realizing too) only to get into trouble when they have to raise money the next time. So, as you point out in one of your recent articles, be careful, cause VCs or angel investors coming in next time will de-value the company.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

WRC — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:45:03 -0000

Of course love money only helps if your family has money to give to you!

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Digit-8 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:02:42 -0000

Very interesting post.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Enrico Foschi — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:46:02 -0000

This is one of the best and clearest article ever read about funding. Thanks!

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

John — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:08:10 -0000

I found a great site to access angel investors, angel capital and venture capital groups. the site lists the contact info of angel investors and other private funding options. i am signed up for the free trial at www.breadstreet.com . let me know if you can recommend other databases of investors.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Ben Yoskovitz — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:01:17 -0000

@Matthew: What sorts of copyright issues related to funding are you looking for?

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Ben Yoskovitz — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:00:49 -0000

@Basil: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I read your blog regularly (glad to see some recent updates on it!)

I'm less opposed to the Convertible Debenture structure - everything has pros and cons. I actually think there are some interesting opportunities where you do a Convertible Debenture + Common Shares upfront for the initial investors in the game, which provides a sort of hybrid model. Pricing very early stage companies can be difficult if you're not doing it regularly...

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

basilpeters — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:54:21 -0000

Great post - lots of very valuable inforamtion. As an angel investor, I often see situations where entrepreneurs have unintentionally taken advantage of their friends and family when they raised their 'love money'. The most common mistake is overvaluation. I have some suggestions on how to avoid the friends and family pitfalls on my blog http://www.angelblog.net/St...

Also, please do not use Convertible Debt - its almost never fair to the angels. Here's why http://www.angelblog.net/Co...

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Matthew — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:09:20 -0000

This is very good information. I've had a few ideas of my own and it's nice to know how to go about the planning stages, especially the areas of funding.

Would it be possible to see a post about copyrights and stuff? I think that would go well with this post.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Josh — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:50:22 -0000

Haven't been visiting for a while but absolutely love the new layout, design and colours, Ben - it's really well done. Great post too by the way.

Regs,

Josh

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

PH from Consolidation Loan — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:38:52 -0000

Trying to get startup funding can be the stuff of nightmares if you are trying to fund the launch of a 'nver before seen' product. Increasigly here in the UK we see lots of applicants looking to secure a startup loan on their property. This is a very dangerous financial game to play as if the business doesn't work then the chances of your property being repossessed becomes highly likely.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Steven — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:40:30 -0000

Ben,

Appreciate the feedback and completely agree on look and feel. Working on hiring someone to help out with taht aspect (blog is only 30 days old today...lol).

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Ben Yoskovitz — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 10:41:26 -0000

@Steven: I'll definitely keep an eye on the site. My first suggestion would be to get a custom design. It will make the site look much more legitimate and professional. And then start participating on sites like TC, Mashable, GigaOM ... link to them to generate attention and do all the things great blog/Internet marketers do!

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Steven — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:11:36 -0000

Ben,

Thanks! and hope I send traffic! The big differentiator between our blog and VentureBeat, TechCrunch etc is that we dont just profile the company but the investment as well (and the firms doing the investment). So we will give you a different perspective that should allow other companies/individuals an overview as to who is investing in what and how much. If you were trying to raise money for a software venture, you can see all the latest deals in that space and for how much and by whom. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel but provide greater insight into the deal flow and the metrics behind it. There is an art to raising money and figuring out who is the right person to pitch - hopefully we aid in that information. Check it out and would love your feedback.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Ben Yoskovitz — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:02:37 -0000

@Steven: Thanks for the comment. Feel free to use my overview on your site - just attribute it properly and send me lots of links *chuckle*

I'll be checking out your site. Out of curiosity, how will you differentiate it from the others out there that track VC moves like TechCrunch, VentureBeat, etc.?

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Steven — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:51:50 -0000

Ben,

Great perspective. I actually just started a blog called Capital Chaos (www.capitalchaos.com)which profiles the latest transactions for VC's and the investors in those companies. Should give a very good idea as to what is being invested in and who is investing.

I would love to include your overview if you are cool with it.

Re: An Introductory Guide to Startup Funding

Cpemm — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:13:04 -0000

This is great. Try the new web site www.Go4Funding.com. It allows entrepreneurs post their business ideas and funding requests for free. I also liked their articles on angel investors; very informative.