Financing our startup does not always need big letters (MBAs, VCs)
or big money. In fact, most startups get up and running by the
bootstrap. The links below offer more encouragement, info, and
advice – plus a few templates – on how to get financing started.
A FEW FACTS ON ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE
The
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2004 Financing Report
(download)
Think VC is your only option? Consider the GEM findings. Fewer than
one in 10,000 startups have venture capital in hand when they open
their doors for business. Consider this too: The average amount
needed to start a business is $53,673. If the business is
necessity-pushed, it needs only $24,467. Over 65% of startup phase
funding comes from personal savings and credit and through informal
investors (family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and
strangers).
A BASIC OVERVIEW
How to Fund
A Startup
Paul Graham, an essayist, programmer, and Harvard PhD, neatly
summarizes funding options for startup founders.
BEST OVERVIEW
INC.COM
guide to finance
One of the most thorough guides out there on financing a startup,
this guide from inc.com offers articles, advice, links, and some
inspiring case studies of bookstrappers who made it.
ALTERNATIVE FINANCE
CREATIVE FUNDING from startupnation.com
Downloadable audio, tools, and links on creative funding, along
with some advice from angel investors
StartupJournal
articles on funding, financing, and finding cheap money
Browse through the linked articles to see how (and where) some
founders found – or lost – money for their startup.
VC AND ANGEL NETWORK LINKS
If you do want to pursue venture capital, angel investors, or the
like, you may find the following links useful. Again, TECH cannot
and does not endorse these sites, but offers them as possible
starts to your search.
Angel
Investors from inc.com
All about angels – with plenty of links – if you want to learn
more about angel investment
Garage.com
Proven track-record with high-tech startups, Garage.com
filters applicants before linking them with possible VC
National
Venture Capital Association
Offers an industry overview and links to regional and young
venture capital organizations
VentureOne
The gold standard for VCs tracks venture capital deals and the
industry – high-wheeling and high-rollers and not for every
start-up. Also offers members access to the VentureSource database
which tracks capital-backed ventures
VFinance.com
This top-ranked search engine locates venture capital and
angel investors by state, industry, and investment size