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Fund Your Business
534 posts
5 Real Advantages for Second-Time Startup Founders
As a first-time founder, starting a startup is incredibly difficult. Raising capital, finding product-market fit and acquiring customers isn’t easy. As a second-time founder, it is a bit easier. After our first company was acquired, I knew that I wanted to start another company. Working for yourself, especially during the earliest days of founding at...
10 Ways to Create a Successful Business Pitch
Recently, the term "business pitch" has become as popular as the term "startup." A pitch is essentially a business plan that one presents verbally to potential investors of a business. A shorter summary of the complete pitch is an elevator pitch. The startup owner has to clearly explain the business opportunity to the investors, so...
Top Small Business Grants for Women and Minorities
For an updated list of grant programs for women and minorities available in 2021, please click here. Funding a small business can be quite the undertaking, whether you’re starting a new venture for the first time or have decades of experience in your industry. Of course, securing capital is often necessary, but depending on what...
15 Grant Programs for Minority and Women Business Owners
Grant programs offering free money are hard to come by, which is why many entrepreneurs frequently end up applying for small business loans or try crowdfunding to start or expand their companies. However, many organizations have recently created grants in an effort to assist companies that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Some of...
WJR Business Beat: New Grant Opportunity for Small Businesses (Episode 323)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses a new grant program designed to provide support for underrepresented small business owners. If you quality, apply now! Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about the $1.65M initiative from American Express and Main Street America: Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings...
How Local Startups Can Leverage Small Business Funding
There are many small business loans available for startups. Learn more about the different financing options and how you can get a startup loan for your business. There’s a bit more that goes into running a business than a million-dollar idea and an endless supply of Red Bull. Profitability is the metric of success and...
How Venture Capitalist Diane Yoo Chooses Her Startup Investments
With so many entrepreneurs and startup ventures seeking investment opportunities, it’s crucial that venture capitalists (VCs) create a list of criteria they want their potential investments to meet. Of course, every VC dreams of investing in a business that can grow into a billion-dollar unicorn company, but these instances are few and far between. As...
WJR Business Beat: Equity Crowdfunding Plays Key Role in Funding Startups (Episode 320)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff reveals the results of a Kings Crowd study on how online equity crowdfunding is changing the landscape for startups. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about where the shifts in crowdfunding are changing: Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings at 7:11 a.m. for...
WJR Business Beat: Capital Investment Surges Into Women-Led Companies (Episode 318)
On the Business Beat, Jeff talks about an influx of venture capital funding into businesses run by women. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, for details on what this surge represents and why it's important: Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings at 7:11 a.m. for the WJR Business Beat....
5 Things Veterans Should Know About Starting a Business
Pursuing a second career after leaving the military can be challenging, which is why a growing number of veterans choose to become entrepreneurs. A 2018 study by the the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy reported that there were over 379,000 veteran-owned employer businesses in the U.S., and overall, 6.8 percent of all employer businesses...
Don’t Fall For This Small Business Loan Scam
A business owner looking for a deposit for a building he wanted to purchase says he wound up losing $1,200 to a loan scammer, according to a complaint filed on the Better Business Bureau website. He’s not the only entrepreneur who has reported being ripped off while trying to find financing. The “BBB Scam Tracker is...
4 Tips for Writing a Standout Business Plan Financing Request
One of the most important elements of a business plan is a financing request, or the amount of funding your business is requesting of potential investors. Many entrepreneurs may worry they are asking for too much money, while others may not feel totally certain about the future of their company, especially nowadays. This leaves the...
The 5 Things Investors Really Care About When Reviewing Your Business Plan
A business plan is an essential tool for startups and, when executed correctly, it serves two key purposes: It provides goals and a roadmap for you to follow in order to build a successful company. It provides the format and information lenders and investors need to determine whether or not to provide funding to you....
Is Your Business Scalable? Why the Answer Matters to Potential Investors
Financing a small business initiative by offering investors a percentage of ownership equity in your business is called equity financing. When angel investors or an equity firm invest in a company, they don’t do it for a loan payment. They do it for a percentage of ownership, or equity. And, instead of periodic payments, the...
4 Key Reasons to Consider Microlending to Fund Your Startup
Among the financing solutions available to startups and small business owners, microlending is one of the more accessible. Also known as microcredit, microlending has been gaining popularity in recent years – and for good reason. Keep reading to learn more about microlending and why you should consider this option to fund your startup. What is...
How Quality Reporting Helps Smart Entrepreneurs Build Investor Trust and Long-Term Returns
Think of investor reporting as the foundation of trust between a company’s founders and its investors. That trust is earned over time and is strengthened by timely reporting of company results. Strategic entrepreneurs will see good investor reporting is both the foundation for a company's success and an entrance to later investing. Done correctly, early...
Life of Purpose: Detroit’s Monica Wheat Strengthens Startup Ecosystem with Equality and Inclusion
A strategist, educator and venture developer, Southfield native Monica Wheat has dedicated her career to venture capital, but what truly sets her apart is her dedication to improving Detroit’s startup community and making it more inclusive to women and girls. When in high school, Wheat attended camps to learn about career options. That’s where she first...
6 Accomplished Entrepreneurs Share How to Start a Business with $100
Many would-be entrepreneurs never start a business because they’re waiting for the perfect idea or don’t have enough disposable capital to break out of the rat race. These accomplished entrepreneurs and members of The Oracles share how to start a business with $100: StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here...
A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Killer Business Plan
A business plan is as important to a new business as a map is to a ship, or blueprints are to an architect. A written business plan will guide your actions and keep you focused on your short- and long-term goals. Your business plan puts your aspirations into words (and charts), demonstrating to partners, investors...
The Venture Capital Diversity Gap and Why It Matters
Despite the growth in awarded venture capital (VC) funds, a staggering disparity remains between the amount of total VC funds invested in entrepreneurs and the portion of those funds invested in ventures founded and/or led by women—particularly women of color. The dream of virtually every entrepreneur, regardless of their innovation or industry, is to land...