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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...
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...
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....
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...
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 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Successfully Pitch to Women Angel Investors
The stats for women in investing are somewhat bleak. Only 11% of VC partners are women, and as a whole, women angel investors have only reached 22%. On the entrepreneur side, things look better, with over 40% being women. However, things are starting to look up even more. According to the Angel Capital Association (ACA),...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: New SBA Grant Program Announced (Episode 285)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses a new grant program from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) which is designed to help small businesses in today's changing world. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about the Small Business Administration's new grant program: Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Information Regarding Angel Investing (Episode 284)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff speaks with Marcia Dawood, chair of the Angel Capital Association Board of Directors, regarding the advantages of angel funding to finance and launch a business. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about the advantages of working with angel investors: Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR...
7 Creative Financing Options for New Businesses and Startups
It takes money to make money. But financing isn't always easy — especially if you're the proud founder of a brand new business. Traditional banks and financial institutions set a high bar for borrowers. They want to see years in business, consistent revenue and excellent credit scores, and those are things that most new businesses...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Venture Capital Investment at Record Numbers in First Half of 2021 (Episode 268)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses venture capital investment, which was at a record high throughout the first half of 2021 and is experiencing greater gains through all stages in North America, according to Crunchbase. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about this surge in venture capital investment and what it...
Female Founders, Get Funding Now with These 4 Alternatives to VC
In 2019, venture capital investment into U.S. startups nearly doubled from $88 billion to $144 billion. So, while it comes as no surprise that 2019 was also a record year for female founders securing these dollars, many would be shocked to learn this funding amounted to a mere 3.4% at its all-time high. It would...
What Does Michigan Venture Capital Look Like Today? These 3 Business Moguls Discuss
StartupNation founder and CEO, Jeff Sloan, shares a conversation with Ara Topouzian, executive director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association and RJ King, editor of DBusiness Magazine, on the status of venture capital in Michigan today. Related: WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Michigan Leads Nation in Venture Capital Investment (Episode 229) Tune in to the Michigan Venture...
Small Business Check-In: Which Sectors Are Recovering Better and Why?
March 2020 was a month no business owner will soon forget. The country was locking down, and our small business clients were struggling to understand the rapidly changing news cycle, a patchwork of local ordinances and vast changes to customer demand. Over the next several months, small businesses were forced to make the hard decisions...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Consider Purchase Order Financing for Your Business Needs (Episode 248)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses purchase order financing, which helps companies fill orders they couldn't otherwise without having the funding to pay for production costs. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about purchase order financing and how it could benefit your company immensely: "Here's the bottom line: It's good to...
Traditional vs. Alternative: Which E-Commerce Business Loan is Best for Me?
E-commerce is the future of retail. E-commerce sales in 2020 accounted for 14% of all sales in the country, and it’s estimated that there will be 2.14 billion global digital buyers in 2021. Every e-commerce business faces unique challenges, such as stiff competition, online compliance, delivery, lead generation and conversion. To overcome these hurdles, you...