Browsing Tag
venture capital
66 posts
Startups and Venture Capital: What Do They Spend Their First Round On?
There are more startups than ever before post-pandemic. As the e-commerce industry continues to boom and work from home remains a trend amongst the corporate sector, more entrepreneurs are using their funds to create new digital startups in a number of niches. However, from staffing to manufacturing, starting a business does not come without its...
From Our Founder: Legislation Makes Equity Crowdfunding the Go-To Source for Startup Funding
Venture capital funding, while essential to the startup growth ecosystem, is a funding source that makes its way into only a small percentage of companies seeking critical startup and growth funding. The companies that get venture capital fill a narrow band that meet certain strict criteria, leaving many other highly meritorious and worthy companies out...
5 Types of Investors for Startups
“The most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed.” -Adam Grant, organizational psychologist Investors are unique players in the growth process of a business. The level and quality of their involvement can ultimately help determine a company’s success or failure. It is imperative for budding entrepreneurs to take the time to learn about...
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...
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...
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...
How to Fix a Racially Biased Venture Capital Model and Commit to Diversity in Entrepreneurship
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and nationwide protests, venture capital firms are making newfound commitments to invest in, or at least evaluate, potential investments that are led by diverse founders. Although commitments such as SoftBank’s $100 million fund to support people of color may seem like a leap forward, when we...
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...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Navv Systems Gets $3.2 Million in Venture Funding (Episode 244)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff talks to physician Daniel Siegal, CEO of Navv Systems, a Michigan-based company focused on hospital personnel location and equipment tracking and location services. The company just closed a $3.2 million venture fundraising round from some of the top venture firms in our region. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Michigan Leads Nation in Venture Capital Investment (Episode 229)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff talks about how Michigan leads the nation in the biggest increase in venture capital investing and how venture capital is furthering innovation in our state. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about the importance of venture capital: "... venture capital has growth capital that companies use...
How to Find the Perfect VC Partner, Even During Times of Uncertainty
While the pandemic has certainly had an impact on the startup space, speculations were off about one thing: venture capital. It didn’t dry up: Venture investors poured $150 billion into North American companies in 2020, up about 7% from 2019 levels. All was not rosy, however, as first-time financings comprised only a fraction of that...
How Angel and Venture Capital Funding Shape the Future of Innovation
When many people think of how the business sector relates to startup companies and the venture funding that invests in them, the perception is that this part of the economy is irrelevant and doesn’t impact the average person’s life. But a deeper look tells a much different story, one that actually touches all of us...
An Inside Look at Michigan’s Prosperous Venture Capital Community
If you're a startup company looking for capital, today's show is for you! On this special edition of StartupNation Radio, Jeff 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. StartupNation exclusive discounts and...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Women Leadership Roles Show Progress When it Comes to Venture Capital (Episode 194)
On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares progress as it relates to women in venture capital and discusses the importance of diversity in the venture capital field. Tune in to this morning's Business Beat to learn more about women in venture capital: "We all benefit when there is diversity and equal representation in leadership...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Top 5 Fastest Growing Sectors of Startup Venture Capital Investment in 2020 (Episode 166)
Did you now that Q4 of 2020 saw the greatest number of startup companies being launched than ever before in our country's history? If you're ready to start a business but just don't know what business to get started, you're not alone. To help you figure out what business to start, we're sharing some incredibly...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Ann Arbor Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (Episode 102)
On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff discusses the city of Ann Arbor as an entrepreneurial ecosystem hub within southeast Michigan. As reported in DBusiness yesterday, Washtenaw County has seen a 31 percent increase in the number of venture-backed startups over the last six years, now with a total of 55 such active startups. The...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: San Francisco-Based Density Raises $51 Million (Episode 91)
Are you wondering whether or not investors are investing in startups during the COVID-19 crisis? On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares how firms like Detroit's own Ludlow Ventures continue to invest in startups. San Francisco-based Density, a company that makes sensors to monitor the number of people entering and exiting a room, building or...