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21/09/2017
Venture capitalists (VC’s) are companies that professionally manage a pool of funds to invest in a number of different companies.
They provide funding in exchange for a share in your business and typically invest on a large scale – hundreds of thousands to millions of pounds.
For this reason, venture capitalists rarely invest in an untested idea, preferring businesses that can demonstrate rapid, consistent growth and guarantee a worthwhile return. As shareholders, venture capitalists make the real profit once the company is sold.
Before you start researching venture capital firms, you should know the type of business VCs consider a good risk. Your business should:
In addition to these pre-qualifying questions, ask yourself how comfortable you are with giving up control of your company. Accepting venture capital funding means you'll be selling a portion of your business, which is a serious consideration for many business owners.
If you're eager to seek out venture capital funding, start by researching firms that invest in your type of business or industry. One of the benefits of working with a venture capitalist is getting invaluable advice from someone who knows how to quickly grow a highly profitable business in your industry.
The next step is to find a fellow business owner or financial professional who can approach a VC. A warm introduction will go a long way to building trust and minimising a sense of risk for VCs.
If you believe in your company's multi-million pound potential, know that venture capital deals take time. Don't be put off in the beginning by how long it takes to find the right investor and opportunity.
It's worth it in the long run to be just as particular about an interested investor as they are about you. That way, you can go into any financial deal confident you're making a good decision in the best interests of your company
Getting a VC on board means you’ll have access to more than just their cash. Because they’re experienced in business themselves, it’s likely that they’ll have other resources you can take advantage of, such as:
Taking money from VCs is not always easy going. You’ll need to be aware of;
For VCs to be interested in a small business, they’re after a fast-growing industry. And they’re looking eventually for a large return on their investment. If your business does happen to be in an industry that a VC would find interesting, a solid business plan is essential for attracting them. Remember that VCs will probably expect to become involved in your business, helping making controlling decisions, so you need to happy with who you are involving in the business.
POSTED IN: Growth,2017
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