Primer on Venture Funding

So You Need Money for a Business A primer for potential clients Walsh Enterprises Business Advisors Huntington Beach, Ca Al Walsh CEO/Owner

Introduction
I am often approached by prospective entrepreneurs who desire money to start or develop an enterprise. The vast majority have unviable “visions” or are unprepared.
If you have a business idea and you want to raise money, there is a time-honored process that you must go through to succeed.
Potential investors will take a different view of your vision from yours. Their primary concern will be with how and when they’ll get their money back, how much they’ll earn, and how much risk they must take on.
Your vision may be the most exciting thing in your life - and that’s good. But investors will only buy into it to the extent that it can benefit them. Such is the way of the world, and that’s the reality you have to live with. The same would be true if the shoe was on the other foot.
The key to success is preparing a solid Business Plan / Proposal that conveys your message clearly and provides the information prospective investors need to make an informed decision. A sound vision, properly presented with a solid Business Plan/Proposal, will practically sell itself.
Walsh Enterprises Huntington Beach, Ca

The Business Plan/Proposal
Back in December 2008 I wrote articles entitled “Writing a Business Plan and Chasing Money” -and- “So You Wanna Start a Business”. I posted them on my blog site for all to see. They’re still there. Most people ignored them, and I wasn’t surprised. Most people think that if they just have a “good idea”, venture money will “magically” come. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Without a proper Business Plan / Proposal, you’re going nowhere in your money search. I won’t take on a money search for a client without having one in place that meets my specifications. Otherwise, I’m just wasting my time and theirs. Plus I won’t embarrass myself and damage my reputation with investors by approaching them with shoddy work. They’d never let me approach them again.
If you have a properly prepared Plan and want help, I’ll be glad to talk to you. Most people don’t.
If you want help preparing one, I’ll help you – at a price . I used to do this for free as part of the money search process, but I don’t anymore because it just became an exercise in futility. If you don’t even have the minimal funds required to put a Plan together, you have no business asking others for their hard-earned money.
If you want help, and we decide to work together, you’ll have to dedicate yourself and put in some serious work. I can help package the Plan, but all the information must come from you. It’s your vision.
As to raising the money: I won’t actually know if your vision is viable, and whether or not I can and want to help raise money, until I assess all the facts that will go into the Plan.
Not only will the Plan be necessary to raise money, but it will serve as the blueprint and “bible” for your business start-up. Treat it seriously, and with the respect that it deserves.

Summation
I don’t mean to be harsh or unkind in my statements. I have a soft-spot for entrepreneurs, and have helped many achieve their dreams; besides starting two enterprises myself. But, many budding entrepreneurs have unrealistic expectations and don’t want to deal with the realities of what it takes to succeed.
Flesh out your vision, beta-test it if possible, and fill-in-the-blanks as to how you’re going to conduct your business.
Prepare a proper Business Plan/Proposal that fully-explains the fleshed-out vision and addresses the concerns of potential investors.
Treat this as the serious matter that it is. You don’t have to kill your enthusiasm, just channel it into doing the “homework” that’s necessary to succeed.
Be realistic in your expectations as to what you’ll have to offer the investor(s). If you expect them to finance all or most of your enterprise, then you should expect that they will want returns which are appropriate to the level of risk they take on. You would if you were in their shoes.
NOTE: Due to the current liquidity freeze in the credit markets, I am temporarily setting aside all money-
raising activities. Check back later when the crisis has eased.
I am available to discuss your “dream” at [email_address] or by calling (714) 465-2749 .

Primer on Venture Funding

by Alan Walsh on Mar 27, 2009

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Primer on Venture Funding — Presentation Transcript

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