The text book answer that would be given by most B-School professors is that venture capital is a subset of a larger private equity asset class which includes venture capital, LBOs, MBOs, MBIs, bridge and mezzanine investments. Historically venture capital investors have provided high risk equity capital to start-up and early stage companies whereas private equity firms have provided secondary traunches of equity and mezzanine investments to companies that are more mature in their corporate lifecycle. Again, traditionally speaking, venture capital firms have higher hurdle rate expectations, will be more mercenary with their valuations and will be more onerous in their constraints on management than will private equity firms.

While the above descriptions are technically correct and have largely held true to form from a historical perspective, the lines between venture capital and private equity investments have been blurred by increased competition in the capital markets over the last 18 24 months. With the robust, if not frothy state of the capital markets today there is far too much capital chasing too few quality deals. The increased pressure on the part of money managers, investment advisors, fund managers and capital providers to place funds is at an all time high. This excess money supply has created more competition between investors, driving valuations up for entrepreneurs and yields down for investors.

This increased competition among investors has forced both venture capital and private equity firms to expand their respective horizons in order to continue to capture new opportunities. Over the last 12 months I have seen an increase in private equity firms willing to consider earlier stage companies and venture capital firms lowering yield requirements to be more competitive in securing later stage opportunities.

The moral of this story is that if you are an entrepreneur seeking investment capital your timing is good. While the traditional rules of thumb first explained above can be used as a basic guideline for determining investor suitability, dont let traditional guidelines keep you from exploring all types of capital providers. While some of the ground rules may be changing your capital formation goals should remain the same: entertain proposals from venture capital investors, private equity firms, hedge funds, and angel investors while attempting to work throughout the entire capital structure to seek the highest possible valuation at the lowest blended cost of capital while maintaining the most control possible.

Author: Mike Myatt
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

Bootstrapping is when you the Entrepreneur decide to go it alone using on the ground resources from personal savings to second mortgages. Equity Financing is when you the Entrepreneur decide to give up a percentage of the ownership of your company in exchange for needed capital.

Bootstrapping Early Sources:

1. Founders’ Capital

2. Savings

3. Credit Cards

4. Second Mortgage

5. Venture Leasing

6. Sales Revenue

Bootstrapping Later Sources

1. Lines of Credit

2. SBA Loans

3. Asset Backed Lending / Accounts Receivable Factoring, etc

4. Corporate Strategic Partnerships

5. Banks that Lend To Start-Ups

6. Government Grants (e.g SBIR, DARPA)

7. Company Earnings

Under Equity Financing, depending on the source one may have to give up 25%-75% ownership of the company. This is usually depending on the nature of the deal and what can be negotiated. Under Equity Financing you must also be aware that there are Early and Later Stage Sources.

Equity Financing Early Sources

1. All Bootstrapping Early Sources

2. Friends & Family

3. Angels

4. Angel Groups

5. Early Stage Venture Capital Firms

Equity Financing Later Sources

1. All Bootstrapping Sources

2. Venture Capital Firms

3. Corporate Venture Funds

4. Private Equity Firms

5. Private Placement Firms

6. Mezzanine Financing Firms

7. Investment Banks

8. Public Markets

In order to make a sound financial decision make sure your Business Plan is strong and paints an accurate picture of your business idea or project. Proformas and Valuation of the business must be honest and realistic. Angel investors and Venture Capitalist are only going to back ideas and companies that are going to surrender the safest and strongest (ROI) return on their investment.

Author: Doyle Roberts
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: WordPress plugin Guest Blogger

photo credit: Ed-meister

A “Money Finder” is an individual or company who, for a fee, finds willing investors interested to invest in growing companies. The Finder formally links the Investors and Entrepreneurs with the purpose of creating a mutually beneficial financial arrangement.

Terms

Some terms used here may be unfamiliar. “Intermediary” and “Money Broker”, as used here, are other terms with the same meaning as “Finder.” “Entrepreneur” is an individual who seeks and assumes the risk of business growth, usually through direct ownership and management. “Angel Investor” is an individual with high net worth willing to take the risk of lending money to an Entrepreneur.

How does a Finder find willing Investors?

Finders spend many years building a reliable network of investors. The network is built through business contacts, successful business deals, and the personal reputation of the Finder. The Finder’s network is the heart and foundation of his own entrepreneurial business.

There are many types of Investors, including Institutional Investors, individual or Angel Investors, Venture Capital firm and Private Equity groups. New Investors are added to the Finder’s network on a regular basis, but not without considerable scrutiny, thought and analysis.

How does a Finder find worthy Entrepreneurs?

Many entrepreneurial businesses are ready and worthy of funding, but not all need the services of a Finder. Usually businesses using a Finder 1) need at least $1 million, 2) have a strong management team, 3) have a proven track record of growth and potential to continue, and 4) has the ability to generate revenue. Therefore, the Finder usually asks potential clients for information and documentation about their businesses. These include biographies and resumes of the management team, business plans, and financial statements. The Finder evaluates and analyzes the information to propose the best solution for the client.

How are Finders paid?

Finder’s fees are based on the amount of capital received. Usually, the fees are paid in cash or company stock or a combination. In general, the Finders fees are 5 – 10 percent of the amount of capital received with the higher percentage paid for smaller amounts raised. The Finder’s fees are often negotiable and always agreed upon before any services are provided.

Does a Finder need to be licensed?

The SEC, which regulates money-raising activities, sees a Finder as someone who’s acting as a promoter of the sale of securities and thus is required to have a Broker Dealer license. Ben Hendricks from Annacore Business Capital, LLC says” If they don’t have the proper license, then (a) they’re acting illegally and (b) any contract they sign with you is unenforceable, and therefore any portion of their fee that’s based on a percentage of the money raised is not collectable”

If you are an Entrepreneur looking for capital, take the time to ask the right questions before you hire any Finder.

Annacore Business Capital is a widely respected funding solutions resource. Our focus is assisting those emerging companies worldwide, which are seeking growth capital between $1 million and $25 million, to achieve their strategic business growth objectives. For more information about all of our funding options, please visit our website at http://www.annacorebusinesscapital.com or contact us toll free at 1- 866-767-9723.

photo credit: HowdeeDoodat

As the economy continues to face credit challenges, small businesses, especially new, start-up companies are finding it even more difficult to find the capital they need to take their ideas and concepts and turn them into viable businesses.

Private equity firms and angel groups are no longer actively seeking new investments. They are more concerned with preserving and protecting their current portfolios. Further, private investors, like your neighbor or local doctors, accounts, lawyers, are not investing in local companies as their investments and retirement portfolios (usually the main source of their investment capital) have taken such large hits that any new investments are just out of the question.

Bootstrapping, by far the greatest source of capital for new businesses, is drying up fast. Credit card issuers and backers are pulling programs, tightening approvals and reducing limits. Friends and families are struggling just to survive themselves and do not have the disposable income to investment in your company.

Taking loans from retirement accounts are nearly impossible today as the market values of these assets have drop so dramatically over the last two quarters. There just isn’t the value there to take a loan against.

SBA backed loans remain just a difficult and costly to obtain as always. These loans still need to be underwritten by traditional lenders who are not making any loans at all as well as be underwritten by the SBA who has followed the banks’ course in tightening standards.

So, what are new, small businesses to do?

A few suggestions are as follows:

First, start smaller and work your way up. Small scale operations mean smaller capital needs. Thus, the small amount of capital a new entrepreneur does have (savings, home equity, retirement plans) can be used to jump start a business if it is designed on a smaller scale.

Micro-Loans: Micro-loans are loans for small organizations or start-up companies that do not qualify for regular loan facilities. These loans usually range from $500 to $25,000 and take up to five weeks for approval and funding.

Personal Loans: There are still a few companies that make personal loans from $10,000 to $100,000 provided the borrower has excellent (and I mean excellent) credit and a demonstrated ability to make the loan payments.

Asset Based Facilities: If your business has some proven track record, even if it is just for a few months, and has generated some financial assets like accounts receivables or credit card receipts, you may qualify for capital against those assets.

Account Receivable Factoring can help speed up your cash flow while you wait for your customers to pay you. You can then access working capital that can be used to generate new business, cover current liabilities obligations, or make payroll. There are companies that will factor receivables as low as $200.

Included with Accounts Receivable Factoring is Purchase Order Financing. If your business has an order to be filled but does not have the money to complete the order (e.g. buy supplies or equipment or hire needed labor) Purchase Order financiers will provide the funds needed based on that order.

Business Cash Advances, while not really a loan, can provide working capital against FUTURE credit card sales. The funds can be use for any purpose and could provide the capital your business needs to get it through these troubled times.

Equipment: Do you own some equipment outright? If so, you can sale that equipment (including tools and machinery) to a leasing company. Then, lease the equipment back from the lessor. You get the cash you need now and still benefit from possible tax deductions of the lease payments and other costs.

Where there is a will, there is always a way. These may not be the cheapest financial products in the market but for most business owners and start-ups, these may be the only option.

When seeking capital in this market, try to keep in mind that it is only temporary. The markets will turn around and lending standard will loosen. So, what you seek now should only suffice enough to get your new, start-up business through this down period.

Joseph Lizio holds a MBA in Finance and is founder and owner of http://www.businessmoneytoday.com. Also, visit his blog at http://businessmoneytoday.blogspot.com/

BusinessMoneyToday.com is a single portal in which business owners can easily find and obtain non-traditional financing for their business. YOU search for the products YOU need and select the lender or financial provider YOU want to work with. Remember, BusinessMoneyToday.com only works with money providers who WANT TO WORK WITH YOU!

photo credit: pshutterbug

Let’s face the facts. US economy is going though one of the worst crisis ever. The European economy is better, but not significantly so. Developed economies are too small fries, and so not seriously worth considering. Or are they? Some of them, heavily dependent on exports to the US and Europe (like China) could suffer as long as the western economies suffer.

There’s one market that is doing well. In fact, the markets have started bouncing back. Foreign Institutional investors have started buying into. many of them see India as among the if not the best investment opportunity today. That is India. Because, it’s a growing economy, and its growth is more due to internal factors rather than external. Risk factors are very low and returns prospects from equity investment are very high. and there are so many funding opportunities in the sunrise sectors of the economy.

If you study the inflation-adjusted yield from investment opportunities in the western economies over the last decade, it is close to zero or only slightly positive.

But if you study the inflation-adjusted yield from investment opportunities in the India economy over the last decade, it is well over 10%. And chances are that it is going to start making very high RoI in the next one year period. Particularly, projects that are good investment opportunities are going to do exceedingly well.

So, intelligent angel investors & private equity investors will do well to start investing in futuristic projects in India.

Richard Runion is an ePublisher with a wide variety of interests. He is aware of good private equity/ angel investment opportunities in India, through his Indian business partner. Interested investors may contact Rich at http://www.geostarpublishing.com/investment.php.