Venture Capital is a finance that is usually given to start-up companies that have a high potential growth, but are still too small to raise enough money on their own. There are many venture capital companies available, and will invest depending on how much potential the VC’s think your company has, and also what stage it is in. Venture Capitalists only want to invest in a firm if they believe it has a chance of attracting customers and eventually able to make money. The advantage of having venture funding is that you do not need to take out a bank loan for start-up costs and then stress about having to pay back the loan payments to the bank if your growth is slow at first. Ventures look for return on investment in the long-term and also share the risk with you. If your business is unsuccessful or has a difficult time making money, then you do not have an obligation to pay back the venture.
It is relatively easy to think of a great business idea, such as a unique product or service, but being able to turn that idea into a profitable business requires some external help. One of the best ways to get your business ideas funded is to approach a venture capital firm, but before doing this, it is necessary to prepare a proposal that outlines what your idea is, projected target market, projected return on investment, and most importantly, why the ventures should invest in your idea.
The entrepreneurs of these start-ups have tremendous ideas, but all they are lacking is the knowledge and funding, which is why it is essential to have the support of business professionals who understand the challenges associated with financial growth. By having a venture capitalist, these entrepreneurs also have a better chance for their start-up to go into high growth stages down the road, such as an initial public offering (IPO) registration. In order to do this, it is important for the start-up to have proper auditing, workforce development, and even legal issues taken care of. Ventures have connections with all of these business aspects that will help the entrepreneur and allow the growth of the company to happen smoother, but also faster.
Angel investors are venture capitalists who are usually retired and are very wealthy since they use their personal funds rather than pooling their money with other investment firms. Angels like to invest in start-up businesses that are usually in the early stages of their growth. These are companies that have a product or service idea, but yet to really have any proven customers or an established workforce. Angels invest money in return for part ownership of the start-up, such as stocks or bonds, and with this ownership, the Angels are able to help get the start-up off and running. Angel investors evaluate your business similar to a venture capitalist. Overall, it is a risk for venture capitals to invest in many of these start-up businesses, but if they turn out profitable, it is a win-win situation for all parties involved.
