In as few words as possible, here are 20 ideas to help with the money-raising process:
1. Research the process. Others have done it.
2. Assuming you'll have outside investors, get legal help.
3. Sell common stock in the first round or two.
4. It is YOUR job, and it is full time.
5. Money is out there—from angels. It's your job to find it.
6. People buy you, then the passion, then the idea.
7. It takes 4 times the time and money, so allow for that.
8. Be realistic in your valuation.
9. Keep changing your pitch until you get potential investors vibrating with your passion.
10. At the end of your pitch, directly ask them to invest.
11. If someone offers help, take it. But don't stop doing the work yourself.
12. Send out a monthly newsletter after a successful raise. You might need those investors again. Plus, it's the right thing to do.
13. Plan your exit, but remember: You are building a company and creating customers, so talk like it first.
14. Investment club presentations are fun, but breakfast meetings get you the money.
15. If you don't get the check within a week, it's not coming.
16. Every potential investor will ask someone not at the meeting what they think about your idea. Can they sell it for you?
17. Some investors are not worth it. Trust your instincts.
18. Don't tell anyone the names of your investors.
19. A $25,000 minimum is better than $100k, and $1 per share is better than $5 or $10 at this point.
20. Use each round to make measurable progress, thereby ensuring more financing.
G.L. Hoffman is a serial entrepreneur and venture investor/operator/incubator/mentor. Two of his companies have traveled the entire success path from the garage to IPO. Currently, he is chairman of JobDig, and his blog can be found at WhatWouldDadSay.com or at JobDig.com.
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Minioxync of AL 9:36PM January 16, 2010
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