How to Raise Money for a Startup

Photo of author

By Erica Ofure

Capital is the primary prerequisite for every firm to succeed aside some other factors, and question of ‘how to raise money for a startup’ this is put forward because capital is a necessary component of every business’s success. Without sufficient financing, business startups frequently fail and this troubling challenge frequently drives fledgling business startup founders to seek financial assistance for their ventures. Raising capital for business can be done differently with different approach at different levels of the business.

After conducting the necessary market data analysis research for your firm, securing the necessary funds is totally up to you.

HOW TO RAISE MONEY FOR A STARTUP

Here are a few pointers on how to go about obtaining the necessary finance or how to raise pre-seed funding for your firm. 

1. Rounds: A fundraising event that a business holds.

• Round of pre-seeding:

During the pre-seed phase, your business is in its infancy. You most likely have a great idea for your startup/business but no product, clients, or personnel at this point. Institutional investors such as venture capital firms are typically hesitant to invest at this point, which is why many founders utilize their own money to launch operations and construct a prototype.

• Round of seeds / Seed rounds:

The seed round is often one of the first investment rounds—if not the first—that a business undergoes. You should now have something to demo, but you may still need to construct a minimal viable product (MVP) and undergo beta testing before releasing a copy to market. Angel investors to seed-stage venture capitalists are likely to engage in this stage.

2. Priced round: An equity investment based on the value of your business.

• Series A;

During the Series A round, your primary focus will be on launching your product, establishing product-market fit, attracting customers, and earning money. Institutional investors are more likely to participate in this round due to the visibility of data like revenue growth, client cost of acquisition, and lifetime value. Rather than lending your capital in exchange for convertible debt, however, the majority of Series A investors desire instant ownership stock. 

To calculate the amount of equity they will receive, you must first agree to a formal valuation of your business, which establishes the fair market worth of your company’s shares. Additionally, you’ll need to prepare term sheets with the assistance of your attorney; these documents detail the conditions of your investment agreement with each investor. As a startup, you can anticipate raising between $1 million and $10 million in a Series A round.

• Series B and beyond:

To increase your market reach, grow your firm internally, and eventually become successful, you need Series B, C, and D rounds of funding. By the time you reach a Series B financing, you should have built a sizable user or customer base, gained substantial traction, and demonstrated revenue growth. Typically, investors enter at these final rounds to assist with organizational expansion and development.

3. Bootstrapping: The process of self-funding the growth of your business with your funds and resources. Raising funds from family and friends is an uncommon strategy to launch a business. Friends and family are typically more accommodating than other external sources when it comes to servicing your loan obligation.

4. Venture capital: A venture capital firm is a business that invests private equity in startups. Venture capital funds are managed by experts who have an uncanny ability to identify promising businesses.

Their strategy is investing in a strong business rather than equity. Once the business with which they are partnered goes public or is acquired, they withdraw and seek other partnerships.

5. Institutional investor: An organization that collects capital from a diverse group of investors to fund startups. Banks, venture capital firms, hedge funds, and family property organizations are all examples of institutional investors.

6. Angel investors: A person who makes a financial contribution to a company in exchange for equity or convertible debt. Angel investors occasionally convene in groups to review business concepts to identify the ideal candidate for investment.

7. Convertible instruments: these are a type of investment that may be converted into equity at a later date.

WHEN IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO CONSIDER FUNDRAISING?

Each company’s path is unique, which means there is no single optimal time to begin fundraising. The general guideline is that you should explore fundraising when you are in a position to do so.

1) You’ve established that there is a problem that requires a solution

2) You can demonstrate that there is a market for the solution.

Obtaining that knowledge typically requires extensive market research, thoughtful prototype development, and a great deal of experimentation.

While effectively bootstrapping a successful venture is a strong indicator that you’re ready to attract finance, it is not a certainty. Before initiating a pricing round, a couple of other considerations will almost certainly come into play.

HOW MUCH FUNDING SHOULD YOU SEEK?

You should raise only the funds necessary to advance your business to the next growth stage. There is no ideal formula, but there are certain areas of your organization that you can examine to arrive at a confident monetary estimate.

Three factors should be considered:

Your initial objective

A milestone is a specific objective you wish to accomplish before proceeding to the next round of funding. Milestones are typically associated with certain business KPIs that you wish to demonstrate, such as recruiting 5,000 clients or launching your Prototype within a specified timeline. Additionally, milestones have well-defined timelines.

Based on the stage of your business, achieving your next milestone may require a minor financial input—or it may demand a substantial capital investment.

Runway

The runway is the period that a business can reasonably operate before running out of money. If you have $1,000,000 in cash and it costs approximately $ 200,000 per month to operate your business, you have 5 months of runway. As a general rule, you should acquire enough money so that you have 12 to 24 months of runway leftover in case your venture requires additional investment.

Bear in mind that this figure is frequently merely a starting point. Budgeting for unanticipated problems and disruptions is prudent. By and large, it is preferable to have even more cash reserves and not require it than to have to report for every dime and still fall short.

Optimum appraisal

While the value of your business is a subjective evaluation of its worth, it also is a direct result of two factors: the quantity of money raised and the amount of stock relinquished in exchange for the money raised. The majority of founders give up approximately 20% of their stock during the seed stage and then another 20% during Series A investment.

Because valuations are changeable, your objective should be to raise enough money to enter the next turning point, placate investors, and preserve an acceptable ownership proportion.

how to raise money for a startup
Techibytes

COMPARISON OF PRIVATE EQUITY Vs. VENTURE CAPITAL

Private equity is frequently mistaken with venture capital since both terms relate to companies that invest in businesses and exit through equity financing, such as initial public offerings (IPOs). However, there are substantial distinctions in how firms that participate in both sources of finance conduct business.

Private equity and venture capital (VC) invest in a variety of different types and sizes of businesses, make varying financial commitments, and claim varying percentages of ownership in the businesses in which they invest.

At its most fundamental level, private equity is equity—shares reflecting possession of or a stake in a business—that is not officially disclosed or traded. Private equity is a form of investment funds raised from wealthy individuals and businesses. These investors acquire stock in private corporations or seize control of public companies—to privatize them and eventually delist them from public stock markets.

Venture capital is finance provided to startups and small firms that are expected to create strong rates of growth and above earnings, frequently through innovation or by crafting out a new market niche. This sort of investing is typically funded by affluent investors, investment banks, and specialized venture capital firms. The investment need not be monetary; it can be in the form of technical or management knowledge.

Distinctions

Private equity firms typically acquire established businesses. Due to inefficiency, businesses may deteriorate or fail to generate the revenues they ought to. Private equity firms acquire these businesses and restructure their activities to enhance income. On the other side, venture capitalist invests primarily in high-growth startups.

The majority of private equity firms acquire full control of the businesses they invest in. As a result, the firm retains complete control of the acquired companies following the acquisition. Venture capitals invest in companies that have less than 50% of their stock in them. The majority of venture capital firms want to diversify their risk by investing in a variety of startups. If one business fails, the venture capital firm’s total fund is not significantly impacted.

Investments in a single company by private equity companies are typically in the $100 million range. These corporations tend to focus their efforts exclusively on a specific organization since they invest in known established businesses. Absolute losses are quite unlikely with this sort of financing. Venture capitalists often invest $10 million or below in each business, as they primarily invest in startups with an uncertain likelihood of winning or failing.

ALTERNATIVE FUNDING FOR STARTUPS

Alternative financing is a very young and unregulated industry, so it’s critical to understand the landscape before you engage. Here are a few alternative fundraising options to explore if you’ve exhausted all other typical funding options.

Micro financing

Microfinance is simply a scaled-down version of a standard bank loan. Banks and other financial institutions offer microloans to startups ranging from $5,000 to $50,000; the median microloan is $13,000.

Peer-to-peer lending (P2P)

You can credit the internet (and the economic downturn) with financial innovations such as peer-to-peer lending. P2P services connect your business idea with individual investors (a.k.a. average folks ). These services connect you with a large number of investors and facilitate the pairing process, allowing you to spend lesser time on fundraising and more time on business growth.

Entrepreneurship Incubators

Startup incubators are initiatives that assist startup founders in accelerating their company’s growth. Programs typically last three to four months and involve mentorship, office space, and a small amount of startup funding. The amount of money you can earn is determined by the scheme you join. Y Combinator, one of the most prominent programs, offers $125,000 in return for 7% equity. Other incubators offer investment packages starting at roughly $20,000.

However, many initiatives provide indirect funding through the possibilities they provide. The majority of programs conclude with a Demo Day, during which entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to an audience of investors.

FAQ

1. Is venture capital the right idea for funding?

In addition to the financial support, securing venture capital financing can provide valuable counsel and consultation to a start-up or small business. As your company expands, making smarter judgments in these crucial areas will become increasingly important.

2. How can a private corporation raise capital?

A corporation can obtain additional funding from a variety of sources, including venture capital firms and commercial banks.

3. How can I support a startup with no funds?

• Consider all of the things you can get or do for nothing.

• Set aside enough money to cover your expenses for the next six months.

• Make a few phone calls to family and friends to see if they have any spare cash lying around.

• Apply for a small company loan when you need extra income.

• Consider incentives for small businesses and funding options available in your community.

4. What’s the most cost-effective approach for a business to raise capital?

The least costly way to enhance the equity finance in a corporation is through retained profits. A company’s profits that are not distributed to stockholders are referred to as “retained earnings,” in accounting terminology.

Conclusion

When you choose to, and how to raise money for a startup boils down to your specific requirements and ambitions as a business a lot of it is personalized to you. Think about the direction of your firm and conduct some general fundraising math to guarantee that you’re ready for the path ahead.

Leave a Comment