5 Proven Ways on How to Find Investor for Your Startup

With accelerating tempo of SMEs development, it becomes an urgent problem to find investor who will promote your innovative concept or startup.

Dozens of bold ideas reach success almost every day. Inventors do not fear to present their concepts uniting separate spheres, raising unique solutions, and implementing innovative features. Among recent breakthroughs appear several examples concerning more than purely application/software coding.

Ribbon Health has changed traditional view onto American healthcare system. It aims at filling up informational lacuna, providing ordinary people with necessary data, and making system more transparent. Ribbon Health has already raised over 10 million dollars and continues growing in popularity.

Another sensational project, Made Renovation, has offered an unusual approach towards home repairs. Idea implies launching the application that will help homeowners choose designs and create templates for bathroom renovation. Despite controversies in public, they have already gathered about 9 million dollars and keep on fundraising.

These guys became hyper-successful due to investments. If you have an idea, do not hesitate to promote it. OpenGeeksLab has already revealed top eight techniques to pitch startup idea to potential investors and get it funded. In this article we are going to discuss where an entrepreneur can find investors for startup and compare peculiarities of different funding schemes.

Online Platforms to Find Investor

Online fundraising platforms stand among most popular approaches to get investment for startup. It is an umbrella term that unites several schemes of SME-investor cooperation including crowdfunding, donations, angel or venture investors.

Equity crowdfunding is a fundraising type based on capital-equity exchange. People invest their money into venture getting certain amount of equity in return. Equity guarantees receiving income from their investment if project gets success. This fundraising type is mutually beneficial, as entrepreneurs can quickly collect sum needed while investors get guaranteed profit. Most popular crowdfunding platforms include Seedinvest, StartEngine, CircleUp, Wefunder, etc.

Business angels also concern capital-equity exchange, though exist a significant difference between angel investors and equity crowdfunding. Angel investment services, like AngelList, are perfect to find private investors who provide holistic sponsorship with minor demands in comparison with venture capitalists. Angels usually expect high return on investment, however, they may request reports or seat on board of directors supervising project’s progress.

Venture capitalists are much like angels. These are private sector investors looking for entrepreneurs to make their money work. They contribute their money requiring mentor’s position and active role in idea launching in return. Venture capitalists usually have greater financial potential than angels do, though it is not as stable and requires more attention while agreeing on funding rounds.

Those entrepreneurs who intend to get investment for business through donations may try Kickstarter or Indiegogo. These services aim at making entrepreneurship accessible for public. Everyone can create project portfolio on the platform and collect donations from people around the globe. This approach does not require any equity trading or compulsory reports, though it is less stable in terms of income and may not live up to expectations.

Besides, online fundraising platforms give additional opportunities to get investment for startups who demand more substantial funding approach. Fundraising services help in promoting the project making it visible for accelerators or funds.

Incubators & Accelerators

Incubators and accelerators represent one more fundraising opportunity for startups. Accelerating programs typically have general fund replenished by several capitalists who want deploy their money. Projects involved into ‘incubating’ are supported and promoted to accelerate their growth at initial development stages.

Apart from purely financial support, accelerators usually offer additional help concerning corporate mentoring, management consulting, product promotion, presentations to other investors, new acquaintances, strong network establishing, or, in some cases, even free working space.

However, joining accelerating program is not as easy as it sounds, because of tough competition between entrepreneurs who count on accelerator support. One should do his/her utmost while pitching the project on demo day to achieve leadership and find an investor among accelerators.

List of small investors that participate in accelerating programs is constantly updating drawing in new faces and investments. According to Forbes, the most successful accelerators currently include Y Combinator, 500 Startups, Techstars, Plug and Play, MassChallenge, SOSV, Startupbootcamp, Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF), Wayra, and Start-Up Chile. These programs have proved their productivity with hundreds of raised projects and total profit amounting about 5 billion dollars.

Events

Interpersonal communication always was a proven way to establish strong industry relationships, as two sides could directly discuss important issues immediately. Attending events ensures connection between creative concepts and investors looking for entrepreneurs.

There exist many interesting events where pioneers can find private investors or fundraising organizations to invest into their ambitious ventures. The brightest examples from all over the world are WebSummit (Lisbon), Bits&Pretzels (Munich), Money2020 (Singapore, Amsterdam, Las Vegas), TechCrunch Disrupt (San Francisco), SXSW (Austin, Texas), Collision (Toronto), South Summit (Madrid),  South Summit CDMX (Mexico City), etc.

Hardware exhibitions deserve attention as well as project presentations though they do not aim at pitching concepts to potential investors. On exhibitions, executives usually demonstrate their final products to customers, media, retailers.

Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which takes place in Las Vegas, stands among best hardware exhibitions around the globe. CES gives little opportunity on initial development stages, but if you have a prototype, you are welcomed.

Social Media Platforms

Social media is a powerful means to find an investor as well. With vast public coverage and smart advertising campaigns, fundraisers can easily gain popularity becoming visible for serious investors. Social networks help in establishing industry relationships, market testing, fundraising, and attracting future clients.

Most popular social media helping in finding investors for small business are LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. LinkedIn is used in formal correspondence, while Facebook and Twitter are most likely to serve as promotion platforms or ensure semi-formal/informal communication to induce trust between two parties.

If one aims at attracting venture capitalists, Crunchbase is a nice option to conduct research on investors involved into industry in focus.

Microloans & Microlenders

Another option to get investment for business represent microloans or microlenders. It seems really easy and cost-effective to lend seed money from a company that does not intrude into project implementation or require specific reports. As a rule, debtor is responsible to return loan sum with extra charge for using company’s capital.

Microloaning stands among best options for ventures that need initial capital to launch new products and do not want to make additional commitments concerning third-party companies. To avoid misunderstanding both sides should clarify terms and specific guidelines making an agreement.

Besides, many microloans/microlenders are verified by government through Small Business Administration, thus entrepreneurs may be confident about deal settled. Approved microlending companies can provide $50 000 at once, while nonprofits vary their lending opportunities between $12 000 and $13 000.

Choose Your Perfect Funding Solution Right Now!

Creating a proper network stands among crucial factors that help find an investor to start a business. Cooperating with niche specialists ensures your startup proper support and wide opportunities.

To get investment for startup build wise startup-investor relationship, taking into consideration your initial aim and potential investor’s interests. If you count on old-school collaboration, private equity firms, venture capitalists, or angel investors are the best option. In case you go on your own and only initial capital stir concerns, choose crowdfunding, donations, or microloans/microlenders.

Understanding own financial goals and having sound priorities is the right way of finding investors for small business. Think over where to find business investors that will support your idea and do not hesitate to drop us a line! With substantial experience in different projects and narrow spheres, we can help in broadening the view and uncovering hidden potential that will turn your startup concept into successful undertaking. Besides, our qualified experts are always ready to implement your ambitious idea into bold product that will win customers’ love and loyalty.