Venture Capital For Dummies

Secure venture capital? Easy.

Getting a business up and running or pushing a brilliant product to the marketplace requires capital. For many entrepreneurs, a lack of start-up capital can be the single biggest roadblock to their dreams of success and fortune. Venture Capital For Dummies takes entrepreneurs step by step through the process of finding and securing venture capital for their own projects.

• Find and secure venture capital for your business
• Get your business up and running
• Push a product to the marketplace

If you're an entrepreneur looking for hands-on guidance on how to secure capital for your business, the information in Venture Capital For Dummies gives you the edge you need to succeed.

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started with Venture Capital 5

Chapter 1: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Venture Capital Basics 7

Chapter 2: The Venture Capitalist Mindset 17

Chapter 3: Is Working with a VC Right for You? 33

Chapter 4: Alternatives to Venture Capital Funding 45

Chapter 5: Connecting with Investors Online and Face to Face 65

Part II: Becoming Attractive to Venture Capitalists 85

Chapter 6: Positioning Your Company for Funding 87

Chapter 7: Cultivating Relationships 111

Chapter 8: Providing an Exit Strategy 131

Part III: Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Deal Design and Due Diligence 149

Chapter 9: Structuring Pre-VC Deals 151

Chapter 10: Leading the Risk Conversation 173

Chapter 11: Telling Your Valuation Story 195

Chapter 12: Negotiating Your Terms 211

Part IV: Pitching to Investors 235

Chapter 13: Due Diligence: Preparation and Fundamentals 237

Chapter 14: Planning Your Pitch 261

Chapter 15: Visualizing the Deal: Creating Your Pitch Deck 275

Chapter 16: Show Time! Making Your Presentation 299

Chapter 17: If at First You Don’t Succeed — and Even If You Do — Try, Try Again 309

Part V: The Part of Tens 321

Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Lose a Deal 323

Chapter 19: Ten Places and People That Can Lead You to a VC 327

Index 331

Nicole Gravagna, PhD, Director of Operations, and Peter K. Adams, MBA, Executive Director for the Rockies Venture Club, connect entrepreneurs with angel investors, venture capitalists, service professionals, and other business and funding resources. Secure venture capital?

Easy.

Getting a business up and running or pushing a brilliant product to the marketplace requires capital. For many entrepreneurs, a lack of start-up capital can be the single biggest roadblock to their dreams of success and fortune. If you're an entrepreneur looking for hands-on guidance on how to secure capital for your business, Venture Capital For Dummies takes you step by step through the process and gives you the edge you need to succeed.

• Nothing ventured, noting gained – get up-to-speed on venture capital basics, find out if working with a VC is right for you, and understand alternatives to VCs
• Mirror, mirror on the wall – find ways to become attractive to venture capitalists, position your company (not the product), cultivate relationships, and provide an exit strategy
• It's a deal – grasp the ins and outs of structuring pre-VC deals, leading the risk conversion, telling your valuation story, and negotiate your terms
• Pitch it – discover how to pitch to investors, from planning the pitch to making the presentation — and everything in between

Open the book and find:

• How a venture capital fund works
• What venture capitals look for
• Ways to get into the venture capitalist mindset
• Advice on creating an online persona for your company
• Tips for making contact with investors
• The importance of cultivating relationships
• How to position your company to appeal to investors
• Ten ways to lose the deal (and how to avoid them)

Learn to:

• Find and secure venture capital for your business
• Gain traction to prove your company’s potential to VCs
• Target and achieve key milestones for early-stage businesses