This chapter discusses financing options for e-business startups. It describes bootstrapping using personal funds and finding informal investors like friends, family, or angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who enjoy early-stage investing. The chapter also discusses pitching ideas to venture capital firms, which are professional investment companies. Finally, it covers business incubators, which provide resources to startups in exchange for fees and equity, and the option of self-incubation through entrepreneur groups.
This chapter discusses financing options for e-business startups. It describes bootstrapping using personal funds and finding informal investors like friends, family, or angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who enjoy early-stage investing. The chapter also discusses pitching ideas to venture capital firms, which are professional investment companies. Finally, it covers business incubators, which provide resources to startups in exchange for fees and equity, and the option of self-incubation through entrepreneur groups.
This chapter discusses financing options for e-business startups. It describes bootstrapping using personal funds and finding informal investors like friends, family, or angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who enjoy early-stage investing. The chapter also discusses pitching ideas to venture capital firms, which are professional investment companies. Finally, it covers business incubators, which provide resources to startups in exchange for fees and equity, and the option of self-incubation through entrepreneur groups.
Describe the financing issues associated with an
e-business startup Discuss the role of informal investors in an e-business startup Identify issues important to venture capital investors
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Learning Objectives (continued) Pitch your e-business idea to investors Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of business incubators
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing Bootstrapping – Self-funding – Finding unique and inventive ways to acquire resources without borrowing money Informal investors – Friends – Family members – Angel investors
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing (continued) Friends and family members – Know and trust entrepreneur – Stand by during tough times – Invest in entrepreneur rather than business idea – Downside is potential risk to relationships • Business misunderstandings • Business failure
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing (continued) Angel investors – Individuals with money and time who enjoy the excitement of early-stage investing – Not averse to taking risks – Primarily interested in business idea – Angel investment club members • Accredited investors with minimum net worth of $1M or annual income of $200,000 or household income of $300,000 over the last two years
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing (continued) Venture capitalist investors (VCs) – Professional investment company – Provide funds for startup businesses in exchange for equity position – Raise funds from endowments, insurance companies, and pension funds
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing (continued) Venture capitalist investors (VCs) (continued) – Take many forms • Traditional partnerships • Government-sponsored investment companies • Corporate funding programs by high-tech companies
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Startup Financing (continued) Venture capitalist investors (VCs) (continued) – E-business startup VC funding examples • Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) and Hotmail • Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Google • Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC) and America Online
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Pitching Your E-Business To Investors First meeting with investors is a sales meeting Bring a pitch document – Short marketing document based on Executive Summary portion of business plan • Highlights market need • Shows how startup meets that need • Indicates potential profits • Shows how management team can make it happen
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Pitching Your E-Business To Investors (continued) Learn as much as possible about potential investors before the pitch meeting Be prepared for investor questions about – Business idea – Target market – Competitors – Critical marketplace issues Do not fake answers; if you don’t know, simply say so and move on Creating a Winning E-Business 15 Second Edition, Chapter 4 Pitching Your E-Business To Investors (continued) During the pitch meeting – Be on time – Be prepared – Be enthusiastic – Bring all necessary equipment and documents – Differentiate yourself and management team from your competitors – Create the feeling that your e-business idea is a viable, exciting investor opportunity
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators Nurture startup businesses – Offer development, administrative, and support services • Office space • Telecommunication hookups • Reception and conference room facilities • Computer networks • Advisory services • Access to potential investors
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued) Non-profit organizations or commercial businesses – Offer a quick “leg up” for entrepreneurs needing administrative and support services – Provide access to knowledgeable professionals, advisors, potential investors – Cost to entrepreneur • Fees for services • Loss of equity
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued) Advantages – “One-stop solution” for many startup problems – Easy access to professional advice – Venue for interacting with other startups Disadvantages – May be hefty fees for services – Giving up share of ownership equity to others
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued) Non-profit business incubators – Generally cooperative venture between a university and local community – Examples • Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) • Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) • Houston Technology Center • Illinois Technology Enterprise Center (ITEC) • Women’s Technology Cluster (WTC)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued) Commercial business incubators – Businesses that provide incubation services for a fee and usually a large equity position – Examples • Batavia Industrial Center (BIC) • Idealab • eCompanies
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued)
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Business Incubators (continued) Self-incubation – Participating in a members-only group of entrepreneurs • Share practical experience • Access to contacts • Sell or barter products and services with members – Example • Starve Ups
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Chapter Summary An entrepreneur should expect to invest personal funds in a startup Informal investors include friends and family members and angel investors Angel investor – A wealthy individual who enjoys investing in startups Venture capitalist – A professional investor
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Chapter Summary (continued) Meeting with investors – First meeting is a “pitch” or sales meeting – Use a carefully prepared pitch document – Anticipate questions – Be on time, be prepared, and be enthusiastic Pitch document – A brief sales document based on the Executive Summary portion of the business plan
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Second Edition, Chapter 4 Chapter Summary (continued) Non-profit and commercial business incubators offer access to resources in exchange for fees and an equity position Self-incubation offers access to some resources without paying fees or giving up equity