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Entrepreneur Resources
Entrepreneurs who are raising capital for the first time should start here. On this web page you will be able to earn your own "mini-MBA" on how to raise capital for your start-up. Want some specific recommendations on which resources to start with and how to go about raising a round? Follow this link.
Otherwise, check out the following resources the Wisconsin Angel Network and friends have created, along with links to other resources, to help you successfully raise a round of funding.
On-demand Video Presentations
Sustainable Competitive Advantage, what's your long-term strategy for growth and profitability? Investors want to know. 15-minute presentation by Joe Kremer, director of the Wisconsin Angel Network. Finance Marketing, if you are looking for investors, you need to know the market and how to sell to investors. 15-minute presentation by Joe Kremer, director of the Wisconsin Angel Network. Stages of Financing, it's important to know the best potential sources for funding, given the stage of your company. 10-minute presentation by Joe Kremer, director of the Wisconsin Angel Network. How to Win the Governor's Business Plan Contest, taped during the 2006 Early Stage Symposium, a panel of judges and successful contestants explain what makes for a winning plan. What an Entrepreneur Ought to Know About Angels, if you want to get inside the mind of an angel capitalist, sit back and watch this presentation developed by Tim Keane, director of the Golden Angels Network and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Marquette University. Federal R&D Funding: Practical Guide for Small Business, Cheryl Gain of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce gives an overview of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. Video Overview of Early Stage Tax Credits by Pam Christensen, Director, Wisconsin Bureau of Entrepreneurship (approx 12 minutes) Link to complete catalog of on-demand videos Templates and Samples Business Plan Template (doc zipped): developed by Brian Pope, president of Clear Advantage Research and Consulting, LLC. How to Create an Effective Investor Presentation (ppt zipped): developed by WAN and its angel advisory committee. Use this power point template as a guide when creating a presentation for early-stage investors. Executive Summary Sample (pdf): download a sample executive summary from the Deal-flow Pipeline's Angelsolf platform. Elevator Pitch (pdf): a one-page slide to help with creating an effective elevator pitch. Information on Financing Deals
What stage is my company in? Click here for the Financing Continuum. Equity:
Login to the Deal-flow Pipeline and get your opportunity in front of early-stage investors. Active Angel Networks in Wisconsin with contact information, list maintained by NorthStar Economics. WAN Investor-Members with descriptions of investment interests. Angel Networks around the US, list maintained by the Angel Capital Association. Act 255: Angel Investment Tax Credits, WI Department of Commerce's official site Debt and Grants: If you have been rejected for a commercial loan, the SBA has loan guarantee programs that may be useful, such as the SBA 7(a) Loan Program. To apply, contact your commercial lender. For a listing of SBA Preferred Lenders in Wisconsin, click here. Follow this link to a SBA video on the 7(a) program. Chart of 2008 top 10 SBA lenders in Wisconsin. SVA's New Entity Financing Grid: created and made available by Suby, Von Haden and Associates, this quick reference guide lists the many various debt instruments that are available through government and other resources. Get help building your business plan, presentation and pitch Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network: For help getting ready to seek equity capital along with many other great services, visit the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network . What an Entrepreneur Ought to Know About Angels (pdf presentation slides): Developed by Tim Keane, director of the Golden Angels Network and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Marquette University. Ideas about Startups and Angels: Tim Keane's blog devoted to helping entrepreneurs develop successful businesses. Kauffman eVenturing: provides practical information on how to start, manage, and grow a business, with many of the articles written by entrepreneurs who’ve been there. The site also aggregates the “best of the best” existing information related to growing high-impact companies. Biz Info Library (BIL): an online library offering the world’s best information on starting and growing a business. BIL provides users instant access to relevant, credible, and objective information authored and vetted by the world’s top business information experts. Tools from Inc.com: more than 100 free tools -- from sample policies and agreements to worksheets and checklists -- to help you in every area of your business. Active Capital: On-demand videos covering various issues vital to entrepreneurs, including legal issues to keep in mind when raising equity. Council for Entrepreneurial Development: Based in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, this organization is one of the nation's oldest and largest, focused on providing resources for early-stage high-growth companies. HillSearch: An information rich on-line resource that gives entrepreneurs access to databases normally reserved for companies with large budgets. Great for market, competitor and industry research. FastTrac Toolkit: Contains many resources including an entrepreneurial readiness questionnaire, outlines for business plans and marketing studies, excel spreadsheets for detailed cost estimates and financials, references for resources, and many more. Startup Journal: This site captures Wall Street Journal articles focused on entrepreneurs and start-ups. It has a bit of everything including articles on franchising, financing, e-commerce, and advice on running a business. bioentrepreneur: This site is designed specifically for biotech entrepreneurs. It contains useful information, business tips and articles specifically designed for biotech start-ups. Know the rules Excerpt from SEC Regulation D, Accredited Investor Definition (pdf)
The State Bar of Wisconsin offers a program that provides small and emerging businesses the opportunity to receive up to two hours of free legal counseling from a business lawyer. Since 1992, the Business Assistance Program has helped nearly 4,300 Wisconsin business owners.
Other information, links and resources
Wisconsin Innovation Network (WIN): The membership subsidiary of the Wisconsin Technology Council, WIN provide educational and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors and service providers.
The Art of Raising Angel Capital
An article by Guy Kawasaki -- "Make no mistake about it: There is an art to raising angel capital. Raising angel capital is not harder or easier than raising institutional venture capital--it's simply different. Here's how to do it."
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