Raising capital isn’t easy. Minimize your pain and improve your probability of getting funded by being informed, prepared and engaged.

Speak regularly with professionals in your space to be informed and stay current on trends affecting your industry.

Prepare by starting your Capital Raising efforts 12 to 18 months before you need the money. Capital raising takes time.

To be engaged, cultivate relationships to develop your “community” – those prospective investors who have an emotional and/or economic relationship with you, your brand and your mission.

Ease into the “ask” by staying in communication with your community, sprinkling tidbits of exciting news about your company or product, well before the raise date.

Why is preparation important? Because you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That initial impression sets the tone going forward. Ensure it is good one.

In our webinar, “Attracting Financing – What does an Investor Look For,” featuring Stephen Ambler of RoseRyan, a nationally-recognized finance and accounting consulting firm that delivers specialized “firepower” exactly when and where it’s needed, shared tips and pitfalls on presenting your company to investors and rules for post-presentation follow-up:

· Ensure you have your business in order;
· Consider your needs;
· Identify desired type of investor
· Contact potential investors

Additional tips:

· Consider all your options;
· Multiple founders must be aligned in financing preferences/goals

Suggested reading:
RoseRyan whitepaper: A guide for high-growth CFOs (http://bit.ly/highgrowthCFOreport)