Z ILLUSTRIOUS’ Post

One of the biggest challenges for any startup is securing funding. Business #incubators have the opportunity to provide a crucial bridge between early-stage ventures and investors. By offering startups access to angel investors, venture capitalists, and grant opportunities, incubators reduce the financial barriers that prevent many ideas from becoming businesses. Startups benefit from the credibility of being incubated, which can increase investor confidence. If you're a founder struggling to get the attention of investors, a business incubator may help you not only access capital but also build the financial foundation for long-term growth.

VC is a lender of last resort. However, if you intend to seek investment you need to start the chats/thinking/planning one year out. I currently mentor 24 companies, and most founders are eager for VC funding. However, the reality is that many are not suited for VC due to the stringent requirements and processes involved. Therefore, we must guide them toward alternative methods such as bootstrapping, alternative financing, funds, vouchers, grants, accelerators etc. As a mentor, I strive to prepare all founders to engage with investors. The VC shares many goals with a founder (Indeed the founder is the alpha investor) whereby the common mission is to make money quickly (while vision is your passion) with the key difference being that VCs require an exit strategy while founders need to be tied to the mast. Because VC funding is the exception, it cannot be the only end goal/plan. In the meantime bootstrap clever and reach out to the many associations we have such as, in Ireland, LEO and Enterprise Ireland. LEO Priming Grants Getting your small business started. LEO Business Expansion grant LEO Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters grant Exploring and developing new market opportunities. LEO Trading Online Voucher Scheme LEO Feasibility Study Grants EI Innovation vouchers EI Feasibility study/innovation grant EI The Mentor Grant matches new and existing business owners with experienced mentors to offer tailored help and advice on running their business and overcoming obstacles to growth. EI The Market Discovery Fund – supports market research and the development of viable market entry strategies into new geographic markets. EI Pre-Seed Start Fund For businesses with a well-developed business plan and need to raise additional funding

Raising from VC shouldn’t be a metric💥 Every time I spoke with founders for an initial pitch call I asked them: “Why are you raising from VC?” or “Have you considered bootstrapping and then possibly raising?” Founders should re-evaluate and fully understand the VC model💰and if it really fits their own model of running and scaling the business. Thanks Sam Marchant for bringing up this topic!

Are you interested in #investing 💸 in the next generation of startups and growing the economy? Are you involved with the #startup ecosystem? You've come to the right place. The Foundations of Successful Angel Investing workshop helps rookie and potential angels master startup 🚀 investing step-by-step. To create this workshop, we've taken insights from 1,800 active #angel investors. Some of them make a 20% - 26% return on their portfolio. We want to share how they achieved this with you. Review: "I would definitely recommend it to first-time startup investors. Investing in startups is completely different compared to the stock market or real estate." Sign up for the session on July 18th here: https://buff.ly/4c9Ba9e

Startup investing 💸 step-by-step for rookie and potential angels. Join our Foundations of Successful Angel Investing, rated 4,6/5 ⭐ on September 19th: https://buff.ly/4bWbCgg Review: "I would definitely recommend it to first-time startup investors. Investing in startups is completely different compared to the stock market or real estate."

Investment from a VC shouldn't be a metric of success 🙅🏼♂️ The screenshot below is from a founder I've been speaking with for a while who's decided to bootstrap rather than raise VC investment. Given the investment landscape in 2023, I fully understand why the founder has made this decision. Most founders I meet are raising capital to acquire talent or expertise they currently don't have to overcome growth challenges within their startups. Bootstrapping should not be looked down on and as investors, we need to do a better job of staying close to founders who decide to bootstrap in the early stages of startup growth. VC funding isn't right for every startup, so let's not use it as a measure of startup success. #founders #startup #vc #business

Investment from a VC shouldn't be a metric of success 🙅🏼♂️ The screenshot below is from a founder I've been speaking with for a while who's decided to bootstrap rather than raise VC investment. Given the investment landscape in 2024, I fully understand why the founder has made this decision. Most founders I meet are raising capital to acquire talent or expertise they currently don't have to overcome growth challenges within their startups. Bootstrapping should not be looked down on and as investors, we need to do a better job of staying close to founders who decide to bootstrap in the early stages of startup growth. VC funding isn't right for every startup, so let's not use it as a measure of startup success. #founders #vc #startup #business

Are you interested in funding the next wave of innovative startups? 🌐 Angel Investing provides you with the insights to assess potential, navigate investment terms, and offer post-investment support. This comprehensive guide is perfect for both new and experienced investors looking to make informed decisions in the dynamic startup world. Start making an impact today! 📊🌱 https://lnkd.in/d5TyPpaz #AngelInvesting #StartupInvestment #BusinessGrowth #InvestorTips

Thinking Like a VC: How to Assess Your Startup

Public Investors Enter the Angel Scene: A New Era for Startup Funding?  The angel investment space is evolving, and public investors are stepping in—opening up fresh opportunities for early-stage startups. 🚀  Historically, angel investing was exclusive to seasoned VCs and high-net-worth individuals. But now, this shift means more diverse capital sources and broader access to early funding. For startups, it’s a chance to secure crucial resources earlier in their journey. For public investors, it’s an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the next big idea.  But here’s the twist: with new players come new challenges. While more funding is great, angel investing isn’t just about capital; it’s about strategic mentorship and risk management. #InvestingInInnovation #Startups #AngelInvesting