Funding Growth
Different stages of business growth will have different capital needs. These various needs can draw from different capital sources, as well. Think about different types of debt and debt-equity combinations to put cash on your balance sheet.
Suggested Readings
Founders School || Startup CEO || Funding Growth || Impact Guide (PDF).
Blumberg, Matt and Hanny Hindi. “Chapter Twenty: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Financing.” Startup CEO: A Field Guide to Scaling up Your Business. Wiley, 2013. 165-174. Print.
Blumberg, Matt and Hanny Hindi. “Chapter Twenty-One: When and How to Raise Money.” Startup CEO: A Field Guide to Scaling up Your Business. Wiley, 2013. 175-180. Print.
Zwilling, Martin. “10 More Creative Ways to Finance Your Startup.” Forbes, 6 March 2013.
Daniel Isenberg and Daniel Lawton. “How to Finance the Scale-Up of Your Company.” Harvard Business Review. Article. August 18, 2014.
“Growth Stage – Startup Funding Life Cycle” Funding Sage, 2016.
Skok, David “Cash is King: 8 tips to Optimize Fundraising Strategy” For Entrepreneurs, 2010.
“Financial Budgeting: Your Long-Term Forecast” – The Art of Startup Finance with Bill Reichert.
“Funding Your Growth” – Scaling Your Company with Scale Venture Partners Rory O’Driscoll and Kate Mitchell
Gleeson, Brent. “4 Realistic Ways To Fund Your Small Business” Forbes, 29 August 2013.
Questions for You
What is my funding plan for the initial growth of my company? How do I see that changing as the company grows?
Does my growth strategy require outside capital to meet my scaling needs?
If I’m seeking loans or investors, does the amount I’m asking for match the business’s projected capital requirements?
Tools and exercises
Explore different ways to finance your growth through these Founders School series:
Venture Capital Investment – Jeff Bussgang, entrepreneur, venture capitalist and educator at Harvard Business School, offers advice on how to know when you need venture capital funding, how to stand out to an investor and what to watch out for when negotiating your deal.
Angel Investment – Ian Sobieski, investor and managing director of the Band of Angels Venture Fund, highlights the benefits and specialties of angel investors, discusses the keys to finding and engaging an angel, and explains how to get the most out of your relationship after the deal is made.