Ask yourself and your partners:

• Am I willing to give up some amount of ownership and control of my company?
• Can I demonstrate that my company is likely to gain significant revenues and earnings in the next 3-7 years?
• Can I demonstrate that my company will produce a significant return for investors?
• Am I willing to take the advice from investors and accept board of director decisions I may not always agree with?
• Do I have an exit plan for the company that may mean I’m not involved in 3-7 years?

Follow those answers with a solid business plan and an executive summary which must include:

• Financial overview for at least three years out
• Sales and marketing plans
• Three-to-five year goals and your action steps to get there
• Exit strategy

Angels give wings to entrepreneurs. They provide seed money to business startups—to the tune of tens of thousands to a million dollars or more—in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. Some angel investors come together to form angel groups or angel networks to share research and pool investment dollars.

Examples:

Tamiami Angels is a family of angel funds organized to invest in early stage high potential, accelerated growth companies. – Tamiami Angels

NewGate Capital Partners prides themselves on performance, integrity and hard work. With over 150 years of combined experience in business ownership, the Partners at NewGate Capital truly understand the nuances of buying and selling businesses, angel investing in startups and diversifying an investor’s portfolio with alternate investments. NewGate Capital, led by seasoned entrepreneurs, is committed to guiding you through these major business and financial decisions with proven expertise and firsthand experience.” – NewGate Capital Partners

Venture capitalists (or VCs), invest in early stage companies and while many times they are much more interested in the business idea, model, and the likelihood of getting a return. They exchange their investment and their expertise for a significant portion of the company’s ownership and significant control over company decisions.

Examples:

DeepWork Capital – A venture capital firm investing in early stage companies. Under-invested markets like Florida and surrounding regions is our specialty. Our active engagement enable us to contribute to the success of our portfolio companies. Our team consists of experienced venture investors and technology founders who are committed to helping entrepreneurs become disruptive leaders in their industries. Our partnership is built on the core values of integrity, grit, and respect, and we look for founding teams who align with these values.                                                                                                                 – DeepWork Capital

Arsenal Venture Partners makes investments into tech-enabled businesses with $4 to $20 million in recurring revenues that target large markets, have world-class teams and have founders that share our desire to build enduring value.                                                                                                 – Arsenal Venture Partners

Orlando Economic Partnership created a list of resources to look into.

Return to Funding Guide.