Venture Capital For Dummies

Secure venture capital? Easy. Getting a business up and running or pushing a brilliant product to the marketplace requires capital. For many entrepreneurs, a lack of start-up capital can be the single biggest roadblock to their dreams of success and fortune. Venture Capital For Dummies takes entrepreneurs step by step through the process of finding and securing venture capital for their own projects. Find and secure venture capital for your business Get your business up and running Push a product to the marketplace If you're an entrepreneur looking for hands-on guidance on how to secure capital for your business, the information in Venture Capital For Dummies gives you the edge you need to succeed.

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with Venture Capital  5 Chapter 1: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Venture Capital Basics 7 Chapter 2: The Venture Capitalist Mindset 17 Chapter 3: Is Working with a VC Right for You? 33 Chapter 4: Alternatives to Venture Capital Funding 45 Chapter 5: Connecting with Investors Online and Face to Face 65 Part II: Becoming Attractive to Venture Capitalists 85 Chapter 6: Positioning Your Company for Funding 87 Chapter 7: Cultivating Relationships 111 Chapter 8: Providing an Exit Strategy 131 Part III: Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Deal Design and Due Diligence  149 Chapter 9: Structuring Pre-VC Deals 151 Chapter 10: Leading the Risk Conversation 173 Chapter 11: Telling Your Valuation Story 195 Chapter 12: Negotiating Your Terms 211 Part IV: Pitching to Investors 235 Chapter 13: Due Diligence: Preparation and Fundamentals 237 Chapter 14: Planning Your Pitch 261 Chapter 15: Visualizing the Deal: Creating Your Pitch Deck 275 Chapter 16: Show Time! Making Your Presentation 299 Chapter 17: If at First You Don’t Succeed — and Even If You Do — Try, Try Again 309 Part V: The Part of Tens 321 Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Lose a Deal 323 Chapter 19: Ten Places and People That Can Lead You to a VC 327 Index 331