Find private large investors. How to look for an investor to start a business from scratch. Video - Attracting investments

Last update: 09/12/2019

Good afternoon, dear readers of the financial magazine “site”! Continuing the topic of investing, we will consider the issues of finding investments for a business, namely where and how to find an investor to start a business from scratch, what to do to get him to agree to finance a business project, and so on.

In this article we will cover:

• Why investors are needed and how to properly attract them to start a business;
• What steps should you take to find an investor from scratch;
• What rules should be followed when searching for an investor;
• Who can you turn to for help in finding investors?

You will also find answers to frequently asked questions at the end of the post.

The article will be useful to absolutely everyone: as aspiring businessmen, and for those who already have some experience in developing your own business. The article will also appeal to those interested in the theory of finance and investment.

To find useful information about attracting investors, read our article to the end.

Where and how to find an investor to start a business, what to look for when looking for investors for a small business from scratch - you will learn about all this and more later in the article

Regardless of the type of activity, a business needs cash. If you don't raise capital, even the best project develops will not . This threatens that the business will die at the planning stage.

It should be understood that for the successful development of entrepreneurship it is important not to miss the moment. Therefore, businessmen, as a rule, do not have the opportunity to save money. There is a great risk that while it is possible to collect the required amount, the moment will be missed, and the proposed market will be attacked by faster and more enterprising competitors.

At the same time, novice businessmen should not be embarrassed by the fact that their capital is insufficient. Even successful large companies, when they just started their activities, used borrowed funds.

Young companies with prospects for successful development most often feel a lack of funds. At the same time, they have a huge number of ideas that require implementation." Here and now ».

To date Finding investors has become much easier: created for this purpose a huge number of funds and companies who agree to transfer their funds to start-up businessmen.

But it should be understood that not everyone can receive funds from the funds. First of all, a businessman will need to convince investors to invest in his project. To do this, you will need not only to draw up a business plan, but also to prove that a particular business project is more interesting than that of competitors and also has better prospects.

Most professional investors have extensive investment experience. Therefore, they easily determine those projects in which it is best to invest in order to obtain maximum profit.

Businessmen must remember that how funds, so private investors They do not give money to charity. They expect from the projects they invest in maximum and fastest return.

Thus, any sources of investment funds, be it banks, funds or other companies do not issue funds without the necessary confirmation. You can, of course, try to get a grant. However, the companies that issue them approach the selection of applicants even more strictly.

What to look for when attracting investors

2. How to attract investors - necessary conditions 📋

The goal of any investor is to increase the funds he has. Most of them know that income on bank deposits barely covers the rate of inflation. Therefore, such investments investors completely not satisfied .

Investors strive for a level of income that will not only cover price increases, but also ensure a comfortable life.

All this explains why those who have significant amounts of money are looking for such companies in order to invest in them funds that will be able to provide them with sufficient income.

Beginning businessmen, when starting to search for a potential investor, should perceive him not as a creditor, but as a partner. It turns out that the businessman invests an idea into the project, and the investor invests his own money. Therefore, such a deal should be beneficial for both parties.

Most professionals agree that search for investors– the task is not that difficult. The main thing here is to be smart present your idea. You will also need to convince the owner of the funds that investing in the project will be quite promising and will bring significant income.

When telling an investor about a project, you should cover the following topics as fully as possible:

• uniqueness and demand for the product/service offered for production;
• the size of the required investments;
• in what timeframe it is planned to recoup the investment;
• expected level of profit;
• What is the return on investment guarantee?

If a businessman correctly characterizes each of these issues, the chances of convincing the investor that the project can really bring good profits are will increase significantly. As a result, the investor will decide to allocate funds for it.

3. How to find an investor from scratch - a step-by-step guide to finding an investor for a business 📝

When looking for an investor, it is important to act consistently in accordance with the recommendations developed by professionals. Thus You will be able to achieve success in finding investors faster.

In the process of searching for investment sources, it is important to take into account the interests of the owner of the funds. It is important to understand that investors are guided by their own commercial interests when making investments.

Potential investors not interested , how innovative the activity will be, and whether it will bring profit to the business owner. They are concerned about the increase, as well as the safety of their capital.

For some investors not important business ideas, as they are looking for passive income, tired of actively developing a business. They have already managed to earn initial capital by working hard. Now the only desire of such investors is for the available funds to make a profit, and at the same time they would not have to do anything.

At the same time, they are looking for investment options that will bring greater income than traditional investments - , mutual funds and similar financial instruments.

Step-by-step instructions on where and how to look for an investor to start a business

Therefore, when looking for an investor, it is important to convince him that they can get such an income. It is of great importance to follow the step-by-step instructions, which we will describe below. This will help increase the chances of quickly and efficiently finding the necessary funds.

Step #1. Drawing up a business plan

First of all, when choosing an investment property, investors pay attention to the business plan. It must be properly executed, otherwise the likelihood of receiving funds may disappear.

A properly drawn up business plan must contain the following information:

• project description;
• calculation of the required amount of money;
• analysis of the commercial benefits that the investor will receive;
• the payback period of the project, that is, after what period of time the first income will be received;
• what are the prospects for further development of the organization.

Everything should inspire confidence– from the quality of the paper on which the document is printed and the folder in which it is placed, to the use of professional graphic editors when preparing the necessary diagrams.

We wrote in more detail in a separate publication.

Step #2. Choosing a suitable form of cooperation

Cooperation between a business owner and an investor can take various forms. It is important to analyze in advance which of them may be most effective for a company seeking funds.

Investors agree to provide funds, receiving income in the following ways:

1. as a percentage of the invested amount;
2. as a percentage of profit during the entire duration of the project;
3. as a share in the business.

The business owner, having decided which option is more acceptable to him, must indicate it in the business plan. However, it is often difficult for a new businessman to find the necessary funds.

Therefore, if a potential investor categorically disagrees with the chosen model, wanting to use another option for cooperation, it should be assessed. Often It’s better to agree to the investor’s terms than being left without money.

Step #3. Enlist the help of experienced businessmen

Aspiring entrepreneurs can be sure: no one will understand them better than experienced businessmen who have been working successfully in the same field for a long time. Many of them willingly advise newcomers on how to proceed. This is especially true in cases where when mutually beneficial cooperation is possible between them in the future.

Often, experienced businessmen take newcomers under their wing: they can invest money in their ideas or recommend the project for investment to other investors. Even if this does not happen, it is quite possible that professionals will give advice and recommendations that will help in the future.

Step #4. Negotiation

Often a positive decision from investors to invest in a project determined by competent negotiations . Even those who easily get along with people should carefully prepare for the meeting.

It will be necessary not only to convince a potential investor of the prospects of the project, but also to answer all the questions that arise. Therefore, it is advisable to think in advance about what a businessman might be asked and prepare reasonable answers.

From the first meeting, investors usually expect a competent presentation of the project, as well as a business plan.

It would be useful for a businessman to invite a specialist who participated in the development of the project to negotiations. It is quite possible that he will explain all the nuances of the project much more competently, as well as answer any questions that arise.

Step #5. Conclusion of an agreement

The final stage of negotiations, if an agreement is reached, is signing a cooperation or investment agreement. It is important to carefully study absolutely all the terms of the drawn up contract; it would be useful to involve a professional lawyer in this process.

It is important to ensure that the agreement stipulates:

• duration of cooperation;
• investment amount;
• rights, as well as obligations that are assigned to the parties.

In accordance with the agreement, funds are transferred to the businessman under certain conditions. Their essence is that money must be invested specifically in the implementation of the project .

It is important for the investor that the signed agreement excludes the possibility of using funds beyond the intended purpose, even part of the invested money should not go to needs not related to the implementation of the project.

Conclusion of an investment agreement - sample

An example of an investment agreement can be downloaded from the link below:

(example, sample)

Thus, it is important to maintain a certain consistency in attracting investor funds. A businessman should follow the step-by-step instructions described above. Then raising funds will be as effective as possible.

The main ways and where you can find investors

4. Where to find an investor - 6 options for attracting investments 🔎💸

We have already written about how important it is to draw up a competent business plan at the first stage of searching for an investor. However, not all businessmen know where to next look for someone who will agree to provide funds for the implementation of their project.

However, there are several options, and each of them deserves close attention from a businessman.

Option 1. Close people

Finding investors to finance business – not an easy task. Therefore, it is advisable to involve as many relatives and friends as possible in this process. This option is ideal for those who are just starting their own business and have neither experience nor popularity. Moreover, loans from relatives and friends are less risky.

If the project does not require large initial investments, it is quite possible to offer to finance it to close people for a small percentage, which will be paid when the business becomes profitable.

Option 2. Businessmen

In all cities (especially large ones) there are a large number of businessmen who have already earned capital. Now they want to receive passive income by investing money in some profitable business.

It makes sense to turn to such businessmen to receive funds to develop their own business.

Most often, merchants issue money according to one of 2 (two) schemes:

• in the form of a loan with payment of interest;
• as a share in a new business project.

It should be understood that the second method leads to a significant restriction of the freedom of decision-making of a novice businessman. Therefore, you should think several times before choosing this option.

Option 3. Funds

Another way to find investors for a business is special funds - investment And assistance to small businesses. However, obtaining funds from such companies can be difficult.

You will have to prove that the new business project is viable enough. It should also be taken into account that a newcomer to the field of entrepreneurship must have his own funds, which he wants to invest in the project along with those attracted. Therefore, funds are more suitable for those who already have an existing business.

So that the decision to invest funds is positive , you will need to analyze the current activities of the company, as well as formulate a plan for its further development.

Those looking for an investor should also look into the activities of government funds. They often provide funds to the most promising business projects, organizing competitions for this purpose.

Option 4. Venture investment

This option is quite widespread in some developed countries. If you want to attract money to a business with the help of venture investment, you should keep in mind that such funds invest only in risky projects with great prospects.

In this case, business projects are most often financed innovation sphere , Sciences , and IT technologies .

Less often, but still, venture funds are invested in trade, as well as the service sector.

We wrote in detail about venture investments, in particular what they exist and what they do, in a separate article.

When investing in a business, venture funds want to receive regular income. For this purpose, they take over a share of the business. Moreover, they own part of the company for only a few years, after which they sell it to third parties.

Option 5. Business incubators

A business incubator is a special platform created for the purpose of implementing various business projects. To receive investment funds through an incubator, it is important to draw up a competent business plan.

In addition, you will need to win a competition or successfully pass a special interview.

Option 6. Banks

If you can’t find an investor, you can try to apply for a bank account. However, getting a large enough amount is often difficult. Therefore, this method of searching for an investor is suitable when when you need a small investment.

Credit institutions demand enough from potential borrowers high requirements. To receive money, you may need to provide property as collateral, guarantors, and collect a large list of various documents.

If a loan applicant cannot fulfill at least one requirement of the credit institution, he will not be able to receive a loan.

Thus, searching for an investor for business– it’s not an easy and rather lengthy matter. Therefore, a businessman will need a lot of patience. It is important to evaluate all possible options and analyze emerging risks. Then you can be sure that your search will be crowned with success.

There is an article on our website in which we talked about where and how to properly draw up a promissory note - we recommend reading it.

Basic rules for finding investors and their investments

5. 5 important rules for finding investors 📌

Every day a huge number of different business projects appear that require investment of funds. The owner of an idea does not always have the necessary capital. However, most ideas require quick start and development. In this regard, huge a number of businessmen are looking for an investor to implement the project.

Often this process is delayed, and often completely ends in failure. To increase your chances of success, it is important to follow 5 (five) basic rules. They allow businessmen to be more confident in finding an investor, as well as approach the selection process wisely.

Rule #1. The search should begin as early as possible

Every businessman must understand that searching for an investor is a long process. A lot of time passes from the moment they start until the funds are received.

That's why start You should look for an investor as early as possible. Ideally, this should be done when future activities have been planned, and it has also become clear how best to present the benefits of the project to potential investors.

It's important to understand that the risk of the investor is higher than that of the project owner. It is the one who invests money in business who risks his capital, loss of time and reputation.

Therefore, he has the right to suspend investment of funds or even negotiations if he decides that the risk level is too high for him.

Moreover, investors usually carefully study the company in which they plan to invest money. They analyze the history of the company, its successes and failures, and prospects for further development. All this leads to the fact that it is better to start looking for an investor in the early stages.

Own funds invested in a business usually run out very quickly. As a result, a sharp rise at the beginning of the project may give way to a fall even before the start of investment receipts, and this situation may alienate most investors.

Rule #2. It is important to collect as much information as possible about a potential investor

When looking for an investor, it is not the best decision to cooperate with the first one who offers his capital. It is necessary to collect as much information as possible about the prospective investor.

In this case, you should find out:

• what areas does it usually invest in;
• possible volumes of invested funds;
• investor preferences regarding the method and principles of cooperation.

All collected data should be compared with the desires of the businessman himself. You should cooperate with the best investor. This means the most optimal one, not the largest and most popular one.

It's important to understand that any interaction with an investor should take place in the form of mutually beneficial cooperation.

At the same time, both the businessman and the investor themselves must imagine what stage of interaction they are at, as well as what will happen next.

A good investor, if he knows why, will provide significant assistance in the development of the project. A bad one will ruin even a great idea.

When assessing the investment amount, worth understanding, which, if necessary, 50-100 thousand dollars there is no point in turning to someone who traditionally invests millions. The same can be said in the opposite case: there is no point in going for big investments to someone who simply doesn’t have them.

A large amount of collected information can make it easier for a businessman to participate in the negotiation process with an investor. You can think through a rough plan of negotiations in advance, and also decide what questions you can ask the investor.

Moreover, if there is sufficient information can be predicted what questions the owner of the funds will ask the businessman, and decide how to answer them. Information about an investor's previous investments can be very helpful during negotiations.

Even before meeting with an investor, a businessman must decide how he will behave during the negotiation process. The investor must believe that a businessman needs not just money, but mutually beneficial cooperation.

If high-quality contact is established between the parties, you can be sure that the interaction will be beneficial for both parties.

There are many examples in history that with good relationships between businessman and investor even if there were errors and small failures, they were still provided. Ultimately, success was achieved in the activity.

Rule #3. The amount of investment must be carefully planned

A businessman must remember that the investment amount must be indicated specifically in numbers, not a range. An investor will almost certainly refuse to invest if he is asked for an amount from 100 to 200 thousand dollars.

In this case, the owner of the funds may have a huge number of questions, which will almost certainly lead the negotiations to a dead end.

A businessman must tell the investor a specific amount , which should be reasonable. The size of the investment must take into account all possible scenarios that could cause the range to arise.

Rule #4. Focus on goals

When developing company development goals for which you need to raise funds, do not use them too much globalize.

Ideas that are too large, as well as the desire to cover a large number of issues, usually cause investors to doubt that it is possible to successfully implement them.

Therefore, the goals that a businessman sets should be as specific as possible . They must be limited by capabilities as well as needs. A businessman’s goals should be specified even before he finds an investor.

Even in cases where in the future it is planned to develop the project to a global scale, you should not immediately describe this idea globally. Such interpretations usually repel investors.

Those who have experience in investing, as well as developing business projects, agree with the opinion that with globalization, forces and resources are dispersed, but proper efficiency is not achieved.

Therefore, an investor should be sought under solving specific problems And business issues.

Rule #5. You should be as honest and open as possible

In the process of negotiating, and subsequently when drawing up reports, a businessman should not lie And keep back.

In the process of conducting business, it is quite normal to deviate from the original plan, but such facts cannot be hidden from the investor . He has the right to be aware of the current situation.

At the same time, it is important to explain to the investor the reasons for the deviation from the plan, what this may lead to, and how it is planned to proceed further.

Compliance with all the above rules increases the chances that a good investor will be found. And this is precisely the key to a successful start of any activity.

6. Providing professional assistance in finding investors 📎

Those who are unable to find an investor for their business on their own can turn to professional help.

There are special platforms on the Internet that help not only those who want to invest, but also those who are looking for capital to develop their activities.

The most famous Russian-language sites are 2 (two) sites:

1) EASTWESTGROUP

The resource's specialization is search for investments for investments both in operating and mothballed businesses. To use the services, just register and then contact those who provide the funds. The resource allows you to save not only time, but also energy.

Company specialists conduct business analysis, after which its strengths are determined. This is done absolutely free and helps attract investors. The resource has been investing for more than ten years.

By registering on the site, a businessman gets in touch with several dozen investors at once. This significantly increases the chances of receiving funds. The cost of the investor search service is calculated individually for each user. However, you do not need to pay anything until you receive the funds.

Using the site's services is very simple. Just go through a few steps:

• submit your application;
• get a free consultation from a company employee;
• sign an agreement with the company on the provision of intermediary services;
• the resource itself conducts negotiations with the investor;
• businessman enters into a mutually beneficial deal with an investor.

2) Start2Up

This resource is a kind of bulletin board on which they post investor proposals, entrepreneurs, startupers looking for business partners.

Thanks to the site, those who have funds can find where to invest them. At the same time, budding businessmen have the opportunity to enter into an agreement with investors who are ready to support their project.

All advertisements posted on the site are divided into groups depending on the region, as well as the field of activity.

The most popular business areas here are:

• Internet;
• IT technologies;
• education;
• art as well as culture;
• the science;
• real estate.

There are also other promising areas of activity.

The site's users include hundreds of businessmen and investors. These are people not only from Russia, but also from Belarus, as well as a number of European countries. Therefore, the chances of those who register on the site to find an investor increase significantly.

The site contains several hundred offers buy out a startup, invest funds in different areas of business, and improve existing production facilities.

In addition, with the help of the project, you can purchase or sell the property of ready-made companies. You can follow the news of the portal using the Facebook group.

Thus, those who find it difficult to find an investor for their project can turn to popular Internet resources for help.

Don’t forget about the site’s crowdfunding as well. Thanks to (a type of crowdfunding), it is also possible to attract capital from interested platform participants for a share in a startup.

7. Answers to frequently asked questions 📑

The topic of finding investors is quite complex. Therefore, businessmen have a huge number of questions in this regard. The publication would not be complete if we did not answer the most frequently encountered questions.

Question 1. Where can I get money for my business?

Finding money to grow a business can be a daunting task for any aspiring entrepreneur. This especially concerns the formation and further startup development. Develop any business project without raising funds practically impossible. We wrote about what stages it should go through, how to attract money, etc., in a separate article.

Every aspiring entrepreneur is looking for his own options for finding an investor. That’s why it’s so important to reconsider how you can find funds.

Method 1. Accumulate

This option is the simplest. Having accumulated money, the entrepreneur will not become financially dependent on other people; he will be able to run the business completely independently, without reporting to anyone and without giving away part of the profit to anyone.

At the same time, to save money, you only need great desire, as well as financial self-discipline. It is enough to optimize your own expenses to start saving money. With due diligence, already for 6 -12 months you can raise a significant amount of money.

This option is suitable for those who know how to save. If you manage to save for a major purchase or vacation, this method of finding funds will probably suit you. Moreover, this option helps you learn an optimal attitude towards money, which will definitely come in handy in the future when implementing a business project.

Method 2. Take out a loan

Those businessmen who have a good understanding of the rules of financial discipline may well take out a bank loan for the development of activities.

The danger of this method is that at the very beginning of business, companies almost always operate on the brink of loss. Therefore, there is a high probability that there will simply be nothing to pay off the loan.

This method is suitable only for those who are confident that the business will become profitable even before the loan payments begin. It is worth understanding that credit institutions startups rarely invest. Much more often they issue loans for the development of an existing business. However, the decision is always made individually.

A businessman should definitely take into account that interest in most cases is at least 15%. In addition, it is important to contact banks with a good reputation.

To simplify the task for businessmen, the table shows the best banks for small and medium-sized businesses.

Method 3. Government subsidies

The state is trying actively support small businesses. Any aspiring entrepreneur can take part in competitions for subsidies.

If you wish, you can contact the Employment Center to receive a self-employment grant. The amount for this program varies by region, but on average it is 90-100 thousand rubles.

In addition, so-called incubators have been created in the country (most often on the basis of the largest higher educational institutions that teach the subject of “economics”).

Such structures are financed from the budget. The goal of such organizations is to create favorable conditions for business development.

Method 4. Close people

This option can be considered a last resort, since doing business with relatives and friends can be very difficult. Nobody likes to just give away their money, so even close people should be interested. You can offer them a share in the business.

There are also advantages to this method of raising funds. Firstly, it is easier to agree with loved ones on the timing of the return of money. Secondly, receiving funds is much faster, since you do not need to collect a large number of documents and also wait for a decision from third parties.

Method 5. Private investors

In some cases, there are simply no other options other than borrowing money from private investors. You can get funds from private investors quite easily quickly and without unnecessary problems.

Most large cities have Internet sites that post relevant advertisements. At the same time, to obtain a loan it is enough confirm your identity and write a receipt. Some private investors require mandatory notarization of this document.

Question 2. Where to start looking for an investor for a small business?

There are several basic steps that will help a novice investor navigate the process of finding an investor.

Step 1: Making a plan

A businessman must develop a high-quality business plan, which he will use as a presentation to people who invest money in the business. It is the plan that will help convince the investor that the businessman’s project is capable of generating significant profits.

Important so that the business plan contains not only a description of the company itself, but also a study of its position in the market, as well as further development prospects.

Step 2. Choose an investment scheme

There are several possible options for raising funds. Investors can buy new equipment, by providing a loan at certain interest rates. Others invest, demanding in exchange for a share in the company .

In any case, a businessman should decide in advance which of the schemes is most suitable for him. It would be useful to indicate this in the business plan itself.

Step 3. Help from professionals

Experienced businessmen can provide valuable advice on both raising funds and running a business.

Step 4. Search for online resources on investing

There are sites on the Internet that allow you to present projects to business angels. After posting information about themselves on such resources, businessmen often note an increase in the number of offers from investors.

Question 3. I am looking for an investor to start a business from scratch/into an existing business. What portals/sites and forums should I look on?

Popular Internet resources (websites, forums, portals) for searching for investors

The development of Internet technologies has made it possible to significantly simplify the procedure for finding investors. There are quite a large number of Internet resources that help in this difficult task.

Here are the most popular ones:

1. Starttrack.ru is a popular investor search portal. There is an opportunity to post information about your business project. If it passes approval, the chances of attracting investors will increase significantly.
2. Ventureclub.ru– a resource that allows you to find fairly large investors.
3. Napartner.ru- is a regular bulletin board on which investors post information about themselves.
4. Mypio.ru– here you can place information about your business project. Advertisements on this portal are viewed daily by a large number of investors.
5. Startuppoint.ru– a project with a huge number of proposals from investors. If today there is no suitable option here, it is quite possible to post information about the project for viewing by potential investors.

Question 4. Where to look for an investor for a startup or how to find an investor to implement an idea?

A businessman must remember that the most suitable place to look for an investor is where the maximum number of them gathers. It can be various exhibitions, and presentation events. As part of such events, round tables of money owners are usually organized where you can get to know the future investor. This option is quite simple, however its effectiveness is highly questionable. Such events are held extremely rarely; meeting the right person also happens here not easy.

Another easy option– investing in a new business project by diverting funds from an old, already developed one. Naturally, this method is unacceptable for novice entrepreneurs.

You can find private investors on various Internet resources. You can find a large number of business investment proposals. But don't forget that areas of large accumulation of funds are infested with a huge number of scammers. Often, businessmen are offered to contribute a certain amount of money to start investing under various pretexts.

It is considered a good way to attract investment investment broker assistance. For a small commission, the businessman shifts the worries of finding an investor onto someone else's shoulders. In this case, you will need to pay only upon the issuance of funds.

The help of business angels is often considered effective.. However, today there are too few of them for a large number of applicants. In addition, they often demand a significant share in the business being created.

Incubators do not have the goal of investing in projects. They are created to provide businesses with optimal conditions for development.

Question 5. How to search for foreign investors? Where to find foreign investors who will give money?

At the moment, there are several ways to find a foreign investor who is interested in your business:

1. Using the intermediary services of public or private commercial structures in searching for investment proposals;
2. By posting information about a project (startup, idea) on specialized sites (investment project databases);
3. Participating in various specialized exhibitions and fairs.

Many different agencies successfully operate in the investment market and provide professional services for finding foreign investors. It is important for potential foreign investors to see the prospects of your business project.

8. Conclusion + video on the topic 🎥

If you have read the publication to the end, rest assured that you have received enough information to attract an investor. It is important to remember that this process is not easy and requires high-quality preparation.

A businessman must remember that even if he finds sufficient funds, there is no guarantee that the project will be successful.

Finding an investor is only the initial stage, a small part of a long and difficult journey.

Having spent money, a businessman must make every effort to achieve the desired return from it.

In conclusion, we suggest watching a video about collective investments (crowdfunding) - what is it and how does it work:

And also an interesting webinar “How to attract investment in business” from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation

The site magazine team wishes you good luck and success in attracting a good investor and, of course, success in the further development of your business. If you have any comments or questions on the topic, please ask them in the comments below.

The issue of finding an investor may concern not only small businesses. Even large companies are not always able to invest their own money in a business project without losing the profitability of the main production. Business.ru tells you how and where to look for people who are ready to support your project morally and financially.

What do business investments provide?

Aspiring entrepreneurs need business investors for a number of reasons:

• Possibility of raising money necessary for the implementation of projects;
• Using the experience and knowledge of the proposed investor. If he is attracted to this project, most likely he already has a certain position and accumulated data in this area that can protect the new business from failure;
• Business connections of the future business investor are another important component of the agreement. He can involve his business partners, potential suppliers and consumers in the implementation of his plans;
• The subjective element of investing in business projects is the possible increase in the business reputation of the customer company if the business angel turns out to be a significant figure.

But it is necessary to understand that for an investor, investing money in a new project is not an act of charity, but a reasonable allocation of capital. The ultimate goal of any investment is mutual partnership and achieving the planned result in terms of financial growth.

Who invests in business and how?

Today there are many different opportunities for finding investors:

• banks;
• business angels - bankers and private investors;
• venture funds;
• grandees;
• business sites;
• own suppliers.

Let's take a closer look at some of them.

Banks and financial organizations

These structures can act as business investors in one single way - by providing a loan.

This method is not bad for large companies that have expensive property and other fixed assets. They will easily provide the bank with collateral and repay the debt over time.

Credit institutions have very strict requirements for beginning businessmen who do not have significant assets. There are a lot of documents to collect just to obtain a loan. It is difficult for beginning businessmen to prepare an impeccable package of documents unless they use the services of outsourced specialists who professionally resolve all paperwork and routine issues.

Even if it is possible to obtain investment in a small business in the form of borrowed funds, the amount is often so insignificant that it does not allow the entrepreneur to successfully implement his project.

Perhaps the only option to start your own business from scratch with the help of a credit institution is to receive investment in a business project through franchising. The franchisor in this case is the bank’s partners, who offer budding entrepreneurs a profitable franchise project.

Large businessmen, business angels

If it is not possible to get a loan for business development, then you can try to contact those who are already established in business and are looking for opportunities to invest in new areas.

In this case, investments in business projects are provided according to two schemes:

• In the form of a private loan at interest with agreed terms and conditions for repayment of payments;
• As allocation of a share in a business project, that is, entering the business as a partner.

This scheme has several significant disadvantages. The main thing is that it can be very difficult to have a private conversation with such persons. Business angels do not walk the streets waiting for start-up entrepreneurs to approach them.

In addition, there is a risk that the business will not break even and you will have to pay the investor out of your own pocket. And if a businessman decides to take a share and become a full member of the project, this may also greatly reduce your rights.

State and regional funds

When a young entrepreneur wonders where to find an investor for a business from scratch, the first way to solve the problem seems to be turning to special organizations, for example, Small Business Development Funds.

But here there are many obstacles to the successful implementation of the idea:

• It is very difficult to obtain financing from specialized funds - you need to collect a lot of documents and invest your own funds in the project. If you are still focused on receiving government support, we recommend that you pay attention to the GlavAccount Assistant service. Professional accountants will help you quickly and efficiently prepare all the necessary information for your business. Help from an accounting guru is a guarantee that you will quickly receive funding and not spend a lot of personal time and effort;
• The amounts provided by such funds are usually very limited;
• Most often, regional organizations allocate money only for strictly defined types of activities, and if the project of a novice businessman does not have the appropriate OKVED code, then it is simply not considered;
• State funds, like banks, give preference to successful and well-established companies, and if you need an investor to start a business from scratch, then this project will most likely not even be considered.

Investment sites

Many aspiring entrepreneurs are looking for an investor for their business, using personal connections, relatives, acquaintances, friends, and recommendations. Although the likelihood that among your friends there will be a fairly rich and moderately risky friend who is ready to share a business with you is negligible.

Much greater opportunities are provided by special investment platforms or venture funds specifically designed to support small businesses.

On these resources, the customer uploads his project and provides, at the request of a possible investor, the necessary documents, calculations, and business plans. After personal meetings and negotiations, an agreement can be concluded.

Such portals employ professionals who preliminarily evaluate applicants and their business projects, acting as a kind of guarantor of the transaction.

The advantage of such platforms is that projects become public and the possibility of attracting interested investors increases. In addition, several partners can invest money in one business project, which will reduce investment risks. And if the project is clearly attractive, then it is put up for auction. In this situation, several investors compete for the right to invest their finances, and the borrowing rate falls.

Possible investors on these portals are not bound by the charters of credit institutions and can act at their own peril and risk, without requiring guarantees and collateral from the applicant.

Another attractive point of such platforms is that a successful startup can simply be sold there.

Various business platforms, venture funds and investment platforms are the most modern tools in finding an investor for a business. We have compiled a table of the most famous and successful online platforms.

Site name	Description
	The portal mostly publishes startups. Registration of a project requires considerable time.
	In addition to posting business projects, the portal offers transaction support.
	In addition to proposals for finding investors, there is a large selection of articles on this topic.
	By accessing the “City of Money” site, you can find a loan, receive guarantees, place a project, and participate in mutual lending.
business-platform.ru	This portal publishes offers from investors, franchises, and sells ready-made businesses.
	This Internet service is one of the first crowdfunding platforms that attracts funding for social and entrepreneurial projects. Over the course of five years, the creators of the project managed to attract more than 700 million rubles in investment.
	Federal database of investment sites.
	An investment platform with many active job seekers looking for investors and investments.
	One of the most famous crowdinvesting platforms in Russia, created in 2013 by the Internet Initiatives Development Fund. A successful alternative to banks and funds.
	The online platform “Dilzhidal Stream” is an Alfa Bank tool designed to unite its clients for the purpose of investing capital and receiving investments.
	Crowdinvesting platform, the volume of attracted investments is 718 million rubles. Membership in the club is on a paid basis.
	An international platform that does not set a minimum investment volume, projects are selected by voting by users of the crowdinvesting platform. Borrowing at a fixed rate and investing at a percentage of profit are used.
	This is a new service for p2b lending, currently operating in test mode.

Portals for posting investor proposals

Among the modern means of finding financial resources for business projects, there are other platforms - here investors themselves place offers. For example, the “Business Platform” presents many different invitations to partnership - in the form of investments and loans in real sector projects, loans and financing offers, applications for purchasing a business and searching for interesting business projects.

Owners of investment sites usually have a small percentage of income from the sale of offers.

Grants as business investments

The search for investors to implement ideas can be carried out through obtaining grants, both private and government or even foreign.

Typically, in this case, the new direction must have a social aspect or successfully imitate it.

Foreign funds consider the targeted use of funds allocated for a business plan to be a priority. These are, for example, the Microsoft Seed Investment Fund led by Bill Gates, the Ford Foundation, and George Soros' Renaissance Foundation.

State grants are allocated on behalf of the Committees for the Development of Small and Medium Businesses, Economic Development, Industrial Policy and Trade, and some municipalities.

Examples of private grants in the field of scientific medicine, nuclear and space technologies can be the Skolkovo Foundation or, as private investments in business projects from a private investor, grants from the founder of Telegram and VKontakte Pavel Durov for young IT startups.

Own suppliers as investors in business projects

Even your own suppliers can act as investors to start a business. This scheme is possible, for example, when goods are delivered for sale without advance payment or in the case of renting premises with a deferred payment period.

Thus, you can find an investor to start a business not only by directly raising funds, but also through trade credit, deferred payments and any other forms of natural loans. Finding such business angels is much easier and cheaper than attracting investments in business projects or convincing banks.

How to find an investor for a business

Finding investors for a business is not an easy task. Investors are looking for more profitable investment options than traditional instruments - deposits, mutual funds, etc. - can provide.

Therefore, young entrepreneurs must not only motivate investors to invest money. Ideally, when an experienced businessman becomes an ideological partner and strategic ally, then the alliance of ideas and finance will be mutually beneficial.

First of all, a novice businessman must prepare a detailed business plan, which will help present his idea clearly and easily. It must meet the following characteristics:

• be unique and in demand;
• reflect the full amount of required investments;
• stipulate the timing of the project;
• contain a comprehensive calculation of expected profit;
• in one way or another to guarantee a return on investment.

An example of a business plan for an investment project can be found.

Stages of concluding an investment agreement

When a novice businessman has found an investor for a small business, the following relationship scheme comes into force:

• it is necessary to negotiate with the investor and choose the optimal form of cooperation;
• conclude an investment agreement;
• receive funds and start implementing a business project.

Negotiations with a business investor

An aspiring entrepreneur should be well prepared for the first meeting with a potential investor, because the final result depends on the quality of the negotiations.

The applicant must be convincing and responsible for every word in the business plan; this is the only way to prove the prospects of the project. The applicant should prepare all the necessary documents for these important negotiations. It can be:

• the business plan itself;
• commercial proposals and draft contracts;
• draft investment agreement;
• constituent documents of the company.

Search and selection of the optimal form of cooperation

There are several forms of cooperation between the applicant and the investor. The latter can receive income in the form of:

• The full amount of interest received concurrently with the repayment of all investments received.
• Regular interest paid throughout the life of the project.
• Obtaining an agreed share in the business.

Conclusion of an investment agreement

If the negotiations were successful and a common opinion on the form of cooperation was reached, the next stage is the actual signing of the investment agreement.

This document is very important for further fruitful work. It would be great if you could involve a professional lawyer in drafting it.

The main points that must be recorded in the agreement:

• agreed terms of cooperation and the possibility of their extension;
• amounts and procedure for making financial investments in a business project;
• rights and obligations of both parties;
• guarantee of the intended use of funds;
• procedure for resolving disputes under this agreement.

Here you can find the investment agreement form for a business project and real estate investment.

Risks of investment agreements

When the question of how to find an investor to start a business has been decided, it is important to assess its risks before signing an agreement.

Of course, the biggest risk in signing the agreement and financing is borne by the investor. But experienced businessmen, as a rule, are able to competently assess financial risks, which are broadly divided into two types:

• market or systemic;
• non-market (non-systemic).

Market ones are precisely related to the level of inflation, the balance of power in the political arena, changes in interest rates and currency quotes. These risks must be calculated before signing the agreement, since it is impossible to influence them.

Unsystematic risks are more subjective and inherent to a specific industry. They can be minimized and eliminated when changing the development strategy.

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It is difficult for a novice entrepreneur to organize his own business, since starting even a small business requires significant financial investments. Where can I get this money? The fastest and most reasonable way is to attract an investor - a person who will contribute his capital in exchange for part of the profit or shares. An investor can become a partner of a company, and often an assistant in development, because he is no less interested in ensuring that the business generates income than the owner.

Where can a businessman get money to develop his business?

Until the business begins to generate income, not a single day will pass - all this time the entrepreneur spends funds on rent, paperwork, payment of wages, purchase of equipment, consumables, products and for other purposes. You can get start-up capital from several sources:

1. Personal savings is a long, but most reliable way, in which you need to set aside a portion of your income every month;
2. Bank loan – they are reluctant to provide money to start a business, requiring collateral, so more often entrepreneurs take out consumer loans, but the amount is limited;
3. Borrowing money from relatives is a good method if you have a wealthy loved one who is ready to borrow a large amount;
4. Search for an investor - an individual, a company, an association of people, it can also be business angels - specialists in investing in start-up entrepreneurs;
5. Finding a partner - in this case, the business will have to be divided in proportion to the amount of investment; it is better to look for a financially literate person, not a beginner;
6. Starting a related business - for example, if you want to open a car service service, you can start with tire fitting, and when you have profit and experience, expand your business;
7. Receiving a subsidy from the state - provided by the employment center, district administration, business support department, but the amount of injection is small, reporting is required;
8. Crowdfunding is the collection of funds through a special platform from ordinary people, but for this you need to propose an unusual business idea, interest the audience, and conduct an advertising campaign.

Experts and experienced businessmen are sure: borrowing money or resorting to credit is not the best idea for an entrepreneur. It is better to use your savings or attract investors by concluding a cooperation agreement with them.

Step-by-step instructions on how to attract an investor?

Beginner entrepreneurs don’t understand how to find an investor for a small business from scratch? To attract capital to develop your business, you need to draw up a well-thought-out business plan, choose a convenient form of cooperation, find professionals, negotiate and conclude a cooperation agreement.

How to prepare a business project?

A business plan is the business card of an entrepreneur; it is this project that potential investors will study when assessing the attractiveness of financial investments. Please note that the investor is not interested in how original the idea is, what prospects it promises for you personally, he wants to know what profit he can get. The business project must contain:

• a brief and detailed description of the idea and the plan for its implementation;
• calculation of starting capital;
• analysis of real benefits for the investor - also with calculations and reasonable conclusions;
• the payback period during which the income will be received;
• investment prospects.

If a business plan is drawn up by a beginner, he may make typical mistakes due to inexperience, which will scare off investors; sometimes it is better to invite specialists to prepare documents or ask for help from businessmen you know.

How to choose the appropriate form of cooperation?

The form of cooperation is chosen by the businessman together with the investor, but first it is worth calculating the benefits of each model and determining the most effective way of interaction. An investor can earn income in several ways:

• percentage of the deposited amount, as with lending;
• part of the profit from the implementation of the idea;
• share in the business – re-registration of ownership rights will be required;
• finished products or services - relevant for investors involved in a related industry, for example, if a businessman opens a company for the delivery of motor oils, and the investor has his own auto parts store.

During the negotiations, the investor may insist on a different scheme of cooperation; it is often more profitable for the entrepreneur to make concessions than to lose the opportunity to receive funds.

How to turn to experienced businessmen for help?

It is difficult to independently develop your business and look for investors without experience. It is better to ask for help from other businessmen who will provide assistance if cooperation is possible between you on favorable terms in the future. Who to contact? For example:

• if you produce food products, contact store owners;
• if you plan to carry out transportation - to businessmen who rent out cars or need regular cargo delivery;
• if you want to open a flower kiosk, go to flower suppliers;
• you are going to sell farm products to the owners of private household plots.

Experienced businessmen will advise you on the pitfalls and features of the chosen industry, help you study this issue more closely and prepare a detailed business project.

How to negotiate?

The first meeting with an investor is always a presentation of the project, presentation of the business plan and coverage of the main issues that may arise. You need to carefully prepare for the meeting so that the investor understands several points:

• you have financial literacy;
• have excellent command of the topic;
• offer a fresh and interesting idea;
• the investor will be able to make a profitable investment;
• there is no doubt about the honesty of the businessman and the reality of the project;
• what risks exist in this industry.

During negotiations, the emphasis should be not on how new the business will be, but on outlining the benefits of investing.

How to conclude a cooperation agreement with an investor?

When an investor is found, the project is presented, consent is obtained, all that remains is to prepare an agreement on the investment of capital. In this matter, it is better to involve a lawyer and check that the document contains the following:

• terms of investment;
• payment method;
• the amount the investor contributes;
• rights and obligations of the parties;
• procedure for action in case of violations.

The money received from the investor must be used only for business development - this is directly stated in the contract.

How to get investors interested in a business plan?

• collect information about the investor, eliminating possible misunderstandings;
• carefully calculate the amount of investment that is needed;
• do not delay the implementation of the project;
• outline specific goals;
• analyze the market, competitors, and the situation in the industry so that the investor understands that you have worked well on this topic;
• do not hide important information and facts from the investor.

Of course, a businessman wants to present his project in the most favorable light, so data is often embellished and calculations turn out to be overly optimistic. An experienced investor will definitely ask about the fate of the project in the event of negative developments; you need to be prepared for this question.

Finding an investor is not so easy, because the number of business projects created every day is only growing, and the level of competition for raised funds is increasing. To find an investor, you need to approach your search wisely, following these tips:

1. Start your search as early as possible, as this process can take several months. You need to look for an investor after you have calculated the prospects of the business and assessed the benefits of implementing the idea. The main mistake of newcomers: they use their funds for development, and when the capital runs out, business goes into decline, they begin to look for injections from outside, but such a project most often turns out to be uninteresting for investors;
2. Contact someone who can really help. If the investor is large, it is not worth going to him, offering to invest in a small business, but if it is a small company, then it simply will not have enough capital to invest;
3. Name the specific amount that is needed - there is no need to indicate a range, for example, from 500 to 900 thousand rubles, the number should be accurate, and the spread should be minimal.

An experienced investor knows that it is better to invest in projects with balanced income and risk. The goals of an entrepreneur must be specific, and the idea itself must be relevant, allowing for profit in the future.

How to find an investor - review of specialized sites

In the era of Internet development, it is impossible to imagine searching for investors without the use of remote technologies. For this purpose, there are special platforms where businessmen can “meet” and come to an agreement with potential investors. The following platforms are popular in Russia:

• Boomstarter is a crowdfunding platform focused on raising finance for the implementation of creative projects;
• Planeta.ru – allows you to find an investor and implement socially significant, creative ideas; about 800 thousand people are registered on the portal;
• Nachinanie.ru is a platform for collective financing of projects - religious, educational, socially significant;
• Eastwestgroup – here the investor search services are paid, but the assessment of a business project is carried out free of charge, the company has been professionally attracting investments for over 10 years;
• Start2Up is a message board for investors and aspiring entrepreneurs; projects in the fields of the Internet, education, art, and culture are popular.

Finding an investor to develop your business is not an easy task, but it is a feasible task with the right approach. The main thing is to propose a relevant idea, draw up a well-thought-out business plan, and accurately calculate the benefits of investments. A potential investor will be interested in an honest project with low risks, a sufficient amount of income during the implementation process, and also with a financially literate owner.

In the modern world, more and more interesting business ideas are appearing that require implementation. But to promote any project you need money, which the author of the idea does not always have. Therefore, the question of finding investment to start a business is relevant. However, entrepreneurs and companies starting from scratch risk facing strong competitors in their chosen niche. And in order to implement the idea and find the necessary funds for this, you need to know all the tricks for attracting investors.

We will tell you how to make your project attractive to investors and what needs to be done to achieve this. The one who walks will master the road, but the business is the one who is ready for something new.

• 1 Where to look for investors
  • 1.1 Classic ways to attract investment
• 2 Attracting investment through the mainstream
• 3 Platforms for finding investors
• 4 How to act. Basic rules for attracting investors
• 5 How to make a project attractive: what an investor will pay attention to
• 6 How to prepare for communication with an investor: from pitch to conclusion of an agreement
• 7 How to prepare a presentation correctly: 5 tips for investors

Where to look for investors

There are many more opportunities for finding investors than it might seem at first glance. And you can find money by resorting to both long-existing investment methods and modern ones that appeared with the advent of the Internet.

Classic ways to attract investment

You can get money for your business through investment funds, small business assistance funds. This is quite a difficult task. In addition to the fact that a beginning entrepreneur must find serious reasons for receiving investments, he must invest part of the funds himself, but not everyone has the opportunity to do this.

You can ask for help at venture funds, however, it must be taken into account that they provide funds for the development of projects that have prospects. First of all, in the field of innovation and IT technologies.

Another option is a special platform for investing in business projects, a business incubator. But to get money, you need to win the competition and pass an interview.

Successful people can also become potential investors businessmen who would like to have passive income. Finding investors and making them partners is the most acceptable and simple way. And for this you need to be able to present your project well, prove its worth and relevance.

Attracting investment through the mainstream

One of the most popular ways to attract investment is crowdfunding, which is the collection of funds for a business from ordinary people. There are crowdfunding platforms on the Internet designed to allow you to leave proposals to raise funds for a project, or to invest your own money in the project. But to resort to this method, you either need to be a famous person or be able to advertise your idea very well, which, unfortunately, is not done on crowdfunding sites.

You can also try attract investments through cryptocurrencies and electronic payment systems . It should be noted that some popular cryptocurrencies today, for example, Ethereum, were created with user money.

Platforms for finding investors

If you don’t know where to look for investors, then we offer you several large platforms for finding them.

business-platform.ru. Federal business platform. In addition to projects and proposals for the sale of ready-made businesses, you can find an investor base here. The main task of the platform is to connect investors and authors of business projects online.

beboss.ru. The resource provides an opportunity to search for investors for any industry, as well as a catalog of franchises, business plans and business ideas.

napartner.ru. The platform offers various services for startups and investors, such as transaction support. Beginning businessmen will need to describe the nuances of their project so that investors receive as much information as possible.

investclub.ru. The resource offers ample opportunities for finding investments and investors.

rusinvestproject.ru. A platform for searching for investors both in Russia and in the CIS countries.

How to act. Basic rules for attracting investors

There are many people who want to receive investments and the competition is quite strong, so before looking for an investor, you need to learn a few rules.

The more information you provide to investors, the more they will trust you.

If you know how much you can earn, how your project will develop, you can safely go to a conversation with an investor. Calculate exactly how much money you need and for what.

An example is the startup Talkdesk. Its authors proposed the development of cloud technologies that should be used in call centers. Before meeting with a representative of the Silicon Valley venture capital fund, from which the project team subsequently received $12,000,000, she already had investments from other investors in the amount of $4,000,000 and received $1,000,000 in profit. Investors were captivated by the team’s ability to save money and devote themselves entirely to work. They made all conclusions based on the information provided about the project.

The more you know about an investor, the more opportunities you have to interest him.

What is your preferred communication style? How is business going? How quickly does he make decisions? Any little thing can turn out to be important.

An example is receiving investment for the Glowforge project. Before applying for investments, the author of the project looked at the blogs of the fund’s partners. Studying them, he concluded that when making a presentation, you need to be based not on numbers, but on the product. In total, the project raised $9,000,000 for the production of laser 3-D printers from venture funds Foundry Group and True Ventures in 2015.

The project also set a crowdfunding record, as it was able to attract another $28,000,000 on sites. That is, the author of the project, Dan Shapiro, successfully used the second rule, but most importantly, the third rule.

The more confident you are in your success, the more others will believe in it.

Investors prefer competent and persistent people who know what they want and know how to justify their plans. Prove that you are capable of doing what you propose. Give up the words “I want” and “I wish”, say “I do” and “I act”. Focus on your goals. Correctly set goals will certainly lead to success.

How to make a project attractive: what an investor will pay attention to

According to statistics, out of ten projects only one receives investment. What needs to be done to make your project interesting to investors?

1. You and your team

First of all, any investor will be interested in what kind of people he will have to work with. Both the personal qualities of the author of the project and his motivation and willingness to go to the end are interesting. You must prove that you can move forward despite the difficulties. It is important how you achieve your goal, since any investor values ​​his time and money.

1. Correct calculations

Unfortunately, 95% of aspiring entrepreneurs looking for investors have little idea of ​​what kind of income they can expect. The numbers they present at the presentation sometimes do not correspond to reality. Constantly growing sales and million-dollar profits offered by project authors often have nothing to do with the real state of affairs. Look for how to optimize costs, indicate what exactly you want to receive investments for.

1. Project potential

One of the most important points in communicating with an investor is determining the potential of the project. The investor needs to know when the project will generate income, how you will identify potential clients, and finally, when the project will fully pay off. Preferably within a year, maximum three years.

To identify potential clients, it’s a good idea to run a crowdfunding campaign. If users are interested in your project, you will have a chance to attract interest from investors.

How to prepare to communicate with an investor: from pitch to conclusion of an agreement

There comes a time when the investor believes that he should choose your project. On average, it takes businessmen 3-9 months from meeting an investor to concluding an agreement. It is possible that you will have to prepare more than one version of a business plan and answer many questions for which you are not quite ready. Therefore, carefully prepare not only for the presentation, but even for a short meeting and telephone conversation. Each stage of communication requires its own preparation.

Stage 1. Getting to know each other

It can be either full-time or remote. The main thing here is to interest the investor in your project. To do this, you can use the following methods.

Elevator pitch or an elevator pitch. The short pitch was so named because businessmen and startups would catch potential investors in elevators and present their business idea to them in 30 seconds. Your mini-presentation must include:

• the problem you are solving;
• Product Description;
• monetization method.

The main thing is to attract attention, for which you can use interesting facts or figures. For example, SpaceX's presentation consisted of only three sentences: the cost of launch, which has not been reduced in decades, the possibility of reducing it by 90 percent, and the impressive amount that can be earned.

Elevator pitch can be used at large forums and business competitions.

Correspondence. It is quite possible to establish a connection by corresponding by e-mail. This method works best for individual requests. In addition to the appeal, the letter must include:

• description of the product or services;
• description of consumers;
• business model;
• basis for investment.

Stage 2. Business meeting

Presentation. If a potential investor is interested in an elevator pitch or your letter, he will invite you to a personal meeting, for which you also need to prepare. When going to a meeting, you need to decide what you specifically want from it. If you receive money, you need to say so. This call to action is quite applicable and works.

Now about the presentation itself. It should be short and bright. It's good to follow the 10/20/30 rule. Try not to dwell on the details and keep it to a 20-minute presentation, which consists of 10 slides and is typed in 30 font.

Appearance. The fate of your project will depend not only on a good presentation, but also on your behavior and appearance. That's why:

• don't be late;
• come in a business suit;
• follow the rules of etiquette.

Your ability to carry yourself confidently, your energy and charisma are very important.

Stage 3. Obtaining financing

Finance, finance and once again finance. For an investor, the main thing is making money. This must be remembered above all. Therefore, even if your project is supposed to “save the world”, but does not have a good business plan and financial plan, a potential investor will not be interested in it. A financial model is needed that can be adjusted by the investor himself. It's good to have:

• results of marketing research;
• letters from suppliers.

It is better to prepare three options at once: optimistic, pessimistic and basic. But, in any case, the model must be carefully verified. Only in this situation can we hope to conclude a deal. It is important to show that you know the market well and to convince them of the feasibility of introducing your product. The investor must believe that by investing in your idea, he can not only quickly recoup his investment, but also make good money.

How to prepare a presentation correctly: 5 tips for investors

Presentation is very important, on which the receipt of investment will largely depend. Many entrepreneurs, when preparing for a presentation, do not fully understand the interests of investors and do not know how to properly present their project. What points should the presentation contain?

1. Problem Definition. If it exists, then it needs to be confirmed. Demand confirmation must be determined by real numbers.
2. Solution to the problem. Your decision cannot be the only correct one. But it's your decision, and you need to convince the investor that it works, that people are willing to buy the product. It is best to come to investors already with certain results. To do this, you can take the following steps:

• do product testing;
• notify about changes to the project;
• present the available results.

1. Search for opportunities to sell the product. Willingness to buy does not mean that the product will sell well. Even if a person buys a service or product once, there is no guarantee that he will contact you next time. Therefore, you need to take into account profit and loss per customer, the so-called unit economics, as well as ways to attract and retain customers.
2. Searching for a market and determining a strategy to enter it. We need to look for those markets that are growing and not disappearing, such as the cell phone repair market.

If the presentation shows how your income will grow in 3-5 years, then your financial model will arouse the interest of investors.

1. Determining the investment amount. At the last stage, you must tell the investor what you need the money for and how much you want, as well as how much you are willing to invest yourself.

The right choice of investor, serious preparation for a conversation with him, as well as a good presentation of the project will help you get a chance to invest in your project.

Begin

The article was written by an experienced entrepreneur who has experience in attracting investments in his own innovative projects and third-party startups, collaborating with companies such as IC Finam, SBAR, Private Capital, etc.

First, a small but very important introduction:

Finding an investor willing to invest money in a new business is both simple and difficult. I’ll tell you how to find it below, but first I want to ask you: “Why do you want to attract an investor to your own business?”

No, I do not reject such an important and useful institute for a start-up business as “Investor”. In most cases, without an investor and attracting third-party money, a business simply cannot be created and launched.

I'm asking about something else:

“Are all your resources exhausted?”
“Does your business need an investor at all?”

Are you sure your project needs it? Do you think that an investor is pure “chocolate” and manna from heaven? Are you wrong?

To better understand these difficult issues, I suggest that you first and without fail read these articles:

Article: “Does a startup always need an investor with money?”
Article: “Investing in a startup, what problems might there be?”
Article: “Finding an investor for a startup or why does the investor say “no”?

Where to start looking for an investor for a business?

Do you need an investor to start a business, but you don’t know where to find one? Let's start with this.

First of all, I want to say the most correct and most banal thing: “To create a business, an investor can be found anywhere.” Everywhere. At every step. Even by extending your hand, you can feel the “strong shoulder of a friend” who can become an investor in your new project.

Therefore, for those who are looking for an investor for a start-up business, it is more important to understand not where to look, but how to look and, most importantly, how to convince a person or group of people to invest in your business.

Finding an investor is not a problem, the problem is making him a partner.

Below we will look at most of the possible “places” where you can and should look for an investor, and now I will try to focus your attention on one of the most important points - preparing to search for a future investor.

For many years now, there has been a story circulating on the Internet about how someone walked into an elevator and literally in two minutes, talking about his project, received almost millions of dollars from an investor.

I can fully admit that this is a true story. You never know how many poor and rich people wander around the world.

Perhaps someone fell for this. But in life everything is much more complicated and you won’t be able to find an investor “out of the box” without preparation.

To understand why, I will ask you: “Are you ready to give your hard-earned 25,000 rubles to a stranger. simply because he promises mountains of gold”? I think no.

You will study the offer, promises, etc. Why then do many of those who are looking for money for a project think that this money can be found without careful preparation?

In order to find serious money for a serious project, the minimum that you should have on hand is a business plan for the future project and its presentation with provisions on the benefits received by a possible investor.

A business plan can be replaced with a feasibility study (feasibility study), but it is better to have a full-fledged business plan. All the same, then the right investor will demand such a business plan in order to protect their money as much as possible.

Having read on Wikipedia and understood what a business angel is, an investment applicant can prepare (by creating a business plan and presentation) and contact directly the most serious organization in Russia that helps attract money from private investors to business - “SBAR” (Community of Business Angels of Russia) . There are other similar communities, but I advise you to contact them first.

The fact is that several years ago I promoted one of my inventions through SBAR.

Looking ahead, I want to say that my project never received the investments it needed.

But communication with representatives of SBAR, its managers preparing projects for the investment session and with those investors who were found with their help, “forever” cleared my brain regarding my innovation.

And understanding of innovative business in general.

Yes, I did not receive investment in the project with the help of SBAR, but the knowledge and experience that I gained by promoting the project with their help helped me get investment for another project quickly and comfortably. “There is no such thing as too much knowledge, just like money.”

By the way, I proposed my project to the National Network of Business Angels “Private Capital” in Moscow. There my project was immediately rejected. But I was not upset and continued the search.

This is what I wish for you: do not lose heart when rejected and continue searching for an investor.) In general, if you are rejected again, this does not mean that your project is bad. It may not be groundbreaking and won't change the world, but the harder you push it, the more likely you are to succeed.

Where and how to get money for a startup

This video explains: The legendary Russian Internet entrepreneur Anton Nosik shares his thoughts and best practices on how and where to look for your investors and how not to make a mistake.

Where to find investors for an online business?

Nowadays on the Internet you can often see advertisements like this: “Looking for an investor in a small business.” On message boards, special resources for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators.

You can also take advantage of this opportunity and submit your ad. Perhaps this way you will find your investor, but the chances of success will be minimal. It is best to contact investors directly.

What do I mean when I say: targeted. This means that you need to prepare, collect a list of those Internet resources through which you can contact future and real investors.

Do you know why it is necessary to contact investors directly? I'll try to explain based on my own experience. Several years ago I decided to create my own extensive resource base where I could advertise for investment in a very interesting project.

I approached data collection with all responsibility and within a month I collected everything that could be found on the RuNet at that time. Including foreign investment funds. Rowing, as they say, everything that caught the eye and barely “moved.”

What was the result after I sent out my proposal to all these funds, communities, centers, technology parks, etc.?

Zero! Pure and virgin!

Russia and Ukraine is the first step to starting a successful business with an easy and simple start.

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Do you know who I received “encouraging” replies and offers of investment from? From those who provided paid services for finding investments. Like: “You have a wonderful project, with our help you will change the world with your idea... but first we need to pay the Nth amount of money.” All clear?

Don't waste your time on such empty hassles. No, I do not deny that on such message boards, forums, etc. you can find your investor. This is possible, but the chances are slim.

Most of the “investors” on such resources are those who have no money, but want to foolishly scam you out of money. And they're getting scammed. And how they cheat!

Why am I talking all about sad things!

Look for money for a project on collective investment services. In my opinion, today the best crowdfunding platforms in Russia are the following resources:

• boomstarter.ru
• planeta.ru

If your business is created on an innovative idea, then I advise you to contact the Skolkovo Foundation https://community.sk.ru/news/ or Technopark "Strogino". These are state or near state structures, it is not easy to get into them, but it is possible.

An example of such a “hit” can be: Project Corteos and project "On Veliki".

Works productively in Russia Russian Startup Tour. This is the longest tour of the regions by leading experts from Russian development institutions with the participation of venture funds and major corporations. Perhaps your business or your innovation will be of interest to a large corporation, and it will provide it with investment?

I recently came across an offer from the creators of the City of Money service. City of Money is an online platform for loans for business and investment. I don’t want to give a link, I haven’t used it myself, find it and google it, but as stated on their website, this is a platform where investors and borrowers can contact each other directly, without intermediaries.

Well, the most likely thing is to take money from the bank. Either under a start-up business assistance program, for example from Sberbank, or in the form of a consumer loan. Many aspiring entrepreneurs started this way. They took money from the bank in the form of a consumer loan and started their own business. Many people succeeded.

The main thing is to find an investor

This video explains: An interview with the creator of the legendary Ozon online store, Alexander Egorov, in which he talks about the difficulties of finding investments and difficult relationships with investors that led to the sale of the business.

Investors for business in Moscow

Advertisements like: “Looking for investors to develop a business in Moscow” or: “Looking for an investor for a business in Ukraine”, in my opinion, are incorrect.

In the first case, it is not particularly important for the investor where the business created on a breakthrough technology or idea is located, and in the second, it makes no sense to look for an investor in Ukraine in our time (known political events). Which serious investor would invest money in a business operating in a country with a declining economy?

Let's focus on finding an investor in Moscow. I personally would not make any distinction in the geographic location of the investor, but if I did, I would turn to such resources as "Managers Club - E-executive." Do you know why? Yes, because 90% of the people shuffling there are managers from Moscow who have money.

Moreover, there are many managers with money who are already “ripe” for their own business. Do you understand? There is money, there is a desire to create a business, there is experience, but there is no time to fully devote oneself to a new business.

Not everyone is ready to leave the post of general manager of some oil company, even for the sake of their own business. Exit: find a head-first idea generator, invest money in him, his team and his idea, and everyone will be in chocolate.

This is educational: Strategy for startups

This video explains: A very interesting and original speech by Yuri Lifshits, which can be titled with humor: “A startup is not the whole life.” Yuri tells how to properly organize and build a startup strategy that will be key to your success.

An investor is looking for business projects and... does not find a suitable one

90% of new business creation projects do not receive investment because the business initiator is to blame. His main fault is that he either incorrectly emphasizes the business plan for the investor, or incorrectly creates the presentation of the project.

Here you need to understand the most important thing - how the investor considers applications.

In 95 cases out of 100, the investor sees only the main indicators provided by the project initiator:

• whether he is satisfied with the financial performance of the project;
• project payback period;
• project risks;
• and options for exiting the project.

The investor will read and consider the remaining indicators only when he is interested in the points that I listed above. Many people are still interested in having a project team, but this is not such an important point in my opinion. Or rather important, but later.

I will tell you how one of our projects was considered in IC "Finam". Looking ahead, I’ll say that my partner and I cheated a little when creating the presentation. Knowing in advance that we would be sending our presentation to Finam, we carefully prepared.

Having found out what projects this fund, respected in Russia, invests in, we found common “features” inherent in our project and those projects in which the fund has already invested. And these “traits” and features were especially emphasized in their presentation.

You can study the numerous experiences of other entrepreneurs who have created their own successful franchise business in the section of our website:

The most successful and informative case, according to the editors of the Russtarup portal:

An interesting experience of creating a business under a franchising program is presented

“Focus” passed, and we were invited to a conversation. Did we deceive the fund or not? No, of course not, we just did our presentation correctly. Did this help us in the end? No. Finam did not finance our project.

But we found investments elsewhere and from other investors, saying that our project received very good reviews in Finam.

Now let’s talk about how to draw up a business plan, an example of which will satisfy everyone. Or rather, about the small features of such a composition. So to speak: “A business plan for an investor, an example from my own life.”

What you write like: “The project will earn up to $100 million a year in two years” is of no particular interest to anyone. In my practice, any applications of this type are checked very quickly.

The main thing that needs to be emphasized in a business plan is to carefully and responsibly approach the creation of points:

• what problems do the project solve for people?
• project risks;
• options for investor exit from the project.

When describing the risks of the project, you must clearly understand what risks your proposal may encounter during its implementation and in the future. Including competitive risks and risks called force majeure.

When describing options for an investor to exit a project, you must clearly write what you agree to in building a relationship with the investor. Here you need to understand the main thing - an investor investing in a project wants to make money. Make a profit. Explosive profits are desired.

All other motives that are important to you personally, for example, to create a unique business, to be the first in the industry, to prove something to your wife... the investor does not care at all.

Therefore, he must clearly understand how and when he will be able to sell his share in the business being created.