Category Archives: Raising Capital

Ep. 212 – The Secrets to a Successful Kickstarter Campaign, Part 2

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-1 Kickstarter campaigns can be very successful if they are done right! Today in episode 212 your host and business coach Tom Ryan discusses with Jason Pyles the most critical element which is a kick-ass video. A video is a medium to tell a story, so the first step in creating a great video is create a great story. Tell a compelling story well and explain it in a simple way. It has to address a believable problem that exists today, not tomorrow. And of course, make sure your video has a high production quality.

Check out an example of a great kickstarter video here.

Thanks for listening!

Links for Today’s Episode:

Kickstarter Rules

Kickstarter Success

Kickstarter Projects

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Ep. 201 – Seed Funding 101: What is an SBA Loan?

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-2One of the most powerful funding tools available to first-time entrepreneurs and early stage companies is debt-based financing. Without a great credit history, however, getting a commercial loan from a traditional lender isn’t always the easiest thing to do. If only there was some way a startup could bring in a third-party to help secure that loan, much like getting a teenager getting their parent to co-sign on a car loan. For many entrepreneurs, the “ultimate co-signer” turns out to be the federal government in the form of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

In today’s podcast, host and business coach Tom Ryan provides an overview of the SBA’s loan program. Learn how SBA loans work, what the eligibility requirements are, how the loans can be used, and how much money they can provide. Continue reading →

Ep. 199 – Seed Funding 101: Microloans

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-2Getting a loan from a conventional lender can be tricky for an early-stage company. Without a long enough operating history or a significant amount of assets to use as collateral, a banker simply might not see your startup as a very good risk. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have options. For a business that needs just a little capital to grease the wheels and get things moving — perhaps $15,000 or so — a “microloan” might just be the right option.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about the pros and cons of microloans, and some great sources (such as the SBA) to start the process. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 198 – Seed Funding 101: Debt Financing Examples

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-1One of the often overlooked options for small-business and startup financing is getting a loan from a friend or family member. Not only can this kind of person-to-person loan be easier to get, but it’s also more intuitive for both parties than trying to work out an equity-based deal. Getting your Aunt Sally to loan you $50,000 just isn’t going to be as complex as trying to create a meaningful valuation for your startup for her to buy equity in. But just because they love you doesn’t mean that friends and family loans should be taken any less seriously. Get this kind of deal wrong, and your family holidays are going to become pretty awkward.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan explores a simple example of a friends and family loan in action. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 197 – Seed Funding 101: Debt Financing Overview

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-5At some point during the life of your business, you will need to expand. This is just as true for small-scale lifestyle businesses as it is for a high-growth startup. To finance that growth, you have two basic financing options: equity and debt. While equity can make a lot of sense for an early stage company, it’s not always the best option for a more established business. In those cases, debt might be the right tool for the job.

In today’s episode of the Success In Business Podcast, host and business coach Tom Ryan begins an overview of the basics of debt-based financing. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 196 – Seed Funding 101: Equity Is Expensive

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-4Given the seemingly lower risks and potential benefits of equity, you might wonder why it isn’t always the preferred instrument for early-stage funding. There’s one simple reason: Equity is expensive. Every percentage point you give up in an equity deal takes a huge bite out of your profit when it’s time to exit. For some businesses, taking on debt to finance growth might make better long-term sense.

In this episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about the bigger picture of debt and equity as fundraising instruments. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 195 – Seed Funding 101: Your Personal Risk With Debt

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-3When an investor gives you a million dollars, they now have a million reasons to be upset if the business fails. It’s not surprising that many investors will look for a way to get as much of that money back as they can, particularly if they think you’ve been negligent with their investment. If you don’t want to get sued, you might be wondering about the alternatives to equity-based funding deals, such as traditional business loans. What happens to the business debt when the business fails?

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan continues his examination of personal risk in startup funding instruments. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 194 – Seed Funding 101: Your Personal Risk With Equity

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-2As a startup founder, you really only have one job: Do not run out of cash. When the cash is gone, the business fails, your hard work evaporates, and your investors lose their money. For a first-time entrepreneur, what happens next isn’t always so clear. Just how much of that investment cash are you on the hook for, and what happens when an investor thinks you were negligent?

In today’s episode of the Success In Business Podcast, host and business coach Tom Ryan takes a look at the personal risks of a startup equity arrangement. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 192 – The Pros and Cons of Equity-Based Funding

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-5Is equity-based funding really the best option for financing the growth of a startup? For many early-stage companies, trading in a percentage of the ownership for some much-needed cash makes a lot of sense. In other situations, however, the limitations and long-term risks outweigh the rewards. As with so many things in business, finding the “right” answer is really a matter of balancing options and understanding the greater context.

In this episode of the Success In Business Podcast, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about some of the hidden disadvantages of equity-based finance. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 191 – Seed Funding: Angel Investment Criteria, Part 8

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SIBP-Blog-NEW-3From an angel investor’s perspective, a startup is only worth investing in if there’s a good chance it will scale rapidly, steadily increasing in value and catching the attention of larger companies and big investors with very deep pockets. When the business has gained enough value to be sold at a handsome profit, it’s time for a “liquidity event,” allowing the angel investor to cash out their equity.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about the importance of an easy “exit” for the angel investors’ business model. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading →