Venture capitalists providing early stage financing.
Purchasing Resources for Early Stage Venture Capital
Learn more about the broad array of highly-rated mutual funds from Columbia Management. We are one of the nation's largest dedicated asset managers. Find out more today.
Does your business charge at least $5K monthly credit card sales? SmallBusinessLoanRates.com helps you compare and save on credit card factoring. Must be in business for 6 months, bad credit OK, fast and easy approvals.
Apply for small business loans today! Do you accept over $5,000 per month in credit card sales? Fast & easy approvals. Bad credit OK. No Start ups.
Must accept Visa and Mastercar. We deliver free competitive merchant cash advance quotes from multiple vendors -- with one form. Apply now.
Get double miles on every purchase. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles.
Private Equity & Venture Capital event. Join 1500 global attendees.
J.P. Mogan Private Equity Solutions for Institutional Investors.
Institutional Investment Conference March 26-27, 2012-San Francisco, CA
Compare Business Loans Price Quotes and Save!
Download Early Stage Venture Capital White Papers
Early Stage Venture Capital
Early stage venture capital provides funding for new businesses to rapidly expandBy Amy Hunter Early stage venture capital firms concentrate their investments on young businesses. Venture capital firms invest significant amounts of money with the expectation that there will be a large return within 5 to 7 years.
When choosing an early stage venture capital firm, it is important to realize that you are not visiting a bank for a loan. Venture capital firms are closer to partners and will have ideas about the management and development of your company.
Some important points when choosing a venture capital firm for early stage investment:
1. The firm should regularly invest with early stage capital. Seed investing requires different skills than first or second round funding.
2. Make sure you are comfortable with the level of management the VC firm will provide. Early stage venture firms are often very hands-on in their approach to management.
3. Know your business backward and forward. There is a tremendous amount of competition for VC funding, and the money often goes to those who are the most well prepared.
Approach early stage capital firms with a strong business plan
Early-stage VC firms narrow the pool of candidates by reviewing business plans. Only after your business plan passes muster are you granted an interview.
Try: If you prefer to write your business plan, the Small Business Lending Corporation offers a free online workshop. Planware has a free business plan template, and Atlas Business Solutions has a complete business planning software program.
Early-stage venture investing firms expect you to have assets in hand
VC firms invest a significant amount of money, but they do not expect to be the sole financial backer of a company. Raising capital before you approach a VC firm makes your company a more attractive choice.
Try: If your company is strong enough to attract venture capital financing, you can use other methods to raise funds as well. Family and friends make excellent investors. They may come in as partners and own part of your business, or they may lend you money with a repayment schedule. Get the proper paperwork from LawDepot.com or Business-in-a-Box. The Small Business Administration offers a variety of loans for businesses, whether they are just starting out or are looking to expand.
Use a matchmaking service to find the best early-stage VC firm for your company
The right fit increases your chances of being chosen by a VC firm. Many VC firms specialize in particular industries. By approaching the right firm, you increase your chances of being selected.
Try: Growthink offers a subscription-based database, while Go BIG Network allows you to sort through VC firms and contact them online. Find a list of venture capital firms at The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), the trade association that represents early stage venture capital firms and others.
- To you, the business concept or product may be the most important part of the company, but early-stage capital firms stress the importance of experienced management.
- Manage your cash flow wisely, both before and after you receive money from early-stage venture capital firms. If your early-stage funds are not handled wisely, it is very difficult to receive additional rounds of venture capital.
- Before you meet with an early-stage investment capital firm, practice your presentation and know your financial information by heart. You are dealing with experienced investors; do not try to pass off unrealistic profit expectations or downplay expenses.
Get double miles on every purchase. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles.
Private Equity & Venture Capital event. Join 1500 global attendees.
J.P. Mogan Private Equity Solutions for Institutional Investors.
Institutional Investment Conference March 26-27, 2012-San Francisco, CA
21st Century Internet Venture Partners
Provides early-stage financing and a nurturing environment for new economy companies.
Venture capital partnership focused on early stage technology investments.
Provides consulting and advisory services for U.S. technology companies looking to expand into Asian markets. Also focused on seed and early stage investments in information technology companies.
Focuses on the creation and funding of seed and early-stage companies in the information and biological sciences markets.
Investments in emerging Internet communications and health care companies.
Facilitates the growth and development of emerging technology companies by advising early-stage, high-risk companies and providing the necessary assistance to make technology-based ventures succeed.
Efforts are entirely devoted to financing and building young companies. Carries on strategic investment practices in communications, e-commerce, optics and health care.
Investing in high-growth seed and early-stage companies from New England to the Carolinas.
http://www.bluerockcapital.com/
Focus is on early stage technology-enabled service companies, primarily in the health care and outsourced business service markets.
Expertise in consulting, international finance, and venture capital through affiliated companies. Focus within the venture group is the creation of funds for investments in emerging and developmental stage companies.
Seeks investment in the information technology sector in companies with less than 2 years operations.
Specializes in helping entrepreneurs build successful technology companies.
http://www.chicagoventure.com/
Invests principally in start-up and early stage companies in the medical sector.
Helps managers and companies in the Southeast by providing start-up capital, business plan development and strategic planning. Also manages a private equity, venture capital fund.
http://www.claytonassociates.com/
Investing exclusively in early-stage communications and networking companies.
Provider of investment capital, technical expertise and management support to startup and development-stage companies whose products stem from biomedical and digital technologies.
http://www.convergentventures.com/
Global venture capital organization focused on early-stage investment opportunities in the communications and eBusiness fields.
http://www.crescendoventures.com/
Invests in early stage companies in two strategic areas: e-business services and software and next-generation carriers.
Crystal Internet Venture Funds, LP
Focus on investing solely in Internet and Internet-related opportunities at the funding and early stages.
Manager of medical venture capital funds focused on seed and early stage healthcare investing.
Focus on early-stage investments, including international startups.
Generally invests in expansion stage ($2+ million revenue) software, communications and electronics technology companies located in the Midatlantic region of the US.
Invests primarily in early-stage, technology-based companies located on the West Coast.
http://www.eldoradoventures.com/
A family of private equity funds focused on investing in early-stage growth companies.
http://www.teamemerald.com/Venture%20Capital/index.html
Dedicated to assisting and funding start-up and emerging growth technology companies.
Focused on health care, information technology and other proprietary technologies in start-up, early stage and emerging growth companies in the Great Lakes Region.
Enterprise Partners Venture Capital
Based in Southern California, invests in privately held early stage and emerging growth companies.
Exponential Business Development Company
Venture capital for early stage and promising businesses in Upstate New York.
http://www.exponential-ny.com/
First Analysis Venture Capital
Primarily investing in early-stage and emerging-growth companies in the information technology, outsourced services, and infrastructure industries within the United States.
A private investment firm that provides equity capital to companies that fall into three general investment categories: early-stage, expansion-stage, and management buyouts and special situation investments in small and middle-market companies at more mat
http://www.firstcapitalgroup.com/
Extends venture capital financing to seed and early stage software and internet companies.
Early stage investments for the individual investor.
Focused on the New england and Mid-Atlantic regions, invests in early stage technology companies.
Fund I provided exclusively by the California State Teachers' Retirement System. Fund II has a broad base of institutional investors. Investment focus is on early and expansion stage, technology-based businesses, primarily in California.
Institutional Venture Partners
Actively investing in the following areas: e-commerce, internet media, communications, digital/personalized TV, web infrastructure and services, medical devices. Also targets special situation investment opportunities in later-stage technology companie
Seed and early-stage investments in life science and technology companies primarily in the southeast.
Focuses on early stage, women-led businesses that operate at the cutting edge of a market driven, technology based society.
Private equity investment firm that invests in early stage and start-up companies.
Favors early stage companies which have developed a working business model. Focused on the New England area.
Provides capital to promising early stage businesses in the field of information technology.
Marathon Investment Partners, LP
Based in Boston, provides opportunity capital for small and middle market companies.
http://www.marathoninvestment.com/
Focused on start-ups in business software, networking equipment, semiconductor, computing, storage, telecom services, internet and e-business.
http://www.matrixpartners.com/
Specialize in making early stage investments in companies with a strong information technology component.
Murphree Venture Partners is a seed and early stage venture capital firm, making direct equity investments into emerging entrepreneurial enterprises, primarily in the southwestern U.S. region.
Invests principally in early stage companies in information technology (software, communications, electronics and information services) and medical and life sciences (biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare services, medical devices, instrumentation an
Providing early-stage VC financing for technology companies in the New York area.
Private equity venture capital fund that invests in early stage information technology companies.
Early-stage venture capital fund based in Boston.
Norwest Venture Partners invests in startup businesses and emerging growth companies in the information technology industry. Norwest Equity Partners focuses on management buyouts and media & communications companies.
Provides equity financing and assistance to the management of young information technology companies.
Invests in seed and early-stage companies that have the vision and ideas to create new products and services on the Internet.
http://www.pareto-partners.com/
Partnership of experienced early-stage investors with a history of backing entrepreneurs in companies developing information and medical technology.
http://www.polarisventures.com/
Investment focus: information technology, medical and health care, financial services, consumer and retail and education/training.
R.A.F. Industries is engaged in the acquisition and management of a diversified group of manufacturing companies across the United States. R.A.F. Ventures invests in selected early-stage companies across industries, mostly in the Mid-Atlantic states.
The Rahn Group is a venture capital firm with a focus on seed and early stage company investments.
Venture capital investors located in Chicago, Illinois focussed on early stage Internet, direct marketing and education services companies.
http://www.ravenswoodcapital.com/
Specializes in seed and early-stage information technology investments.
http://www.redrockventures.com/
A seed and early-stage venture capital firm investing in high-growth information technology companies, particularly e-business, e-commerce, and communications infrastructure companies.
http://www.rocketventures.com/
Focused on early-stage companies and is diversified across a broad range of industries.
Provides venture capital and expertise to early-stage, technology-based businesses, specializing in communications, software and Internet companies.
Sagemark Capital, LP is a professionally managed firm that invests primarily in early and expansion stage companies with both a strong management team and clear, well-defined goals.
http://www.sagemarkcapital.com/
Invests exclusively in early-stage health care services (including health care information technology) companies.
Provides start-up venture capital financing to information technology and healthcare companies.
Invests in companies creating market leadership positions in communications, eBusiness infrastructure and solutions, and Internet enabled business models. Also prefers to invest at the start-up and first round of funding, and actively seeks seed or incuba
Focus is on early-stage companies in the Southeast region that are in the Internet, information technology, and communications sectors.
Affiliated with DLJ, makes early stage, growth, mezzanine, and buyout investments primarily in the datacom & telecom, e-commerce, services, healthcare, software, and technology industries.
Capital invested in several primary industry categories: information technology, consumer information technology, health care, consumer products, specialty retailing and services/manufacturing. Focus primarily on very early-stage investing, but also inves
STARTech: Technology Business Development Center
Provider of resources and information for early stage to assist in the maturing of the business and business planning.
Strategic Capital Resources, Inc.
Private equity investment firm that assists in the funding of entrepreneurial emerging growth and early stage companies in a broad range of industries.
http://www.strategic-capital.com/
Targets private equity investments in the $5 million to $100 million range. Launched a new investment vehicle which targets earlier stage emerging growth companies.
http://www.summitpartners.com/
Telecommunications Development Fund
Private corporation based in Washington, DC that finances early stage growth companies in the telecommunications industry
Telinvest Management Corporation
Specializes in private equity and equity-like investments in start-up, early-stage and growth enterprises, acting either as a private investment manager on a discretionary basis (e.g., as the general partner of an investment limited partnership) or as an
Early stage venture capital firm that focuses on information technology.
TI (Texas Instruments) Ventures, L.P.
Worldwide venture capital fund established Texas Instruments and H&Q Venture Associates to invest in early-stage technology companies focused on software infrastructure and hardware applications that leverage DSP and other related technologies.
Funds early-stage technology and Internet companies. Based in Los Angeles.
Venture capital firm specializing in seed and early stage high technology investments.
http://www.vanguardventures.com/
Seed and early stage private equity investment firm specializing in electronic commerce businesses which target the Asian market or which have operations based in Asia.
Targets investments in early-stage companies with a focus on software and data communications.
Founded as the venture capital arm of the Rockefeller Family. Focuses on early stage companies in information technology and healthcare.
Venture Investors Management LLC
Manager of early stage venture capital funds primarily serving Wisconsin and the midwest.
http://www.ventureinvestors.com/
Early-stage capital and strategy consulting firm serving the needs of marketing-driven growth companies.
http://www.venturestrategy.com/
Provider of financial, administrative and strategic services to a proprietary network of early-stage venture capital funds focused on nontraditional geographic markets.
http://www.villageventures.com/
Affiliate of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, invests in early stage companies based in Utah, California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington and other Western states.
Weiss, Peck & Greer Venture Partners
Serves as lead investor in early and expansion stage information technology and life sciences companies.
Windamere Venture Partners, LLC
Founding, funding, and management of early-stage healthcare companies.
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Early Stage Venture Capital
New companies with unique products or technologies in development are often in search of funding to help get them going. Investors with money to invest look for startups with new angles or in high risk industries where their investment could net them a windfall. This venture capital arrangement benefits both parties.
The timing of the investment determines what kind of investment it is. Early stage venture capital is given to young companies who merit financial assistance as a means of helping them develop their product or idea and bring it to market. This phase occurs once an idea has been tested and proven worthy of development.
Early stage venture capital can be difficult ... more
New companies with unique products or technologies in development are often in search of funding to help get them going. Investors with money to invest look for startups with new angles or in high risk industries where their investment could net them a windfall. This venture capital arrangement benefits both parties.
The timing of the investment determines what kind of investment it is. Early stage venture capital is given to young companies who merit financial assistance as a means of helping them develop their product or idea and bring it to market. This phase occurs once an idea has been tested and proven worthy of development.
Early stage venture capital can be difficult to come by. Investors are looking for certain reassurances and a specific return on their investment. If your company is at the product development phase and you are in need of capital, you can find funding from venture capitalists through the many resources available at Busines.com. Companies willing to work with you and fund your product development and marketing efforts are listed there in an easy to read and access manner. By sifting through the listings on the left side of the screen, you can narrow your search to just a few firms almost effortlessly.