Investments in small business projects. How to find an investor to open a business from scratch and for a startup - step-by-step instructions

Where to find an investor to open a business and to develop an existing project, how to prepare for a meeting with potential partners - the answers to these and other questions are in the article. As well as samples of business plans that will be useful for finding an investor.

In this article you will learn:

Finding an investor in a bank

Where to find an investor for an existing business or for a new project? The first thing that comes to mind is a bank. Probably every second resident of our country regularly calls banks and happily informs them that they have been approved for a loan from 50 thousand to 50 million rubles. For example, a certain bank approved me a loan of 5 million at 11.8% per annum. However, upon closer examination, it turns out that the rate increases: without insurance - by 5.1%, without advance payment - by 2%, without collateral - by 2.1%, without online application - by 0.5%. From the date of loan issuance to the date of the first payment, the rate increases by 1.5% per month. The maximum total cost of the loan is 24.103%. No, thanks!

However, if you search in different banks, you can get a loan at about 11%.

In addition, you can involve your friends or subordinates in co-financing. They apply for a loan from a bank, you repay it, and you pay them a commission for using the loan. This scheme works, since few subordinates will dare to refuse the boss if they are confident in his enterprise.

This method also includes obtaining loans for small businesses from banks at 9.5% per annum secured by collateral (goods in circulation, equipment, transport, real estate, collateral of third parties, guarantee from the small business support fund). The only case when banks provide funds for opening a new business is franchise of famous brands(recipe for success).

To find an investor, you need a business plan!Download documents that will help you draw it up correctly, and sample business plans:

How to justify to a bank the effectiveness of an investment project using Excel

To prove to the bank that the company will be able to pay off its obligations, use a ready-made model in Excel to evaluate the effectiveness of investment activities as a whole or a separate investment project.

Funds and business angels

You can attract investor funds for a project from scratch or for its development in Russia directly, bypassing banks. For this, connections and acquaintances, recommendations, etc. are usually used. But there are more modern ways to attract attention - these are electronic investment platforms. For example, "City of Money".

The applicant places his proposal on this site: a brief description and financial calculations. Provides the necessary documents (founding documents, business plan, guarantees, if any, documents for the property that will be used as collateral. The portal’s specialists evaluate the borrower’s credit history, documents and the business itself: profitability, stability, equity, debts, etc. After this, they go to the site and evaluate everything live, since everything may be in order according to the papers. After this, they publish a proposal, which investors evaluate, usually within two weeks, ask clarifying questions and either finance the project or not. See . Also .

What is the advantage

Firstly, there can be many investors; accordingly, the possible losses of each of them are reduced, and they, unlike a bank, can take risks.

Secondly, they may evaluate the offer differently than the bank. If the project is attractive, then a reverse auction situation is created - when there are more people willing to invest money than necessary, then the interest rate on loans decreases. As a result, the loan is much cheaper than a bank loan. This is a better way to get investment for your business.

Third, investors, unlike a bank bound by rules, can take risks and provide funds without collateral. Here, the platform itself acts as a guarantor, which checks the borrower and his affairs. Therefore, through the platform, investors can allocate funds even to those who would not be allowed from the street even onto the threshold of their office.

And finally, fourthly, on the site you can place , without having any business yet, and if it seems attractive, they will “buy” it.

For its services, the platform takes a commission of 3%, and if we are talking about a startup, then a fixed payment is 4,000 rubles.

Investor proposals

There are also reverse platforms where investors themselves post their offers. For example, "Business platform" .

If you combine sentences from the first page, which indicate , then you get the following table:

Table 1. Investor proposals

Sum	Percent	Industry	Terms (information from the site)
		Know-how, production, energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, polymer processing	Feasibility study, business plan, team information
		Business financing through leaseback, real estate and shares, equipment, unfinished objects, or commercial real estate.	We invite partners to cooperate with projects for the reconstruction and development of existing businesses
		New technological projects and startups through ICO (Initial Coin Offering) - by issuing new cryptocurrencies.	The minimum participation with the customer’s own funds is from 20–30 thousand dollars, in this case you can remain 100% owner. The project must have a prototype, a working model, for an “idea” - we don’t work
		Construction	Unfinished objects
		Private American business angels invest in any IT and Internet startups with high development potential	Availability of a business plan in accordance with the UNIDO world standard: the project must provide a return on invested capital of at least 12% per annum; upon successful consideration, registration of the company in the United States and relocation of the head or one of the top officials of the company to permanent residence in the United States is required.
		Extraction and processing of raw materials, construction and real estate, any production and processing, any industry and energy, any services and trade	Business stage: from scratch and existing enterprises. Investment volume from 10 to 500 million rubles. into one project. Payback period: up to 60 months. Availability of a business plan and a ready-made team.
		Mechanical engineering and metalworking, polymer processing, waste processing, petrochemicals, new materials, HoReCa	A presentation containing general information about the team, analysis and forecasts of the market for a given product/service, key financial indicators, and a proposal to the investor. Financial model for the next 2–3 years.
		Any highly profitable projects	We are looking for specialists who are charged with the idea of ​​development, who do not have enough start-up capital and are ready to lead the direction. If the start is successful, the initiator receives the right to buy out the option after 3 years. Before this salary + % of profit
		Extraction and processing, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, trade, services and other industries	No collateral or security for the project is required from the initiator. The initiator's own financial resources are not required. 100% of financing is provided by the investor. The investor assumes all risks
		Working projects in the field of production, wholesale/retail trade, real estate, construction, Internet technology, agricultural sector, finance.	Investment schemes – equity participation in business (priority) or secured lending
		Medical industry (dentistry, diagnostics, MRI), accommodation, food services, tourism	If the start is successful, the initiator receives the right to buy out the option after 3 years. Before this salary + % of profit
		Investments to buy or open a store	Providing investments, sales assistance
		Manufacturing, service provision, trade, IT,	Details from the investor
		Any industries and areas of business	A clear business plan Brief information on the project initiator (education, work experience, contacts) and on the investment project (brief description indicating the main economic indicators)
		Automobiles, architecture, woodworking, industrial parks, engineering, investments / finance, information technology, mechanical engineering, medicine / pharmaceuticals, metalworking, real estate, oil refining / petrochemicals, know-how, transportation / transport / logistics, recreation, waste management, polymer processing, industry, robotics, crop production, agriculture, communications, construction, energy	Both individual trading companies and chain stores actively cooperate with us to obtain both short-term and long-term loans in order to increase working capital and increase commodity turnover.

The table shows that the minimum investment amount starts from 1 million rubles. As a rule, a deposit is not required, but it is necessary that the initiator himself develops his business, i.e., first of all, businessmen evaluate the business and personal qualities of the applicant himself. As for industries, the majority invest in innovative and IT technologies, or in classic business areas.

If we look at the generalized diagram, we will see that the larger the loan amount, the higher the interest that the investor requires for it (see Figure 1). Although there are exceptions. For example, an American fund for 100 million rubles. asks for only 12% per annum, and our businessman-builder 100% for 224 million rubles. (see table above).

Drawing

Raising money through various funds (venture funds, small business support, etc.) can be attributed to the same method. You can come to these funds in person, you can find them through online platforms, through acquaintances, etc., but the essence does not change.

You can get investments for your business from your suppliers

Several years ago, an acquaintance of mine set up a café-bar without a single ruble in his pocket; moreover, he was saddled with a substantial debt. In paying the rent, he agreed with the owner of the premises on a two-month deferment, since he needed time to develop himself. He also received a two-week grace period from the beer suppliers who installed the taps on the condition that only their beer be poured at the bar. It’s the same story with coffee - a coffee machine was installed for him, subject to a certain volume of beans purchased per month with payment at the end of each month. The same goes for suppliers of beer snacks, cakes, etc. The staff, of course, gets paid at the very end.

Thus, his bar started working and in the first month he was able to close the current payments, and by the end of the second he was able to pay the rent.

In other words, investments for small businesses can include not only cash, but also trade credit, deferred payment and other forms of in-kind lending. The most important advantage of this type of collateral is that it is much easier to find suppliers willing to provide a trade loan under exclusive conditions and will cost less than professional investors or banks.

For example, when a university publishing house needed funds to publish academic literature, they granted one of the large stationery companies the exclusive right to sell stationery products in all buildings of St. Petersburg State University. And thus, we received the necessary funding.

Grants

Another way to obtain funding is to participate in competitions and receive government and private grants. To do this, a business must have a social component or pretend that it has one.

For example, in St. Petersburg for several years there was a network of public pharmacies selling medicines at reduced prices due to state subsidies. The pharmacy positioned itself as a social project and submitted a corresponding application to the state. help. In order to get it, she sold medicines to the population for six months at essentially wholesale prices. Due to low prices, the pharmacy gained popularity and made profits due to high turnover. As a result, the state the authorities had already heard about her, and she was easily able to win a grant for the social provision of medicines to the population.

This method seems specific, but in fact, any business can be presented as socially significant.

This category also includes numerous business incubators and small business assistance programs. Each specialized committee in government agencies has its own budget, which it needs to allocate in its own area: sports, youth, social affairs, healthcare, education, social housing, etc.

This also includes fundraising, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing and other methods of collecting donations from the public.

In general, finding money is quite difficult, but it is possible. The only question is that both the applicant himself and the investors are confident in the business being offered to him.

How to prepare for a meeting with investors

Before negotiations with potential partners:

• collect information about them;
• think about how to present data about the project;
• determine the forms of participation in the project;
• prepare documents for the meeting.

Pay attention to the scale and timing of past projects, forms and conditions of participation in them. Study the industry preferences of your potential partner. For example, venture capital companies are interested in innovative companies. Find out the minimum and maximum amounts of money invested, requirements for the level of profitability.

Determine what type of investors are strategic or financial investors. To draw conclusions, analyze information about the projects in which they have invested money. The former take part in the management of the company, the latter are only interested in income from investments. Using the information received, the financial director will assess in advance how much the company will interest potential investors and will place emphasis when preparing information.

What documents to prepare

Before meeting with investors, prepare the following documents:

• patents, licenses, documents confirming exclusive rights (if the project involves a high-tech or innovative product);
• commercial proposals or draft contracts for the purchase of equipment, real estate, and the creation of utilities. Describe the supplier, the reasons for choosing him and this equipment or real estate, cost, delivery conditions;
• loan agreements, if you have already attracted banks to finance the project. In the description, indicate the amount, interest rate, loan term, loan period, main covenants;
• draft agreement on participation in the project;
• loan agreement indicating the amount, interest rate, disbursement and repayment schedules. This is relevant if the investor participates with money;
• a constituent agreement, a share purchase and sale agreement, a share purchase and sale agreement or a prospectus for an additional issue (in case of equity participation). In such agreements, fix the amount of investor participation, the procedure for depositing funds, the procedure for assessing the contributed share with assets, the procedure for participation in the management of the company, and the rules for distributing profits.

In this material:

Many aspiring entrepreneurs do not know how to find an investor for a business from scratch. This is both a simple and difficult task. Its simplicity lies directly in finding an investor - finding one is easier than it seems. The difficulty is to persuade him to become a partner, to convince him of the prospects of the emerging business idea.

Is investment needed?

On the one hand, investments are, of course, an important and useful tool for attracting third-party money to a start-up business. On the other hand, attracting an investor with money means dooming yourself to many other problems:

1. The search for investment and investors itself can take quite a long time. Especially if the business project is innovative. It would drag on so much that over the years the required amount could be covered by oneself.
2. Raising other people's money is a huge responsibility. The investor will have to answer for every penny spent, for every step. And if a project fails, the consequences can be severe and long-lasting.
3. Despite the need for initial capital to start a business project, having money alone is not enough. You need knowledge, a team, a sales market and much more, without which no startup will take off.
4. Conflicts with investors are inevitable. And the number of these conflicts directly depends on the amount of investment.

It is for these reasons that all novice entrepreneurs should carefully find out: can they cope on their own? Perhaps your own or borrowed funds will be quite sufficient. In addition to bank loans, you can enlist the help of a state support program for small businesses and entrepreneurship support funds.

Start searching for an investor

The search for an investor should begin with careful preparation.

Not every wealthy person is ready to immediately shell out the required amount to the first person they meet who promises a “super-profitable” project.

The minimum required to find an investor is a good business plan and presentation of the project. Please note right away that this is far from the same thing. A business plan is a thorough planning of a business idea in the short, medium and long term. It is necessary so that a potential investor can familiarize himself with the project in all its details, consult with lawyers, financiers, economists and other assistants.

But a potential investor will only get acquainted with the business plan if he likes the presentation. If the presentation itself is very successful, the plan may not be useful. They can give money without familiarizing themselves with the details, but this also rarely happens.

First of all, relatives, friends and acquaintances can provide assistance in finding an investor. They themselves will be able to act as a source of investment, i.e. become investors yourself. This is very convenient if your business is small and you don’t need significant capital. Firstly, this category of people is the easiest to convince. Much easier than experienced investors. Secondly, they rarely try to delve into all the details of entrepreneurial activity, preferring to trust the startuper in everything. Thirdly, reaching an agreement with relatives and friends is zero problem.

Private investors

Private investors who are ready to invest their money in a start-up business are called business angels. There are also organizations that tell beginners how to find an investor for their project. Managers of these companies will help prepare the necessary documents for investment sessions in order to find the maximum number of potential business angels.

Thanks to the help of associations, the problem of how to find a private investor becomes less relevant. But it is not guaranteed to be solved. Therefore, even if you are refused to invest, you should not give up. In any case, everyone who contacts such an association is guaranteed to receive a lot of knowledge and experience, as well as an understanding of the investment business as a whole.

Internet resources

In the age of information technology, it is much easier to find an investor to implement an idea on the Internet. Pay attention to message boards and specialized sites for aspiring entrepreneurs. These simple and accessible platforms will tell you where to find an investor for a small business.

It is more effective to contact potential investors directly. But this is complicated by the fact that they prefer not to publish their data online. The websites of investment funds, communities, technology parks and centers, including foreign ones, can provide some assistance in the problem of “finding an investor to start a business.” But be careful: many resources offer paid services, but the results are not guaranteed! At the same time, the chance of finding an investor for your business for free is only slightly lower.

Collective investment services will allow you not to look for an investor for production, but to organize telecommunications fundraising for your project yourself. This may be an interesting solution to attract an investor. To organize innovative production, contact the Skolkovo Foundation or the Strogino Technopark. These are government agencies, and attracting the government to finance a business from scratch is not easy, but it is possible.

Who can be an investor?

In the process of searching for investors for a business, it is useful to know in advance who you will encounter. In the vast majority of cases, an investor is a person in a prestigious, highly paid job or government service, living in Moscow. These are people who have the means, opportunities, experience and desire to open their own business, but do not have the free time to do so. They are the ones who most often look for promising entrepreneurs, people with creative ideas and invest money in their projects and business ideas.

Preparing a presentation

Many investors turn down applicants due to the fact that they do not see what they would like in the projects. Therefore, it is important to know the specifics of considering applications in order to know how to attract an investor.

The project presentation should clearly answer a number of questions. First, what product or service is offered to what group of people and what needs does it satisfy? Secondly, the financial indicators of the future business, its payback period and risks are important. Thirdly, the issue of exiting the project.

These are key questions, after satisfying which a potential investor begins to consider the project more closely. If the presentation does not include any of these, then most likely the investor will not be interested.

Preparation of a business plan

Preparing a business plan is the second important component in determining where and how to find money for your production. When compiling it, you should not write that after some time the business will begin to generate high profits. No one is interested in this, if only because such statements are made in almost every new presentation.

For an investor, the same thing is important in a business plan as in a presentation. A clear idea of ​​what problems the business will solve, the risks of investing and ways to exit the deal. Only in a business plan should all these problems be described carefully and on the basis of feasibility studies.

In terms of describing possible risks, it is necessary to take into account not only possible problems during the implementation of the project, but also troubles that may occur in the future. Of particular interest to investors is the assessment of competitive risks and force majeure circumstances.

When developing ways to exit the project, determine as precisely as possible: when and how the investor will be able to sell his share of the business. These rules should suit not only the business initiator, but also the investor. To make sure they are satisfied with it as much as possible, always remember the main goal - to earn money.

Mistakes in finding investors

The most common mistake in searching for investments is the lack of development of business plans. Typically, everyone focuses on high profitability potential and good earnings forecasts. But, in addition to these indicators, potential investors are also interested in other factors: the overall functionality of the business, the performance of the business before the influx of investments, potential business problems and ways to solve them. You must be clear about your business in every detail.

Among investors there are many who are well versed in business methods and for whom it is important to see the picture of the future project in all details: production and sales, marketing and advertising, management and much more.

The project for a future business must be thought out even in the event that the initiator leaves the project for some reason. There must be an action plan for this eventuality. Such a mechanism so that the business does not stop making a profit. For the person investing money in the project, this is also important.

All investors are divided into two groups. The first gives money, then simply gets acquainted with general reports and makes a profit. The second, in exchange for investment, requires a full-fledged partnership: shares in property, a seat on the board of directors, and serious management control.

Another mistake novice entrepreneurs make is underestimating the costs of starting a business and overestimating profit forecasts. An experienced person can immediately see the underestimation of start-up costs, and he is also well aware of the consequences of this underestimation. Therefore, this project will not interest investors.

As already mentioned, 90% of investors are good business specialists. The remaining 10% consult with specialists in order to invest their money more reliably. Therefore, inflated forecasts of future profits will be a disadvantage for you.

The presence of know-how and innovation in a business project is a rather controversial issue. More “earthly” projects are considered reliable, guaranteeing a stable income. If the business being prepared is conceived as innovative, then its future leader should give the impression of a person capable of bringing the project to a profitable level. A person who understands all the necessary things, has team management skills and business experience.

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How many profitable and beneficial companies for society never saw the light of day because their creators could not find sufficient start-up capital? Others, for the same reason, continue to remain at the level of artisanal production, despite the possibility of scaling and the enormous potential of the idea.

In such situations, information about where to find an investor for a small business from scratch can be vital for a budding entrepreneur. In addition, an investor must not only be found, but also convinced of the need to invest millions of rubles in an enterprise that, at first glance, is no different from hundreds of others.

However, the first question is not “where”, but “why”? Is the search for investors to implement an idea really so necessary, all available business resources have been exhausted, and are you ready to sacrifice personal freedom for the sake of investment? After all, an investor is not a benefactor or philanthropist: every ruble invested will be accompanied by careful control or even interference in the affairs of the enterprise on his part, and when the time comes to repay debts, he will not miss a penny of profit.

Attracting investors

If, after a comprehensive analysis, you have come to the conclusion that the benefits of attracting investors for a small business are more important than the possible inconveniences, try to imagine who exactly you are looking for and who might be interested in the company at the current stage of its development, including:

• Birth. At this moment, the enterprise exists only in the plans of a businessman and like-minded people. There is a basic idea, there is a product prototype - but there is no team, no management team, no sales channels. Only friends and relatives will invest money in such a business;
• Becoming. At this stage, the first business processes have been launched, an active search for personnel is underway, the first sales have appeared, but it has not yet reached profit. The company is beginning to be of interest to business angels and crowdfunding sites;
• Height. By this time, the company's position in the market and the consumer segment have been approximately determined, small profits have been made, and the team has been fundamentally formed. Places where it is realistic to find investors for a startup at this stage are venture funds and associations of private entrepreneurs;
• Extension. At this point, supply and sales channels have been formed, the company is receiving stable profits and is ready to develop new territories. Investors can be private and public funds, banks and other legal entities;
• Maturity. The company is a profitable, well-managed structure with a fairly large market share. Investments can be attracted by issuing shares that are interesting at this stage for banks, insurance companies, pension and mutual funds.

Preparation of documents

Working with an investor to open a business should begin with the preparation of two main documents - a project summary and an investment proposal (business plan). These materials are designed to present your project from a favorable point of view. Use economic indicators, a detailed description of the idea, market analysis data, resumes of project participants - everything that can convince the investor of the prospects and validity of the investment.

After that, collect information about where to look for investors to open a business in your industry, and make a test mailing. You should not send your resume to all known recipients at once: your task is to get feedback. So choose two or three of them and give them a week to consider the proposal. If you do not receive any response within ten days, make contact and inquire about the fate of your resume. The reasons for silence can be different:

• The proposal is unclear to the investor and contains many specific terms or redundant data that hide the main idea. Bring your resume to a state that an outsider can understand (use people you know as test subjects) and try again;
• The idea does not have sufficient prospects - after all, the main task of the investor is to obtain a profit that, if possible, is many times greater than the investment. For this reason, investors immediately reject 75% of received offers;
• Too little time has passed. Popular and active investors receive dozens of offers a day, so they simply haven’t gotten around to considering your resume yet;
• You chose the wrong investor. Each of them works in a fairly narrow area - agriculture, food production or the chemical industry, so you should check before sending.

Sending out resumes

Using the feedback received, make corrections to your proposal, refine your resume, or adjust the project concept. Strictly speaking, adjustments should be made whenever you receive new data. After that, select several places where it is easiest to find an investor for a business at your stage of company development, and start sending out proposals.

The mailing should not be too limited or too widespread. Some entrepreneurs send a single resume and wait for months for a response to no avail, others send hundreds of them, causing investors to doubt that they are serious about the business. Therefore, limit yourself to choosing 10–12 potential partners and send a personal proposal to each of them, and after a while call back and find out whether your project has attracted interest.

If you receive refusals, do not forget to revise your materials. But you also shouldn’t rush if you start receiving positive responses or offers to personally present the project. Investors are primarily interested not in the development of your business, but rather in the greatest benefit for themselves. Therefore, wait for all the answers and select the conditions that best suit your requirements.

Project presentation

You need to prepare for the presentation no less thoroughly. All means are good in persuading an investor: graphs, posters, videos, handouts. You can also invite a “support group” - several people from your company who are experts in their areas (production technology, economics, marketing).

At the time of the presentation, the investor evaluates not only the project, but also your team, its personal qualities and professional experience. As a businessman, he understands perfectly well that any brilliant idea is only half the success. The second is determined by the personal qualities of the entrepreneur, his ambition, energy, leadership abilities and authority in the team. Thus, a presentation is a kind of “selling” of a businessman’s personality, idea and team, which must be carried out in a positive way with enthusiasm and a certain amount of healthy aggressiveness.

Where to look?

The search for possible investors can begin simultaneously with the preparation of documents, resume and business plan. Don’t miss a single opportunity to talk about this topic with your friends - you can never predict in advance which thread will lead you to success. Perhaps more experienced entrepreneurs will tell you where to find an investor to open a business, or even want to act in a new role for themselves. At the initial stages of development, focus on business angels and venture funds, and later on banks, mutual funds and similar investment organizations, including government ones.

Independent search

In the business environment, public events are regularly held - startup fairs, exhibitions, forums and presentations. Among the participants you can meet both young companies wishing to make themselves known, as well as interested investors and representatives of big business. Moreover, some venture investment conferences are aimed specifically at organizing a meeting of investors and entrepreneurs declaring: “I am looking for an investor to open a business or implement a commercial project.”

Internet

Investors and businessmen communicate with each other not only within exhibitions. A lot of thematic forums are places where finding an investor for a business from scratch is quite realistic if you present your project in a favorable light. Even if your search for a partner is not successful, you will receive a lot of feedback about your idea (including negative ones, indicating weaknesses) and learn to find the right answers to uncomfortable questions. This experience will definitely be useful to you in the future.

In addition, on such forums you can meet other entrepreneurs who have not previously invested in someone else’s business, but are now collecting information on how to become an investor and where to start. It is possible that convincing them of the promise of your idea and the benefits of cooperation will be somewhat easier.

Familiar

Each of us has a fairly wide circle of acquaintances, among whom there are successful private entrepreneurs, top managers and simply wealthy people. Many of them periodically think about how to protect capital from inflation and make a profit. From their point of view, it is much easier to deal with acquaintances or relatives than with unknown businessmen. However, there is also a negative side to such financing: in case of failure, not only money will be lost, but also good relationships.

Crowdfunding

The possibility of collective investment is due to the widespread availability of the Internet - including for quite ordinary citizens interested in topics. Here it is not necessary to individually invest millions in the project, since each of them can have dozens of investors. On the other hand, an investor can also divide financial assistance between several applicants in the hope that one of them will be a successful startup and bring in hundreds of percent of profits. The popularity of crowdfunding platforms began with the kickstarter site, and in the Russian segment they are represented by the boomstarter and planeta sites.

Venture investing

High-risk projects are financed by both individuals and organizations. In the first case, these are business angels, and in the second, various funds to support entrepreneurship. Despite the fact that they put high demands on applicants, the risk is still present, and investors are aware of it. The investment plans of venture businessmen are based on the fact that on average one project out of ten shows growth of thousands of percent, thus covering the losses from the rest.

The main requirement of venture investors is a share in the business. They receive the status of a founder in an LLC or a block of shares, take part in the management of the enterprise, and in return provide financing. At the same time, startups are of interest to venture investors only in the first few years, during a period of intensive growth. They then sell their stake (at a profit, of course) either to the entrepreneur himself or to other strategic investors.

If you agree with the principles on which venture financing is based, pay attention to the Community of Business Angels of Russia (SBAR) and the Department of Entrepreneurship Development - the easiest places to find investors for a project or get information about them.

Credit communities

Microfinance organizations can hardly be called a business-friendly source of financing. Only those entrepreneurs who do not know what kind of investor they need, where to find one and how to prepare an investment proposal can apply here: you can get a loan from an MFO with a minimum package of documents and without collateral. You have to pay for this with a relatively small loan amount (100–400 thousand rubles) and a completely inadequate interest rate (55–70% per annum). You can resort to the services of such organizations only when you need money urgently, banks refuse a loan, and you can repay the loan in a maximum of a month and a half.

Bank loan

Banks are more willing to provide loans for business development secured by the assets of the enterprise. Moreover: if the recipient is listed in the register of recipients of assistance from the state, he can count on interest rate compensation, preferential lending or a government guarantee. For such entrepreneurs, the bank is one of the places where you can find an investor on fairly favorable terms. At the same time, you can only get money to open a business from a bank in the form of a regular consumer loan secured by property, which is not very profitable from an economic point of view.

Grants

The grant has an undoubted advantage compared to classic investments: it does not need to be repaid. However, there is also a drawback - the intended purpose of the funds. If you can spend the investments received from a business angel at your discretion, then every ruble of the grant must be spent in strict accordance with the business plan.

Obtaining a grant is no more difficult than funding from a venture fund, but the conditions for candidates are somewhat different: preference is given to projects that are either socially significant or aimed at development in areas declared priority by the state in certain regions. To consider the possibility of receiving a grant, you should contact the Department of Entrepreneurship Development, where they will help you find an investor in accordance with your needs and the industry of the enterprise.

Foreign investment

Foreign investors are interesting to entrepreneurs due to their scale: we are usually talking about several million or even tens of millions of dollars. However, for the same reason, small businesses, innovative projects and start-ups do not attract potential investors from abroad. Besides:

• Beginning entrepreneurs do not have assets that are of interest to investors;
• There are no mechanisms to influence the strategy of a small enterprise;
• For foreign investors, the procedure for exiting a project is not transparent due to the great distance, difference in the legislative framework and mentality;
• Covering losses in the event of failure will require the involvement of third-party organizations, experts, and an unreasonable amount of resources.

If the business turns out to be quite promising, then it is much easier for a foreign investor to buy it completely and appoint its own top managers than to waste time on joint management.

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However, you can contact various foreign funds, of which more than ten thousand are registered in Europe alone. The largest of them are TACIS, USAID, GTF, Soros and Rockefeller Foundations. In this case, we are not talking about full-fledged investments, but rather about receiving grants - provided that the company operates in an area of ​​interest to the owners of the fund.

In addition, on the AngelList and ProductHunt platforms, some startups manage to find foreign investors - both individuals and representatives of small venture funds. Of course, companies working in the field of information and Internet technologies have an advantage, since such business has no boundaries.

Finding an investor to start a business has now technically become easier: special funds and companies are working and are constantly opening, ready to provide their funds to projects at the start. The calculation is simple: invest money now so that you can start calculating dividends later. But in order to get a decent amount from such an investment fund, you will have to try. The task may not be an easy one: any fund always has in mind several applicants for funding a business idea. You need to enter into such competition fully armed - with a convincing business plan, in which the costs are detailed down to the smallest detail, and the goal is clear, understandable and achievable in the foreseeable future.

Why do you need an investor?

It is impossible to start your own business without the necessary financial base. A businessman (taking the very first steps or seven spans in his forehead) can generate ideas for startups and revolutionary business projects one after another. But all this requires funds. Moreover, investments are necessary not only to launch a working and income-generating business, but also to maintain its operation:

• updating expensive equipment;
• improving technology;
• staff training;
• attracting professionals who are currently working for competitors, but are ready to change jobs and provide a breakthrough for a new company;
• purchasing expensive materials needed for work;
• promotion of products or services (investment in advertising is a significant amount of expenses).

The growth and development of your project directly depends on regular investments in it

A comparison can be made with a fire: in order for the fire to burn and not go out, more and more firewood must be thrown into it. Business works in exactly the same way: even the most beautiful project will not develop if you do not make regular financial investments in it.

The word “investment” itself comes from Latin. Moreover, it was originally translated as “putting something on.”

Again, just like in a fire, where logs must be thrown in a certain sequence, investments in business must be timely. Of course, many factors interfere with this. Including this: businessmen almost always have problems with available funds. It takes time to reach the required amount. And he is often not there.

How to find and how to attract an investor

Investing in a project is not charity. Investors (lately they are often called “business angels”) act pragmatically. His goal is not simply - following the example of Pinocchio - to “bury coins in the ground,” but to actually receive after some time a source of stable income that works like a clock.

An investor is unlikely to be interested in a business that lies solely on the plane of theory. It is important that it be tested in practice. It is also necessary that the author of the business idea inspires confidence - he is an accomplished person in business who has a certain track record. Otherwise, the owner of the funds simply will not take risks.

It is important to show that the future project not only has bright prospects, but also a strong team of professionals who are ready to develop the startup. An investor is not interested in talking with a loner who knows how to move mountains, but has not yet decided with whom he will do it.

In addition to having a group of like-minded people, the reputation of these people is also important. She has no right to be spoiled by anything. The investor wants to be sure that the biography of the businessmen did not include major failures, problems with the law, fraud that resulted in trials in the courts and other sins, including the use of schemes involving the registration of businesses under dummies. It makes no sense to hide such information, because an investor will find channels and ways to find out everything about his future partners.

To find an investor, you need not only to study all the necessary aspects, but also to enlist the support of friends or colleagues

The personality of those involved in the project is only part (and a smaller one) of what may interest an investor. The main thing that attracts a “business angel” is the area of ​​business to which the development relates. It should be noted that the most attractive sectors for investors seem to be those that provide a fairly quick payback. At the same time, the project should not be momentary. The strength of any real startup is the symbiosis of prospects and long-termism.

So you can find and attract a “business angel” with an undertaking that:

• will quickly achieve payback;
• has a chance to exist safely for another five to seven years from the moment it starts making profits.

The number of such projects today includes IT developments and high technologies, projects on the Internet (including those related to social networks). Catering is already a traditionally popular area that provides rapid growth (with a properly organized approach to business). Investors are interested in projects in pharmacology and medicine (modern people take care of their health), tourism, and with them the hotel business (people are becoming more mobile, actively traveling and do not spare money on spending while traveling). By the way, if we talk about popular projects related to the trends of the times, investors also began to show interest in ideas regarding alternative sources for generating electricity, or protecting the environment.

Drawing up a competent business plan

A business plan must be realistic and not divorced from life. Investors are ordinary people living in this world. Unlike many others, they have managed to develop a business sense for what can bring maximum profit. Point by point, the plan should take into account the following points:

• A potential consumer of the service is shown. The investor must understand what kind of audience this is: its age range, gender, financial well-being. It would be a good idea to support such information with data about a similar project that is already running. Preferably with insider information and exact figures. How the author of a business idea receives them is his business.
• Channels for marketing products and selling services are indicated. Moreover, they should also have alternatives: in the business plan it is important to specify what other channels are planned to be used if the main ones for some reason do not work.
• Future income is structured. Profit must be shown in graphs demonstrating its constant growth - from one stage to another.
• The time frame for a business idea to reach payback is outlined.
• Existing competitors are named - with an analysis of their strengths, prospects for the future (speaking of competitors, it is necessary to note their preparations - “chips” that will allow you to beat your rivals at the start).
• The required investments are explained. A “business angel” must see where his finances will go. He must understand why the project “needs exactly that much money and not a penny less.” The extent to which this point of the business plan will be disclosed will give the investor an answer to the worrying question about whether they are going to outwit him and “live at his expense.”

Determining the form of cooperation

Before making a decision, the parties determine who will owe what to whom. Thus, the investor agrees to financially support the “zero” project and guarantees annual investments in it for several years. The recipient of the investment, in turn, agrees to the amount of dividends paid, as well as the transfer of a certain share (usually no more than 40 percent) in the future business.

It is curious that initially medieval managers of feudal estates and rectors of parishes were called investors or investors. And the process of transferring control of their lands to other people was called investiture or investing.

Another possible form of cooperation is the payment of funds tied to a certain percentage of the investment.

Which option is better is up to the parties to decide. However, the last word in determining the form of cooperation still belongs to the investor, because “he who pays calls the tune.”

Negotiation

The applicant for financial support must be absolutely sure of what he says. There can be no shadow of doubt. A potential investor wants to see a self-confident person in front of him (although, of course, one also needs to be more careful with this - so as not to confuse confidence with self-confidence and bravado). In addition, the “business angel” must feel the person’s personal interest in the project that he is going to engage in. After all, without personal interest creativity is impossible, and without a creative approach the project itself will not work.

For persuasiveness, you can use computer and video presentations. An investor will not study piles of papers (although they should also be at the ready), but a computer representation of a startup - with a minimum of text and with a large number of graphs, diagrams and other illustrative material - is mandatory.

The best way to show a project in action is to use a visual example.

By the way, the way the presentation is made is also an indicator of the reliability of the party that “came for the money.” So it is better to entrust its compilation to professionals in this matter - a computer studio or a freelancer: clearly explain to them the task and make sure that it is completed exactly as it should.

The performance must be rehearsed in advance. It is important that the presentation of the project sounds relaxed, and that the narrator does not miss a single word.
What else is very important:

• Do not inflate numbers or embellish. Don't promise mountains of gold. On the contrary, it will be even more impressive if, while working on the project, you suddenly manage to exceed the plan.
• Don't smooth over problem areas. Opening a business cannot be easy or simple. Business is business. It is much worse when an investor learns about existing risks after the startup has launched. Or if these risks actually turn into real problems.
• Emphasize that competitors are already working in this business niche (this is a signal about the existing potential of this area).

A question and answer session is a mandatory part of the negotiations. Here you need to prepare for pitfalls and surprises on the part of the investor. He may inquire about the person's past experiences, or he may ask a question that requires the correct (or expected) answer. For example, if an investor is interested in whether the author of the project sees himself as the head of a future company for a long time, then in response he most likely wants to hear something like the following: “I am ready to work on this project for as long as possible, but if the situation requires me to leave my post “, in the interests of the business I have begun, I will do just that.”

Thanks to investments, the country's economy is actively developing

It is important to be a psychologist. Feel what topics should be avoided. And also: you should not operate with complex, narrowly professional terms, the meaning of which may not be clear to the investor. Of course, he will appreciate the competence of the person who came to the conversation. But, on the other hand, complex turns of speech can scare away, make you feel your pride is hurt and regard the sounded “professionalism” as a sign of disrespect.

Conclusion of an agreement

If the decision to cooperate is made, the parties shake hands and enter into an investment agreement. This is done according to the established document form. There are two parties to the contract:

• The customer is the author of the business idea and the head of the new enterprise.
• An investor is a legal or natural person who agrees to support the project financially.

In cases where the project involves construction, the contract may also indicate the contractor who will conduct the construction.

Traditionally, the contract states that the investor provides funds to the customer, and he, in turn, invests the entire amount in the development of the project. After a certain time after the start of making a profit, the customer undertakes to begin returning the money. The amount to be paid to the investor can be predetermined or approximate (that is, it will be adjusted later, taking into account the amount of profit). The second option, taking into account the realities of the domestic economy, turns out to be preferable for the parties.

Features of finding an investor to start a business from scratch or as a franchise

A good time and place to look for investors is various forums, conferences or business meetings. Here you can hear the speeches of potential partners and talk to them on the run, agreeing on the next big meeting.

In addition, information about investors who are ready to support a business from scratch, as well as a franchise business, can be easily found in the public domain.

Keeping abreast of all developments in the field of investing is one of the main qualities required in finding an investor

To reach a legal entity or individual who is ready to invest in a startup, you need to monitor the business press and specialized websites. There are also several resources on the Internet whose task is to bring together an investor and the author of an interesting project.

It is believed that investments are for rich and financially educated people. The example of the Swedish homeless man Kurt Degerman refutes this opinion. For 30 years, he collected empty cans and bottles, and invested part of the proceeds in Swedish companies. After his death, his fortune was estimated at $1.4 million. It is noteworthy that none of his relatives and friends even knew about the wealth of the “hidden” investor. Kurt led his usual vagabond lifestyle and did not spend a penny of his invested capital.

Another option is to search with the help of companies and firms that have previously collaborated with a specific “business angel” and received capital from him for their start-up. Not only will they help you find the much-needed investor, but they will also give you valuable advice on negotiating. Moreover, they can help organize the meeting itself.

How to avoid falling into the hands of scammers

It happens that entrepreneurs make mistakes with investors. Moreover, they may suffer financially from the actions of scammers posing as investors. Deception schemes are different. But in the end, the author of the business idea, in any case, turns out to be the injured party.

Experts give advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of deception:

• Be wary of “investors” who offer to hold a business meeting not in their office, but in a park or car showroom.
• Do not take seriously a partner who does not want to provide his phone number (we are not talking about a mobile phone, which can be “disposable” or temporary, but about a landline).
• Refuse the investor’s proposals to involve a third party as a guarantee for obtaining a loan.
• Refuse to an offer to pay commissions in advance - before receiving a loan.
• Oppose the idea of ​​using some “not entirely legal money” to finance a startup.
• Do not trust those who offer assistance in obtaining funding from government agencies - supposedly through the mediation of “their people” working there.

The list of tricks and tricks of false investors is extensive. And alas, it is constantly being replenished. After all, along with the growth of real investments, the number of scammers also grows.

Finding an investor to start a business is not an easy task with many pitfalls. The foundation of a future business depends on the ability to bypass them. And also - the prospect of the undertaking: so that it is not focused on immediate profit, but brings profit for several years.

Our village is also rich in horse lovers. We have already held equestrian competitions, and there is a place for a hippodrome. There are thoroughbred horses, both for private individuals and for the heads of peasant farms. You can offer guests horseback riding with routes up to 80 km, with intermediate passes. Fishing enthusiasts will be able to catch river fish here: gudgeon, perch, chebak, burbot, ruffe... the pond is home to mirror carp, grass carp, silver carp, pike, crayfish... In the mountain river Kozlushka - grayling. The presence of minnows and toothless minnows in the river indicates the ecological purity of the rivers, the presence of crayfish in the pond indicates the purity of the water in the pond. Fishing in our area all year round - I don’t want to fish. Another attraction of our outback is 7 springs flowing in different directions of the village. There is living water and there is dead water. Water sampling for impurity analysis showed the highest results. (it contains a large number of silver ions). This spring is called "Holy Key". We have a zone where animals and birds are actually not afraid of humans. This is a real peace zone, where we want to create a reserve with rare plant species listed in the Red Book, which will be of interest to guests. It is proposed to create a protected area on “Kukuevka” - that’s what we call one of the sides of the village. This is a picturesque hill on which a huge number of trees and shrubs grow, such as aspen, hawthorn, viburnum, rose hips, bird cherry, and acacia. And in spring, the color of bird cherry and acacia pleases the eye. The captivating aroma beckons. The morning tremulous singing of the nightingale gently awakens and reminds that life goes on, does not stand still - live and be happy, enjoy the beauty and generosity of nature. In summer and autumn, collect berries - naive strawberries, viburnum fruits, bird cherry and rose hips. In autumn, everyone looking at this hill regrets that he is not an artist: the variegated, bright leaves fascinate with their beauty. The slightest breath of breeze - and the aspen tree began to breathe, trembling with small tremors.
A goat with her kids came out onto the path, roe deer appeared from behind a tree, and Lisa Patrikeevna, squinting her crafty eyes, was basking in the sun. But, frightened by a bush of a branch, a hare slipped through. Cheerful flocks of wild ducks and geese are swimming in the river; in the middle of the morning a heron, one leg tucked, is watching a frog; Somewhere in the sky seagulls are screaming, somewhere you can hear a bittern, and a crane is teaching its baby to take wing. And this beauty peacefully coexists next to people and can be one of the objects of visit for tourists. To develop tourism in the village, an infusion of private investment is needed. Two ready-made buildings are waiting for their owner (an ownerless property in the process of being registered as the property of the Administration), on the site of a former summer pioneer camp on the edge of the village, which do not require large expenses for repairs, which can be used as a summer recreation center or as separate houses for hunters. Moreover, among the Novoshipunovites there is a professional huntsman who will supervise the shooting of animals and birds and will be an excellent guide for hunters. The Administration owns a hydraulic structure with a water surface of 2,436,779 sq.m., which can be used to organize a recreation area for water lovers with swimming in clean water, riding catamarans, water scooters and sunbathing on the beach. There you can build a fisherman's house, where those who wish can relax and take a steam bath. Those who like heights - hang gliding - have somewhere to take off. There is something to soar over and there is something to plan for. Our museum, a large two-story building consisting of several departments - “Flora and Fauna”, “Military Glory”, “Life and Folklore”, has also fallen into disrepair. And it can and should be restored. Not only children will be able to visit it, but adults will also find it very interesting and educational. We have a huge building - not in every regional center.

We have a huge building - not every regional center has such a club. It, of course, also requires major repairs. The concert hall accommodates 500 people, a huge stage that also allows you to invite theaters and a circus. A huge lobby, a locker room, a second room that needs to be equipped as a gym. The dimensions of the hall are suitable for mini football and professional volleyball. On the second floor of the club you can place a gym and fitness room. Here you can give master classes on choreography. On the first floor of the club, in room “A” you can place a computer room, and in room “B” you can give master classes in embroidery, knitting and crocheting, and silk burning. And in room “B” there is a master class on wood carving. There can also be a dance floor and, of course, a night disco bar. Everyone vacationing here will definitely find their favorite hobby, be it fishing, hunting, horses, bicycles, by the way, which we also include in our cycling tourism program with long-distance routes. With us, guests can not only relax, have fun, or do what they love, but also receive medical treatment - herbal medicine + mud baths at the local outpatient clinic.

Many people know how bee therapy and the use of real fresh honey are beneficial for health. Do you know how beneficial “bee air” is? Have you ever felt the aroma coming from bee evidence? Apiary air has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, calms, and helps stabilize the body after operations and long-term illnesses. In our village there is a beekeeper G.A. Akulinin, who is engaged in the selection of bees - his bees are not at all aggressive. He removes honey without gloves or masks. So you can walk in his apiary not only in the evenings, when the bees are resting, but also around the clock - like in a cherry orchard. Our peasants keep not only cows, but also goats (in large quantities), and goat's milk is much healthier. Mittens and socks made from goat fluff treat osteochondrosis, have a preventive effect on varicose veins and many other diseases. In our village, or rather within its boundaries, there is a deer shed - a huge area surrounded by a fence where deer deer are kept. Cut antlers are very valuable in medicine and vacationers have the opportunity to take antler baths. And the courtyards in our village are well-groomed, fenced with beautiful wooden carved fences or siding. Many people grow a variety of flowers and shrubs. . We also have places where you can shelter a tourist traveler - a hotel complex (an ownerless property in the process of being registered as the property of the Administration), which has two floors.