When you start talking to professional investors.

You’ll hear them throwing terms around that may be unfamiliar to you.

Take some time to research and read about venture capital.

And startup investing to avoid an embarrassing mistake.

7. How to Find investors

Investors will be interested in the value of your company.

They may refer to pre-money valuation and post-money valuation.

The pre-money valuation is the agreed-upon valuation of your company before funding.

The post-money valuation is the pre-money valuation plus the amount of money invested.

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How to Find investors

8. Become familiar with rounds of investing.

The first round typically is referred to as the “Seed” round.

You may then proceed through A, B, and C rounds of financing.

When investors fund your company.

They’ll receive shares of stock in your company in exchange for their investment.

Read up on the types of stock you can issue.

So you’ll understand what investors are asking for.

How to Find investors

9. Check out online angel investor networks.

Online networks, such as AngelList,.

Do more than connect you with private investors.

These websites also have educational resources.

That can help you build your business plan and market your idea.

• Craft your profile carefully and share your page with family and friends to gain possible connections.

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How to Find investors

10. Craft a thorough business plan.

An investment is not a loan. When you pitch your idea to investors.

They want to know that they will eventually make money off of their investment.

• Your business plan should clearly show how you intend to monetize your idea and when you expect to achieve a profit.
• Also make sure your start-up expenses are realistic. Investors want to know that you have a reliable budget and will be able to launch your product or service without needing additional funding.

How to Find investors

11. Personalize your pitch for each investor.

Successful private investors may hear hundreds of pitches every week.

Stand out from the competition.

By letting each investor know exactly why they should have a personal interest in your project.

• Ideally, your investors will provide not just money.
• But resources and expertise to help your project launch and succeed.
• When you’re planning your pitch, think about what each specific investor could add to the project.
• It may help if you can demonstrate that with the assistance of a particular investor.
• Your project would perform better than if you used anyone else.
• Don’t be afraid to appeal to an investor’s ego.
• Encourage them to believe that they alone could provide an immense benefit to your project.

How to Find investors

12. Focus on selling yourself.

Selling your product or service to an investor is only part of the equation.

You also must convince them that you’re the person to run the project and get it off the ground.

• Think about why you are uniquely suited to develop the project.
• It needs to be something beyond the fact that you came up with the idea.
• Highlight related personal and professional experiences.
• That give you insight into the project that no other person could have.

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13. Identify what makes your idea unique.

Especially if you’re trying to enter a relatively saturated market.

You must be able to differentiate yourself from the competition.

Be prepared to show potential investors.

What your product or service offers that your competitors don’t.

• One way to do this is to focus on a particular niche that is relatively untapped.
• This could be a target location or a particular demographic.

14. Look for a local incubator.

An incubator or facilitator is a business designed to help develop and grow start-ups.

Incubators are particularly common in the tech industry.

Investors may take on a more hands-on, mentoring approach.

• Check the website of the National Business Incubation Association.
• To locate incubators near you that could possibly help you find investors.

How to Find investors

15. Start with local small business associations.

A small business association in your area will have tips and resources.

To help you find investors for your business.

These associations typically are nonprofit organizations, or are run by the government.

• Look for a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) near you.
• Often these are housed in community colleges.
• The SBDC can connect you with a mentor and provide connections in your industry.
• Your local Chamber of Commerce will have resources for start-up businesses.
• And may also host events where you can meet business peers as well as potential investors.

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How to Find investors

16. Use government funding for research and development.

Especially if you’re in the tech sector.

You may be able to get government.

Funding under the federal government’s Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR).

This program offers funds for technological innovation.

Recognizing research often is out of reach for startups.

• Awards follow the same development cycle as startup investment funding.
• With three phases or rounds of funding.
• To qualify for the program, your company must be located in the Nigeria.
• And the majority of its owners must be Nigerian citizens or permanent residents.

How to Find investors

17. Research state and local government programs.

Your state or local government may have loans.

Or investment programs to help small businesses raise start-up capital.

Many of these programs are focused on specific types of businesses.

That will better their communities.

Or meet the specific needs of a struggling neighborhood.

• For example, if you are a woman or a minority.
• You may be able to join a program.
• That provides start-up capital specifically for female-owned or minority-owned businesses.
• Local governments also may have investment programs.
• That provide funds to businesses located in particular parts of town, such as depressed neighborhoods.

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How to Find investors

18. Check into federal loans.

While the federal government doesn’t offer grants for business startup and development.

There are a number of loans that you and your business may qualify for.

These loans have low interest rates and favorable payback options.

• Loans frequently are available for particular groups of people.
• Who are traditionally underrepresented in their industry.
• Including women and minorities.
• Development loans also may be available.
• If you want to start your business in an area that is struggling economically.
• Or if you want to work with people who are struggling.
• Such as former prisoners or recovering drug addicts.