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Financing with grants, not equity or debt

Berkonomics

I was chairman of a company that, for twelve years never took a dollar of outside investment. A company like this grows in value to its customers and to prospective buyers of the business, but without any dilution of control or ownership for the founders. No dilution to shareholders or the founders. How refreshing!

Equity 156
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Intellectual Property: What, When, Where, Why, and How

SoCal Tech Calendar

A well-developed patent portfolio (along with an intellectual property portfolio, generally) conveys a high degree of technical and commercial sophistication to potential investors, customers, competitors, and licensees. and abroad. and abroad. See [link] (more)

TCVN 100
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Equity Investment Platform Preparation Best Practices

Startup Professionals Musings

If you are one of the thousands of entrepreneurs who need equity funding to get your startup going (no loans to repay), you are probably overwhelmed at the prospect of finding, contacting and pitching to the huge number of qualified angels and investment groups around the country. File a provisional patent or other intellectual property.

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Reduce five risks: Increase your valuation

Berkonomics

Professional investors will probe these five risk areas and make the decision to invest based upon comfort with each. One way to mitigate this is by using early money to create a prototype, to perform market research, to complete the first generation of the product, or to deliver the service to a satisfied customer.

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8 Entrepreneur Mistakes That Turn Off Real Investors

Startup Professionals Musings

My first suggestion is that entrepreneurs need to forget the old myth that all they need to do is sketch an idea on a napkin, and investors will line up to invest. Here is my list of red flags that cause many investors to look elsewhere: No well-defined need or viable customer set. Ask only for the money you can justify.

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Can you finance your company with grants?

Berkonomics

I am chairman of a company that, as I write this, is twelve years old and has not yet taken a dollar of outside investment. The company grows in value to its customers and to prospective buyers of the business, but without any dilution of control or ownership for the founders. How refreshing!

Company 166
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8 Potential Entrepreneur Assists From Your Alma Mater

Startup Professionals Musings

Access to intellectual property and current research. Most universities have a file of patents from project work that they are willing to license to any entrepreneur for business commercialization, with little or no cost up front. Visit the university library for access to otherwise costly business reports.