The Art Of Raising Capital

Darren Weeks is Canada’s most prominent financial educator. He is the Founder of the Fast Track Group of Companies, an acclaimed solutions-based financial literacy firm and one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies. For nearly a decade and a half, Darren has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people across North America, Europe and Latin America about how to become financially independent. He is an advocate of learning how to create wealth through business and investment, and believes that this vital knowledge is lacking from traditional education. In fact, in every country that he has spoken Darren has seen that schools do not teach their students to manage money. Darren has made it his mission to fill that void by providing financial education to people across the world. He went from an average middle-class upbringing to raising hundreds of millions of dollars in investor capital, owning nearly 5,000 real estate properties, millions of dollars in energy assets and acquiring two cruise ship terminals in the Caribbean. All of this was accomplished by educating himself on how to do it and then taking action. There is no greater expert on the art of raising capital from investors and no person more committed to sharing this information than Darren Weeks.

The new edition of the definitive guide for venture capital practitioners—covers the entire process of venture firm formation & management, fund-raising, portfolio construction, value creation, and exit strategies Since its initial publication, The Business of Venture Capital has been hailed as the definitive, most comprehensive book on the subject. Now in its third edition, this market-leading text explains the multiple facets of the business of venture capital, from raising venture funds, to structuring investments, to generating consistent returns, to evaluating exit strategies. Author and VC Mahendra Ramsinghani who has invested in startups and venture funds for over a decade, offers best practices from experts on the front lines of this business. This fully-updated edition includes fresh perspectives on the Softbank effect, career paths for young professionals, case studies and cultural disasters, investment models, epic failures, and more. Readers are guided through each stage of the VC process, supported by a companion website containing tools such as the LP-GP Fund Due Diligence Checklist, the Investment Due Diligence Checklist, an Investment Summary format, and links to white papers and other industry guidelines. Designed for experienced practitioners, angels, devils, and novices alike, this valuable resource: Identifies the key attributes of a VC professional and the arc of an investor’s career Covers the art of raising a venture fund, identifying anchor investors, fund due diligence, negotiating fund investment terms with limited partners, and more Examines the distinct aspects of portfolio construction and value creation Balances technical analyses and real-world insights Features interviews, personal stories, anecdotes, and wisdom from leading venture capitalists The Business of Venture Capital, Third Edition is a must-read book for anyone seeking to raise a venture fund or pursue a career in venture capital, as well as practicing venture capitalists, angel investors or devils alike, limited partners, attorneys, start-up entrepreneurs, and MBA students.

While raising capital has never been easy, it has become a lot more difficult over the past few years. The dot-com debacle has made investors skittish, especially when it comes to financing early-stage start-ups. As a result, more and more entrepreneurs are being forced to compete harder and harder for a spot around the money well. At the end of the day, all most have to show for their efforts are tattered Rolodexes and battered egos. What they need is the competitive edge that comes with having a friend in the business–an advisor who’ll cut through the mumbo-jumbo and tell them in plain English how to get the money they need. What they need is Raising Capital For Dummies. Whether you’re just starting your business and need a little seed capital to launch your first product, or you’re looking for a little help expanding an established business into a new market, this friendly guide helps you get the financing you need to realize your dreams. You’ll discover how to: Tap personal sources of financing, as well as family and friends Approach customers and vendors for financing Hook up with commercial lenders Find angel investors Get an SBA loan Raise cash through private equity offerings Woo and win investment bankers and venture capitalists Venture capital guru, Joseph Bartlett explains in plain English the capital-raising strategies and techniques used by some of today’s most successful businesses, including tried-and-true methods for: Assessing your financial needs and creating a solid financial plan Researching sources of financing and making first contact Finding, contacting, and convincing angels Getting your customers to finance your company Understanding and exploiting matching services Exploring commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, finance companies, and the SBA Qualifying for a loan Working with placement agents Raising cash through IPOs and mergers From raising seed capital and funds for expansion to IPOs and acquisitions, Raising Capital For Dummies shows you how to get the money you need to survive and thrive in today’s winner-take-all marketplace.

Praise for MAVERICK REAL ESTATE FINANCING "Once you start reading, you won't be able to put the book down. You will feel you are part of the deals that industry leaders have put together. This is a real book about real people and how they address risk and reward." --Bruce S. Schonbraun, Managing Partner The Schonbraun McCann Group LLP "Bergsman applies a journalist's logic to the complex world of commercial real estate, making it easier for outsiders to understand. He writes with the authority of a true insider." --Brannon Boswell, Managing Editor Shopping Centers Today "Congratulations. Finally, someone has written a book that reflects real estate finance in the twenty-first century. With the growing proliferation of real estate education in university business schools today, this book should be required reading!" --James D. Kuhn, President Newmark Knight Frank In Maverick Real Estate Financing, Steve Bergsman--author of the widely acclaimed Maverick Real Estate Investing--describes the various financing methods you can use to achieve real estate investment success. Maverick Real Estate Financing also introduces you to an innovative group of real estate professionals who have used these methods to build substantial fortunes. By listening to some of the world's most successful real estate Mavericks--includingWilliam Sanders, W. P. Carey, and Stephen Ross--you'll discover what sets them apart from the rest of the pack and learn how to apply their proven principles to your own real estate deals. Each chapter examines a different real estate financing technique and the Maverick who best exemplifies it. Some of the strategies and products discussed include: * Equity financing * Public and private REITs * Agency loans * UPREITs * Commingled capital * Retail site arbitrage * Conduit loans * Sale-leasebacks * Distressed mortgages * Low-income housing tax credits (LIHTCs)

The definitive guide to demystifying the venture capital business The Business of Venture Capital, Second Edition covers the entire spectrum of this field, from raising funds and structuring investments to assessing exit pathways. Written by a practitioner for practitioners, the book provides the necessary breadth and depth, simplifies the jargon, and balances the analytical logic with experiential wisdom. Starting with a Foreword by Mark Heesen, President, National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), this important guide includes insights and perspectives from leading experts. Covers the process of raising the venture fund, including identifying and assessing the Limited Partner universe; fund due-diligence criteria; and fund investment terms in Part One Discusses the investment process, including sourcing investment opportunities; conducting due diligence and negotiating investment terms; adding value as a board member; and exploring exit pathways in Part Two Offers insights, anecdotes, and wisdom from the experiences of best-in-class practitioners Includes interviews conducted by Leading Limited Partners/Fund-of-Funds with Credit Suisse, Top Tier Capital Partners, Grove Street Advisors, Rho Capital, Pension Fund Managers, and Family Office Managers Features the insights of over twenty-five leading venture capital practitioners, frequently featured on Forbes' Midas List of top venture capitalists Those aspiring to raise a fund, pursue a career in venture capital, or simply understand the art of investing can benefit from The Business of Venture Capital, Second Edition. The companion website offers various tools such as GP Fund Due Diligence Checklist, Investment Due Diligence Checklist, and more, as well as external links to industry white papers and other industry guidelines.

A noted small business attorney and author of Parting Company presents a definitive guide to raising investment capital that is designed to help readers avoid common mistakes and maximize their efforts.

A new product, a new service, a new company, a new division, a new anything - where there's a will, Kawasaki shows the way with his essential steps to launching one's dreams.

Learn a detailed strategy to acquire, secure, and protect private money in your next real estate deal. Grow your real estate business and raise your game using other people's money!