Money Magnet: How to Attract Investors to Your Business [Hardcover]

Historically, the most common ways to raise financing for SMEs was through bank loans or through the stock markets. But banks are notoriously risk-averse and conservative in lending to small businesses, and the great bull market is over. For most small and medium sized companies, the small cap public issue market is no longer a viable source of financing. Enter private equity. There are billions of dollars of private equity funds available in Canada and millions of SMEs looking for money, but the two don’t always know how to find one another and, when they do, usually don’t speak the same language. This is the book that explains to business people what private equity financing is, how it works, how and where to find it, how to be successful in attracting it, and all the advantages and disadvantages of raising financing in this way.

Money Magnet is for entrepreneurs in emerging growth companies who are seeking financing and want to explore the benefits of the private equity option. In language that entrepreneurs understand, Jacoline Loewen demystifies the world of private equity in this simple yet comprehensive guide. Money Magnet explains what private equity is and how it works; compares it with traditional sources of financing, such as banks and stock markets; explains the different types of private equity investors (e.g., angels, venture capitalists, fund managers and institutional investors); outlines the benefits and pitfalls; describes how to meet venture capitalists and fund managers; shows how to make a convincing pitch to an investor; reveals what makes investors cringe and what makes them open up their cheque book; provides strategies to deal with the four brutal questions all investors ask; explains in detail the deal process and the deal sheet; gives advice on common conflicts between investors and entrepreneurs and how to manage them; includes a detailed checklist of what an investor wants to know about you and your business; and much more.

As traditional finance options tighten up, private equity is an increasingly important source of capital, both debt and equity. There are billions of dollars of private equity funds available in Canada and millions of businesses looking for money, but the two don’t always know how to find one another and, when they do, usually don’t speak the same language.

Intensely practical and laced with first-hand stories from entrepreneurs and financiers, Money Magnet is the complete how-to guide to private equity for business founders and owners: what it is and how it works, how and where to find it, how to be successful in attracting it, and all the benefits and pitfalls of raising financing this way.

Money Magnet is the ultimate insider’s guide to PE, busting countless myths, taking you behind closed doors with investors, and giving you all the tools you need to be successful in attracting private equity:

• Describes how to meet venture capitalists and fund managers.
• Introduces the different types of PE investors (e.g., angels, venture capitalists, fund managers and institutional investors)
• Shows how to make a convincing pitch to an investor.
• Reveals what makes investors cringe and what makes them open up their cheque book.
• Provides strategies to deal with the four brutal questions all investors ask.
• Explains in detail the deal process and the deal sheet.
• Gives advice on common conflicts between investors and entrepreneurs, and how to manage them.
• Includes detailed checklists of what an investor wants to know about you and your business.