Making the first move is tough, but it gives you the confidence to lead a crowd behind you and take them along the right path.
Investing in startups is an exciting and challenging process. The investor must choose his area of interest before financing, since it’s vital to understand the business mode,l and you can also help the startup with your strategic inputs. Depending on your investment profile, you can choose the following options to fund a startup business.
- You can create a profile on global platforms like AngelList and CrunchBase to look out for interesting startups.
- There are also different deal making platforms like LetsVenture and Venturefund.com that will help you to get connected with the startup community.
- Crowdfunding is another choice if you want to invest smaller amounts along with another group of investors with common interests and risk appetite.
- You can also try to establish contact with accelerators to find better startups to invest in.
The startup ecosystem is highly volatile, so before you decide to invest in a startup business, you need to consider many things like the liability, accurate valuation of the firm, your timeline, and your exit strategy. Most of the small-business investment opportunities come from friends, family, or word of mouth. So, before you get into financing a new venture, measure your steps carefully. It’s vital to understand the business model and the revenue generation model.
Understand the structure of the business
There is always a chance that a startup business may fail. So, you need to understand the structure of the business and the risks involved in detail. Many startup businesses shut down within the first five years of operation mainly due to a flawed business model. Hence, if you do not understand the structure of the business, the chances of failure is high. It is important for the investor to limit their liability in the business. So, before investment, drafting the scope of the partnership and the associated liabilities is crucial for an investor.
You may not see profits in years
If you want to invest in startups, make sure that you are not in a hurry. Putting a large sum in a business can be a risky affair, and there are chances that you may not see any returns in years. Set milestones accordingly and understand the potential of the business to break even.
Plan an exit strategy
Investment in a new business venture means taking a risk. There are chances that the venture may fail and your investment is lost. It is good to wait for five years before you can expect some return on your investment. However, this varies depending on the nature of the business and if you need some liquidity before that period, you should plan a proper exit strategy. These clauses should be clarified upfront before investing and should be agreed upon by both parties with a legal stamp.
Homework
There is rarely any match between your expectation from the business and the real scenario. So, before you invest a lump sum amount in a startup, you need to do a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of the project. The startup should also have a proper business and marketing plan. Stay involved and review the performance of the startup periodically. You may consult a business valuation expert to take the correct decision.
Happy investing!
