Venture capitalists aren’t the vultures they’re said to be. They’re just investors, and the key to dealing with investors is having a relationship, according to this witty exchange between the author and her construct, the Everyman-entrepreneur, who discuss financing at a typical gathering for entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs should cultivate relationships with outsiders who can offer support and advice, even though “mentoring,” as it’s often called, is typically considered an instrument of corporate career-building. In this insightful article by an entrepreneur who founded a non-profit organization to pair owners of young companies with seasoned business owners, the author advises entrepreneurs to seek help from peers as well as superiors and from several outsiders rather than a single guru.
For aspiring and active entrepreneurs, financing growth isn’t always a matter of taking readily available funding. In this article, Jeff Gordon, who founded two companies in the decade since graduating from college, says the entrepreneur really seeks the best “engine” for fueling growth, which isn’t necessarily money. He offers tips for choosing from an array of monetary and nonmonetary options.