Baltimore Gas and Electric’s Post

Did you know, access to capital remains a barrier to entry and growth for entrepreneurs? Consider the facts: ▪️ 90% of new businesses with employees need external capital at the start; ▪️ 78% of small business owners are concerned about their ability to access capital; and ▪️ 3.7 times more startups failed in 2022 due to lack of financing or investors than in 2021. Our SEC Small Business Advocacy Team seeks to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the state of U.S. small business capital formation, in their newly released 2023 annual report. The report lays out the state of capital formation, detailing the current flow of capital, and culminates with recommendations from the Team to improve capital-raising policy. We hope this year’s report reflects our Team’s passionate advocacy for small businesses and their investors! Read the report 👉 https://lnkd.in/eQeXY9u4

Could your business use a little boost? We’ve got just the thing to help you level up🚀Apply now to the Wells Fargo Equitable Access Boost Camp, presented in partnership with Hello Alice and Global Entrepreneurship Network! Over the course of 12 weeks, you’ll get access to expert-led sessions, education, mentorship, a peer support network, and so much more. If you’re a small business owner ready to fuel growth and learn from the experts, apply to one of the 500 coveted spots in this immersive accelerator today💻🤝✨ To be eligible, a small business owner must be: ✅An entrepreneur who is the leading executive (i.e. Founder and/or President, CEO, CFO, COO, or any such other similar title) of a business that meets the below business criteria; and ✅Eighteen (18) years of age or older (19 in AL and NE). To be eligible, a business must be: ✅A for-profit business located and registered in one of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. Learn more and apply before August 16, 2024 at 6 p.m. ET: https://lnkd.in/eYS7UCPn

Companies that scale are the beating heart of the Scottish economy 💙 Scottish Enterprise's range of commercialisation, start-up, and early-stage entrepreneurial growth support could help transform your thinking and accelerate your journey 📈 Alongside training, development support and tips on becoming investor-ready, Scottish Enterprise can also help showcase your company and connect you to local, national and international investors 🌐 Find out how it can get your business to scale 👉 https://ow.ly/rETB50SrEuL #BusinessGrowth

REPLAY AVAILABLE! Providing equitable access to capital is not a simple solution, but John Dearie, President of the Center for American Entrepreneurship, and Carolyn Rodz, CEO of Hello Alice tackled a few solutions in this conversation👇 Some highlights mentioned: 1️⃣ The Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act: The legislation would raise the cap on funds organized under the 2018 sub-category of #section3(c)(1) from $10 million to $50 million, and double the number of permitted investors from 250 to 500.  2️⃣ Senate Bill No. 54: Will require VC firms in the state of #California to annually report on the diversity of the founders they are backing. 3️⃣ An Act Relative to Fair Investment Practices S978 / H1708: Will extend workplace #sexualharassment and #genderdiscrimination protections to venture capital and equity investor relationships. #firesidechat #foundersjourney #entrepreneurship #fundraising #replay

First-time founders should know about pitching. Entrepreneurs always pitch. They pitch with investors to seek funding, they pitch with customers to introduce their product, they pitch with people to convince them to join their team. Guy Kawasaki give his rule 10/20/30 in pitching: 📜10 Pitching Slides (Maximum 15) - Optimal number to cover all key points - Going overboard won't seal the deal ⏳20 Minutes - You should deliver your pitch in 20 min max - Even if you have an hour booked - Things always go wrong, start late ✒️30 Point Font - Smallest size to use on slides - Prevents cramming in too much - Keeps it clear and readable The purpose of pitching isn't about closing the deal of VC firm at the meeting. It's about getting the next stage of due diligence. In Fundwise Masterclass, we don't only offer fundraising knowledge, we also have some pitching practice session so you can master this skill when pitching with investors. Register our course here: https://lnkd.in/gQy8zP44 #fundwise #fundraisingtips #firsttimefoundertips #fundwisemasterclass #fundraising101 #pitchingpractice

What will you begin? (And where will it lead you?) start /sta:t/ Verb: begin or be reckoned from a particular point in time or space. "the season starts in September" #startupfounders #startupcompany #begin

Marc Andreessen, cofounder of a16z, on the most common fundraising mistake that founders make: "The single biggest thing entrepreneurs are missing on fundraising and how they run their companies is the relationship between risk and raising cash." - Marc Andreessen The lesson? Understanding risk and its impact on your ability to raise funds is crucial. As entrepreneurs, it's vital to not just chase cash but to build a business model that intelligently manages risks. A clear and impactful message, encouraging entrepreneurs to reevaluate how they approach the crucial stages of building and funding their companies. By aligning risk management with your fundraising strategy, you open the door to more sustainable growth and success.

Don't let funding constraints hold you back! 💪 Discover the power of START-UP FUNDING and take charge of your entrepreneurial destiny! 💼 #StartupFunding #EmpowerEntrepreneurs #BusinessSuccess

Helpful advice for #founders. "The single biggest thing entrepreneurs are missing on fundraising and how they run their companies is the relationship between risk and raising cash." - Marc Andreessen Align risk management to your fundraising strategy. Paraphrased from video - "I raised X round, we achieved these milestones, we eliminated these risks. I am raising Y round, here are the milestones and here are risks being eliminated" The exact same method is used when deploying capital as an intrapreneur in a large organization. #fundraising #riskmanagement #vcfunding #raisingcapital