10 Funding Options To Raise Startup Capital For Your Business

According to a recent study conducted in 2021 over 47% of new businesses fail during the first year of operation. Lack of funding turns out to be one of the common reasons. Money is the bloodline of any business. The long painstaking yet exciting journey from the idea to revenue-generating business needs a fuel named capital. That’s why, at almost every stage of the business, entrepreneurs find themselves asking - How do I finance my startup?

Now, when would you require funding depends largely on the nature and type of the business, But once you have realized the need for fundraising, below are some of the different short-term loans, capital loans, and other capital finance provisions for your startup.

1) Bootstrapping your startup business:

Self-funding, also known as bootstrapping, is an effective way of startup financing, especially when you are just starting your business. First-time entrepreneurs often have trouble getting funding without first showing some traction and a plan for potential success. You can invest from your savings or can get your family and friends to contribute. This will be easy to raise due to fewer formalities/compliances, plus fewer costs of raising. In most situations, family and friends are flexible with the interest rate.

This is a great funding option for people was don’t have robust current assets that they can leverage to get loans from established financial institutions.

Self-funding or bootstrapping should be considered as a first funding option because of its advantages. When you have your own money, you are tied to business. At a later stage, investors consider this as a good point. But this is suitable only if the initial requirement is small. Some businesses need money right from the day and for such businesses, bootstrapping may not be a good option.

Bootstrapping is also about stretching resources - both financial and otherwise - as far as they can. Check out these 30 tips to save money and improve your business cash flow.

2) Crowdfunding As A Funding Option:

Crowdfunding is one of the newer ways of funding a startup, and it has been gaining popularity lately. It’s like taking a loan, pre-order, contribution, or investment from more than one person simultaneously.

This is how crowdfunding works - An entrepreneur will put up a detailed description of his business on a crowdfunding platform. They will mention the goals of their business, plans for making a profit, how much funding they need and for what reasons, etc., and then consumers can read about the business and give money if they like the idea. Those giving money will make online pledges with the promise of pre-buying the product or giving a donation. Anyone can contribute money toward helping a business that they believe in.

Why you should consider Crowdfunding as a funding option for your business:

The best thing about crowdfunding is that it can also generate interest and help in marketing the product alongside financing. It is also a boon if you are not sure if there will be any demand for the product you are working on. This process can cut out professional investors and brokers as well as reduce or eliminate the need for leverageable current assets. By putting capital financing in the hands of common people. It also might attract venture capital investment down the line if a company has a particularly successful campaign.

Also keep in mind that crowdfunding is a competitive place to earn funding, so unless your business is absolutely rock solid and can gain the attention of the average consumers through just a description and some images online, you may not find crowdfunding to work for you in the end.

Some of the popular crowdfunding sites in India are Indiegogo, Wishberry, Ketto, Fundlined, and Catapult.

In the US, Kickstarter, RocketHub, DreamFunded, Onevest, DonorBox, and GoFundMe are popular crowdfunding platforms.

3) Get Angel Investment In Your Startup:

Angel investors are individuals with surplus cash and a keen interest to invest in upcoming startups, by providing them with capital loans. They also work in groups of networks to collectively screen the proposals before investing. They can also offer mentoring or advice alongside capital finance.

Angel investors have helped to start up many prominent companies, including Google, Yahoo, and Alibaba. This alternative form of investing generally occurs in a company’s early stages of growth, with investors expecting up to 30% equity. They prefer to take more risks in investment for higher returns.

Angel Investment as a funding option has its shortcomings too. Angel investors invest lesser amounts than venture capitalists (covered in the next point).

Also keep in mind that crowdfunding is a competitive place to earn funding, so unless your business ro

Here is a list of popular Angel Investors in India - Indian Angel Network, Mumbai Angeland, and Hyderabad Angels.
Also check out the list of individual Angel Investors in India, some of these active angel investors have invested in many successful startups.

4) Get Venture Capital For Your Business:

This is where you make the big bets. Venture capital is professionally managed funds that invest in companies that have huge potential. They usually invest in a business against equity and exit when there is an IPO or an acquisition.

VCs provide expertise, and mentorship and act as a litmus test of where the organization is going, evaluating the business from the sustainability and scalability point of view.

A venture capital investment may be appropriate for small businesses that are beyond the startup phase and already generating revenues. Fast-growth companies like Flipkart, Uber, etc with an exit strategy already in place can gain up to tens of millions of dollars that can be used to invest, network, and grow their company quickly.

If you have a green energy company, then you can also opt for several government incentives for renewable energy companies and tax breaks. This is another good option to go along with your VC or investor funding.

However, there are a few downsides to Venture Capitalists as a funding option. VCs have a short leash when it comes to company loyalty and often look to recover their investment within a three- to five-year time window. If you have a product that is taking longer than that to get to market, venture capital investors may not be very interested in you.

They typically look for larger opportunities that are a little bit more stable, companies having a strong team of people and good traction. You also have to be flexible with your business and sometimes give up a little bit more control, so if you’re not interested in too much mentorship or compromise, this might not be your best option.

Learn all about raising VC funding.

Some of the well-known Venture Capitalists in India are - Nexus Venture Partners, Helion Ventures, Kalaari Capital, Accel Partners, Blume Ventures, Canaan, Sequoia Capital, and Bessemer Ventures.

5) Get Funding From Business Incubators & Accelerators:

Early-stage businesses can consider Incubator and Accelerator programs as funding options. Found in almost every major city, these programs assist hundreds of startup businesses every year.

Though used interchangeably, there are few fundamental differences between the two terms. Incubators are like parents to a child, who nurture the business by providing shelter tools and training and networking a business. Accelerators so more or less the same thing, but an incubator helps/assists/nurtures a business to walk, while a business accelerator helps to run/take a giant leap.

These programs normally run for 4-8 months and require a time commitment from the business owners. You will also be able to make good connections with mentors, investors, and other fellow startups using this platform.

In the US, companies like Dropbox and Airbnb started with an accelerator - Y Combinator. Here is a list of the top 10 incubators & accelerators in the US.

In India, popular names are Amity Innovation Incubator, AngelPrime, CIIE, IAN Business Incubator, Villgro, Startup Village, and TLabs.

Popular business accounting software - ProfitBooks is also part of Washington-based accelerator Village Capital.

6) Raise Funds By Winning Contests:

An increase in the number of contests has tremendously helped to maximize fundraising opportunities. It encourages entrepreneurs with business ideas to set up their businesses. In such competitions, you either have to build a product or prepare business ideas.

Winning these competitions can also get you some media coverage. We, at ProfitBooks, benefitted a lot when we were regional finalists in Microsoft BizSparks in 2013 and won the Hot100 Startup Award in 2014.

You need to make your project stand out to improve your success in these contests. You can either present your idea in person or pitch it through a business plan. It should be comprehensive enough to convince anyone that your idea is worth investing in.

Some of the popular startup contests in India are NASSCOM’s 10000 startups, Microsoft BizSparks, Conquest, NextBigIdea Contest, and Lets Ignite. Check out the latest startup programs & contests in your area. Here is a calendar of various Business Plan competitions.

7) Raise Money Through Bank Loans:

Normally, banks are the first place that entrepreneurs go when thinking about funding.

The bank provides two kinds of financing for businesses. One is a working capital loan, and the other is funding. A working Capital loan is the loan required to run one complete cycle of revenue-generating operations, and the limit is usually decided by hypothecating stocks and debtors.

For businesses looking for larger financing options, SBA 7(a) loans can also provide funding for uses such as business acquisitions, real estate purchases, equipment, construction, and refinancing. A specialized SBA loan broker can help business owners connect with lenders suited to their financing needs.

In specific service fields like construction, sub-contractors alternatively leverage a specialized contractor credit card to quickly cover upfront material and supplier overhead while waiting for these multi-month project invoices to clear.

Funding from the bank would involve the usual process of sharing the business plan and valuation details, along with the project report, based on which the loan is sanctioned.

With a bank loan is very important to make sure that you are eligible for the receivable loans. Be aware of the loan interest rates. Depending on the bank, the loan application process will vary, so make sure the repayment tenure is sufficient for your business.

Almost every bank in India offers SME finance through various programs. For instance, leading Indian banks - Bank Of Baroda, HDFC, ICICI, and Axis Bank have more than 7-8 different types of business loan options to offer collateral-free business loans. Check out the respective bank sites for more details.

Learn how to get working capital loans in India.

In the US, sites like Kabbage can help you get a fast business loan or working capital loan online in minutes.

Unlike traditional lenders, Kabbage approves small business loans by looking at real-life data, not just a credit score.

8) Get Business Loans From Microfinance Providers or NBFCs

What do you do when you can’t qualify for a bank loan? There is still an option. Microfinance is the access of financial services to those who do not have access to conventional banking services. It is increasingly becoming popular for those whose requirements are limited and whose credit ratings are not favored by bankLoansans provided by microfinance providers or NBFCs require minimal documentation and are well-suited for small businesses that are experiencing a cash crunch.

Similarly, NBFCs are Non-Banking Financial Corporations are corporations that provide Banking services without meeting the legal requirements/definitions of a bank.

Check the MicroFinance Institute Network for more details. Here is a list of the top MicroFinance companies in India.

At ProfitBooks, we have partnered with some of the top lenders in India to help you get funded.

Check Your Eligibility Now & Get Funded

9) Govt Programs That Offer Startup Capital:

The Government of India has launched a 10,000 Crore Startup Fund in the Uthe Union budget 2014-15 to improve the startup ecosystem in India. To boost innovative product companies, the Government has launched the ‘Bank Of Ideas and Innovations’ program.

Government-backed ‘Pradhan Mantri Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Limited (MUDRA)’ starts with an initial corpus of Rs. 20,000 crores to extend benefits to around 10 lakh SMEs. You are supposed to submit your business plan and once approved, the loan gets sanctioned. You get a MUDRA Card, which is like a credit card, which you can use to purchase raw materials, other expenses, etc. Shishu, Kishor, and Tarun are three categories of loans available under the promising scheme. Learn more about MUDRA.

If your startup or small business needs funding of more than 10 lakhs you can also apply for the Credit Guarantee scheme for micro & small enterprises. In this scheme, the upper capital limit is 5 cr which was recently updated from 2 cr. Just like MUDRA loans you need to submit your business plan once approved, the loan gets sanctioned. This is a very effective loan scheme for big capital loans.

Also, different states have come up with different programs like Kerala State Self Entrepreneur Development Mission (KSSEDM), Maharashtra Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Rajasthan Startup Fest, etc to encourage small businesses.

SIDBI - Small Industries Development Bank Of India also offers business loans to the MSME sector.

In the US, there is a small business lending fund and a dedicated portal for Government grants available for local businesses.

If you comply with the eligibility criteria, Government grants as a funding option could be one of the best. You just need to make yourself aware of the various Government initiatives.

Read about the Indian government’s Startup India Action Plan.

The Indian government has also announced the Atmanirbhar Bharat package to fight covid-19 situation.

 

10) Quick Ways To Raise Money For Your Business

There are a few more ways to raise funds for your business. However, these might not work for everyone. Still, check them out if you need quick funds.

Product Pre-sale: Selling your products before they launch is often overlooked and a highly effective way to raise the money needed for financing your business. Remember how Apple & Samsung start pre-orders of their products well ahead of the official launch? It’s a great way to improve flow flow and prepare yourself for consumer demand.

Selling Assets: This might sound like a tough step to take but it can help you meet your short-term fund requirements. Once you overcome the crisis, you can again buy back the assets.

Credit Cards: Business credit cards are among the most readily available ways to finance a startup and can be a quick way to get instant money. If you are a new business and don’t have tons of expenses, you can use a credit card and keep paying the minimum payment. However, keep in mind that the interest rates and costs on the cards can build very quickly, and carrying that debt can be detrimental to a business owner’s credit.

For entrepreneurs considering the fintech space, partnering with experienced teams specializing in lending software development can provide the technical foundation needed to create competitive digital lending platforms that attract both investors and users.

Loan Lending App Development: For tech-savvy entrepreneurs, loan lending app development could be a smart move to raise quick funds. By building a platform that connects borrowers with lenders, you can tap into the growing demand for accessible financing while generating revenue through service fees or interest shares.

Also, read about Invoice Discounting. It’s a good way to manage your cash flow in the short term.

Conclusion & Next Steps:

If you want to grow fast, you probably need outside sources of capital. If you bootstrap and remain without external funding for too long, you may be unable to take advantage of market opportunities.

And the future is here. Going green is inevitable. The best way to maximize profits today is by leveraging the business opportunities in EVs and other green energy solutions. Not only does this space have tax benefits, it’s also lucrative. Plus you’re helping the planet!

While the plethora of lending options may make it easier than ever to get started, responsible business owners should ask themselves how much financial assistance they need.

Now the big question is - How do you prepare your business for fundraising? It’s better to start from the beginning with good corporate governance as it might get hard to go back later and try to exert fiscal discipline. To address these concerns, invest in good accounting software and keep your finances in order.

Here is a quick guide for choosing the perfect accounting software for your business.

Check Your Eligibility Now & Get Funded

Also Read:
6 Important Business Metrics Every Startup Should Track
How to create a paperless office and save costs
30 Cost-cutting ideas to improve your cash flow
20 Tax saving tips for business owners

What is invoice discounting?