All companies need money to invest in their future, build their products, hire the right people, expand their activities and tackle new markets. Getting the right sort of funding isn't simple though, and requires a strategy of its own to ensure the long-term support of banks and investors alike. First you need to determine the type of funding best adapted to your needs. For short-term purposes, getting banking facilities is the simplest way to go. On the other hand, if you need to fund organic growth or acquisitions, you should consider private investment - through a private equity firm or via your network - or a listing on public markets, depending on the size and maturity of your firm. If you go for private equity, make sure the investors are offering you the right deal structure.As for going public, it's a big step, and you need to be certain you are ready and willing to take it. Globo's founder and CEO Costis Papadimitrakopoulos advises caution: "As a driving force of the company, you need to be 100% sure that you want to share your personal success and profits. You need to decide how much you're ready to give away to make the company successful. Because once the company is listed, it's not your money anymore; it's everybody's money." Whether you are aiming for banking facilities or preparing to list your firm, you will need to convince your lenders or investors to back you over the long run. Having your bank threaten to withdraw facilities at a crucial time in your development could set you back several months. In the same way, investors may be under pressure to sell their stake in your company if you are going through a difficult patch, which will only make things harder to manage. To convince them of the value and potential of your business, you can use your network and show them your credentials. Reaching out to people who have seen you succeed on similar markets in a previous company will help you gain a solid base of core investors who are likely to stick with you through thick and thin.
Showing your personal commitment also sends a strong message to your investors, as Papadimitrakopoulos explains: "They will realize that if you put your own money into this venture you probably don't have second thoughts about making it work." But even more importantly, you must have a strong story to tell. It has to make sense from a business perspective, beyond the numbers themselves. Whether you are focusing on growth markets, tackling a high-profit niche or creating an offering that no one has come up with before, it has to hold up to scrutiny and be a solid narrative. In parallel, you need to prepare your company. For a listing, you need to review the possible deal structures and the available stock exchanges and decide on a transaction and a market that will be manageable while suiting your needs. If you are going for a private equity deal, you need to make sure you've chosen the right investors for you. In both cases, there will also be a lot of work in terms of changing your company structure and corporate governance, and in the case of a public listing this work has to be done beforehand. Geoff Thompson, CEO of Utilitywise, advises companies going public to prepare carefully: "It's absolutely critical that you're thoroughly prepared, because the process you have to follow is extremely intense and time-consuming." You will therefore need to have a strong team of advisors to help you with the process, as well as the right people to support you in the management of your operations. "You can take your eye off the ball if you're not careful," says Thompson. "You still have to run the business, so it's important that the management team stay focused." To then keep your investors on board, listening to their feedback and communicating with them on a regular basis are indispensable. "If you realize your investors are actually risking their money on your execution and listen to them, you will learn a lot that can help you make the business successful," concludes Papadimitrakopoulos.