Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women from Coursera

This free online course is one of 10 courses available in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women collection, designed for entrepreneurs ready to take their business to the next level.

In this course, you will learn how to finance business opportunities that lead to growth, by exploring different types of funding. You will learn how acquisition financing and funding applications for grants or loans can support and expand your business opportunity. You will evaluate your business’s financial profile and plan actions to improve it.

The exercises will guide you through discovering potential types of funding for your business and help you to identify the information you may need for future funding requirements.

By the end of the course, you will understand the importance of having a financial strategy and approaching funding strategically – applying the skills you have developed to make a good funding application to facilitate your business growth.

If you are unsure of your future cash flow needs, you may wish to complete one of the other Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women courses, ‘Fundamentals of Financial Planning’, to predict financial challenges, so that you can make strategic choices for your business.

The 10,000 Women course collection offers a truly flexible online learning experience. You have the freedom to approach the program in any way that works for you – take any course, or combination of courses, to tailor your learning journey to your individual business growth needs. If you choose to take all 10 courses, you will explore all the key elements of your business and develop a thorough plan for your business’s growth.

You can find out more about the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women collection in the FAQs.

What's inside

Syllabus

Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women

This course explores the potential use of strategic finance to support and expand your opportunity. The exercises are designed to guide you through different opportunities to use external funding to transform your business, and help you consider the information needed for funding applications. The aim of the course is for you to be able to understand and consider the different strategic options you can use to grow your business. You will also explore how to approach the funding necessary to facilitate your business growth.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines how funding can support business growth

Led by seasoned professionals from Goldman Sachs and other reputable institutions

Develops strategic approaches to funding, including acquisition financing and grant applications

Guides learners through exercises to identify potential funding sources and gather necessary information

Helps entrepreneurs understand and improve their business's financial profile

Encourages a strategic approach to funding applications for successful business growth

Reviews summary

Highly praised funding course with goldman sachs

According to students, Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women is a largely positive course that offers practical tools to prepare for and secure funding. Learners say the course features engaging assignments and beautifully explained concepts. It's suitable for newcomers to the topic, providing a great foundation and useful information.

Makes learning interactive and enjoyable.

"Also, the exercises are fun to complete and challenging, since they push you towards dreaming of your own growth."

"I learned basic but very important information about business funding types, and aspects of a business that funders care about before making an investment decision. This course also includes some fun and interesting simulation exercises that made me think like a potential investor."

Provides a solid base in funding concepts.

"Great foundation and many examples to help drive home the ideas"

"As a student, this course was very practical to help me get more familiar with the terminology and certain determining aspects of funding."

Prepares students to secure funding.

"Provides practical tools to manage your business finances and getting ready for potential funders."

"It was an eye opener to me on different funding option and different things funders might be interested in the business before funding decision can be made"

"This course contains super insightful information for newcomers to this topic!"

May lack depth for those seeking advanced knowledge.

"Not enough material to cover funding a business"

"I feel something is missing for me in this course ... Like how to prepare file to apply for funding , How to find sources to apply for funding "

Students request certificates for credibility.

"Please issue Participant Certificate, So we can motivate to other as well"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women with these activities:

Review Business Concepts

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Reviewing business concepts will refresh your memory and strengthen your grasp of the subject matter covered in this course.

Browse courses on Business Concepts

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Revise definitions and theories related to business operations
Review case studies and real-world examples of business concepts

Connect with Business Advisors and Mentors

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Connecting with business advisors and mentors can provide you with valuable guidance and support as you navigate the funding landscape for your business.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify potential mentors and advisors
Reach out and introduce yourself
Schedule regular meetings to seek advice and support
Build a strong relationship with your mentors and advisors

Compile a List of Funding Resources

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Compiling a list of funding resources will provide you with a valuable repository of information and contacts for potential funding opportunities.

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Research and identify different types of funding resources
Create a spreadsheet or database to organize the resources
Include information such as the name of the organization, website, contact details, and eligibility criteria

Three other activities

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Show all six activities

Read 'Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist'

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Reading 'Venture Deals' will provide you with valuable insights and practical advice on negotiation and structuring venture capital deals, which can be essential for obtaining funding for your business.

View Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and... on Amazon

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Familiarize yourself with the different types of venture capital deals
Understand the key terms and conditions of venture capital agreements
Learn how to negotiate and structure favorable venture capital deals

Develop a Funding Strategy Plan

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Developing a funding strategy plan will help you identify and secure the necessary funding for your business, increasing your chances of success.

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Define your funding needs and goals
Research different funding options
Create a financial forecast and projections
Prepare a funding pitch

Launch a Business Simulation Project

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Participating in a business simulation project will provide you with a real-world experience of making funding decisions and managing a business.

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Join or form a team with other participants
Develop a business plan and strategy
Secure funding for your business
Manage your business and make funding decisions
Analyze the results and learn from your experience

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Analyst

Financial analysts use financial data to provide insights on the performance and value of a company. They also develop financial models to forecast future performance. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course can provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Financial Analyst. This course will help you understand how to analyze financial data, how to build financial models, and how to make informed investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Investment Banker

Investment bankers help companies raise capital and provide financial advice. They also help companies merge and acquire other companies. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course can provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as an Investment Banker. This course will help you understand how to raise capital, how to provide financial advice, and how to structure mergers and acquisitions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Commercial Banker

Commercial bankers provide financial services to businesses. They help businesses with everything from getting loans to managing their cash flow. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course can provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Commercial Banker. This course will help you understand how to provide financial services to businesses, how to assess credit risk, and how to manage cash flow.

See salaries and explore the career path for Commercial Banker

Private Equity Investor

Private equity investors invest in companies that are not publicly traded. They typically invest in companies that they believe have the potential to grow and generate high returns. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course can provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Private Equity Investor. This course will help you understand how to identify and evaluate investment opportunities, how to structure private equity transactions, and how to manage private equity portfolios.

See salaries and explore the career path for Private Equity Investor

Venture Capitalist

Venture capitalists invest in early-stage companies that have the potential to become high-growth businesses. They provide funding to these companies in exchange for equity. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course can provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Venture Capitalist. This course will help you understand how to identify and evaluate investment opportunities, how to structure venture capital transactions, and how to manage venture capital portfolios.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capitalist

Financial Planner

Financial planners help individuals and families with their financial planning needs. They help clients with everything from budgeting to retirement planning. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course can provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Financial Planner. This course will help you understand how to provide financial planning advice, how to create financial plans, and how to manage investment portfolios.

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Insurance Agent

Insurance agents sell insurance policies to individuals and businesses. They help clients identify the right insurance coverage for their needs. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course may be useful for this role, as it can help you understand the different types of insurance policies available and how to sell them to clients.

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Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents help people buy and sell real estate. They represent buyers or sellers in real estate transactions. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course may be useful for this role, as it can help you understand the different aspects of real estate transactions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Agent

Mortgage Broker

Mortgage brokers help people get mortgages to buy homes. They work with lenders to find the best mortgage rates and terms for their clients. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course may be useful for this role, as it can help you understand the different types of mortgages available and how to get the best rates for your clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mortgage Broker

Loan Officer

Loan officers help people get loans for various purposes, such as buying a car or starting a business. They work with lenders to find the best loan rates and terms for their clients. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course may be useful for this role, as it can help you understand the different types of loans available and how to get the best rates for your clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Loan Officer

Tax Preparer

Tax preparers help people prepare their tax returns. They make sure that their clients are getting all of the tax deductions and credits that they are entitled to. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course may be useful for this role, as it can help you understand the different tax laws and how to prepare tax returns.

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Budget Analyst

Budget analysts help organizations develop and manage their budgets. They also analyze financial data to identify potential problems and recommend solutions. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course may be useful for this role, as it can help you understand the different aspects of budgeting and financial analysis.

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Accountant

Accountants prepare and interpret financial statements. They also help businesses with tax planning and compliance. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course may be useful for this role, as it can help you understand the different aspects of accounting and financial reporting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accountant

Credit Analyst

Credit analysts evaluate the creditworthiness of individuals and businesses. They make recommendations on whether or not to lend money to these entities. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course may be useful for this role, as it can help you understand the different factors that are considered when evaluating credit risk.

See salaries and explore the career path for Credit Analyst

Financial Advisor

Financial advisors help people manage their finances. They provide advice on everything from investing to retirement planning. The Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women course may be useful for this role, as it can help you understand the different aspects of financial planning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Advisor