Entrepreneur 101: Raising Cash & Venture Capital Funding from Udemy

Are You An Entrepreneur, CEO or Business Owner?

Are You Frustrated or Overwhelmed With The Capital Raising Process?

Do You Have A Great Business Model But Need Funds To Get Started?

Do You Not Know Where To Start With Finding Venture Capital?

If You Answered "Yes" To Any Of The Above, Look No Further. This Is The Course For You.

Updated with new content.

Enroll today and join the 100,000+ successful students I have taught as a Top Rated Udemy instructor.

Three reasons to TAKE THIS COURSE right now:

You get lifetime access to lectures, including all new lectures, assignments, quizzes and downloads
You can ask me questions and see me respond to every single one of them thoroughly.
You will are being taught by a professional with a proven track record of success.
Bonus reason: I have worked directly with Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors. I've presented in their board rooms, met with them one on one, presented at board meetings for companies they invested in. Unlike others, I actually know how the venture capital and angel investor worlds operate.
Extra Bonus Reason: Udemy has a 100% refund policy - no questions asked and no risk for you.

Recent Reviews:

John L of Maven Capital Group says "Excellent course. I wish more people knew the proper way to approach venture capital investors. With so many start up companies out there, having the edge above the others by knowing the proper process and what is expected of start up companies is of utmost importance. This is the best course I’ve taken on Udemy. Chris is a terrific instructor and very knowledgable about the topic. Definitely the go to guy on learning about VC Funding.”

Do You Want To Learn The Effective, Insider Methods To Raising Venture Capital For Your Company?

Lets face it, finding investors for your business can be difficult at best. Its actually pretty much impossible. If you are new to the journey you may not yet have endured the endless "not interested" comments you will receive. If you have been trying for some time, you are probably exhausted by those "not interested" comments.

There's still hope. Let me teach you how to wow angel investors and venture capitalists. Knowledge is power and we are about to empower you.

Lets work together to change that and GET YOUR COMPANY FUNDED. If you have an investment worthy business, then lets empower you with the skills, knowledge and tools needed to find those investors and have them writing you a check.

By the end of this course you will be ready have INVESTORS

What You Will Learn In This Course

This course teaches entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses all things involved in the capital raising process from A to Z. Starting with an introduction to what to expect from the process, to what tools you will need, and how to go about finding potential investors is covered.

With so many companies looking for capital and a limited supply of lenders & investors, it is important to give yourself any advantage you can to make the process effective and results oriented. The investment process is often misunderstood - how much should you ask for, can you back it up, how do you approach investors, what type of investors are best, what should your expectations be for the investment process. Get all your questions answered with this course.

I will help you.

At any point during the course if you are confused or need clarification, send me a message. I'm here to help YOU the student, and I love interacting with you. I've been in accounting & finance over 25 years and can most likely answer your question.

Still not sold? See what my friend JT had to say about it when I had him review it:

If you are a startup CEO or small business, don't be scared by the raising capital process. It can be daunting, but after this course you will be well equipped to get funding for your company.

Additional Bonuses

I have also included a copy of my ebook "Fund Your Startup by Chris Benjamin" which you will find as a download in the last lecture. Learn your options for funding, where to find investors, how to wow them, and lastly the must do steps to successful funding.

CLICK "BUY NOW" Having spent the first 10 years of my career in corporate settings with both large and small companies, I learned a lot about the accounting process, managing accounting departments, financial reporting, external reporting to board of directors and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and working with external auditors.

The following 10+ years I decided to go into CFO Consulting, working with growing companies and bringing CFO level experience to companies. I help implement proper best business practices in accounting and finance, consult on implementation of accounting systems, implementing accounting procedures, while also still fulfilling the CFO roll for many of my clients which includes financial reporting, auditing, working with investors, financial analysis and much more.

Thank you for signing up for this course on Udemy. I look forward to being your instructor for this course and many more.

Chris Benjamin, Instructor, CFO & MBA

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn from a top rated instructor who has been teaching on udemy since 2013 and taught over 100,000 students!
Create investor worthy presentations
Plan of action
Understand the entire process
Calculate capital requirements
Types of investors

Venture capital
Angel investors
Private equity
Locating investors
Investment documents
And much more!

Learn from a top rated instructor who has been teaching on udemy since 2013 and taught over 100,000 students!
Create investor worthy presentations
Plan of action
Understand the entire process
Calculate capital requirements
Types of investors
Venture capital
Angel investors
Private equity
Locating investors
Investment documents
And much more!

Syllabus

Introduction

Introduction to the course

Course Reviews and Feedback System

Excel Basics - Formatting, Reports and Charts

A discussion of how much capital you need to raise.

Discussion of the differences between Debt and Equity and what each of them is

Matching Services discussion and warning

Introduction to Crowdfunding

Screen shot video of 4 major crowdfunding platforms

Pros and Cons of Crowdfunding

Introduction to Venture Capital

A discussion of the Venture Capital process

The Pros and Cons of Venture Capital

Introduction to Angel Investors

The Angel Investor process

Pros and Cons of Angel Investors

Introduction to Business Plans

Screen capture review of a business plan

Final comments on business plans

A full sample business plan

Introduction to Financial Models

Screen capture review of a Financial Model

Financial Models final comments

Introduction to Investor Presentations

Screen capture review of an Investor Presentation

Final comments about Investor Presentations

Sample investor presentation

Introduction to valuation methods. As well a paper written about the topic is available for download.

Screen capture review of a valuation summary

Final comments on Valuation Methods

A simple valuation summary

Introduction to term sheets. As well a term sheet explanation of terminology is attached for you to download.

Screen capture review of a Term Sheet

Final comments on Term Sheets

Sample of a term sheet

Introduction to Exit Strategies

Discussion about Management Buy Outs

Discussion about Leveraged Buy Outs

Discussion about Initial Public Offerings

Discussion about Merger and Acquisitions

Exit strategy checklist with pros and cons of each method

Course wrap up and final comments

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers topics from A to Z, which may help those new to the capital raising process gain a comprehensive understanding

Includes quizzes on venture capital, angel investors, business plans, financial models, investor presentations, and term sheets, reinforcing key concepts

Explores topics such as crowdfunding, venture capital, angel investors, and private equity, providing a broad overview of funding options

Features screen capture reviews of business plans, financial models, investor presentations, and term sheets, offering practical insights

Includes discussions of exit strategies such as management buyouts, leveraged buyouts, IPOs, and mergers and acquisitions, which is useful for long-term planning

Requires learners to have basic familiarity with Excel, which may pose a barrier to some students without prior spreadsheet experience

Reviews summary

Practical guide to raising business capital

According to learners, "Entrepreneur 101: Raising Cash & Venture Capital Funding" provides a clear and actionable overview of the fundraising process for entrepreneurs. Students widely praise the instructor's real-world experience and ability to demystify complex topics. A particularly strong point highlighted by many is the inclusion of valuable sample documents, such as business plans, financial models, and term sheets, which are considered highly practical resources. While many find the course provides a solid foundation, some more experienced individuals note that certain sections lack advanced depth or felt rushed, suggesting it is best suited for beginners. A few mention varying video quality. Overall, the course is seen as a highly practical guide backed by the instructor's expertise.

Provides a solid introduction to the capital raising journey.

"Useful for beginners, but intermediate folks might want more."

"Good for absolute beginners though."

"As someone new to fundraising, this course gave me the foundation I needed."

"I felt this course was perfectly pitched for someone just starting out."

Breaks down complex fundraising steps into understandable parts.

"Chris breaks down complex topics into simple terms."

"Very clear and actionable steps. The instructor's advice is spot-on..."

"This course demystifies fundraising."

"I now have a much clearer understanding of the entire process from start to finish."

Learn from a professional with real-world VC experience.

"The instructor's experience really shines through. This course is a must-have before approaching investors."

"The instructor is highly experienced and explains everything thoroughly."

"Chris is an excellent instructor. His real-world examples make the content relatable and easy to understand."

"I learned a lot from an instructor who clearly knows the venture capital world inside and out."

Get essential templates like business plans and term sheets.

"The real-world examples and sample documents (business plan, financial model, term sheet) are incredibly valuable."

"Useful template documents."

"The sample materials alone are worth the price."

"The sample term sheet and valuation info were useful starting points for me."

Some lectures have lower video or delivery quality.

"The video quality isn't the best in some lectures."

"Video quality was poor."

"Sometimes the delivery is a bit dry, but the content is valuable."

"I noticed inconsistent audio or video quality across different modules."

May not cover complex strategies for experienced entrepreneurs.

"...felt some areas were rushed."

"Too basic for my needs. I already knew most of this from free online resources."

"Was hoping for more negotiation tactics or how to handle difficult investor questions."

"I found parts of the content a bit too introductory given my background."

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 Entrepreneur 101: Raising Cash & Venture Capital Funding with these activities:

Review Financial Accounting Principles

Show steps

Reviewing financial accounting principles will help you better understand the financial models and valuations discussed in the course.

Browse courses on Financial Accounting

Show steps

Review key accounting concepts and terminology.
Practice analyzing financial statements.

Read 'The Lean Startup'

Show steps

Reading 'The Lean Startup' will provide valuable insights into building a successful startup and raising capital efficiently.

View The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use... on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'The Lean Startup'.
Read the book, focusing on the concepts of validated learning and minimum viable product.
Reflect on how these concepts can be applied to your own business.

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

Show steps

Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of venture capital deals and term sheets, which are crucial for raising capital.

View Startup Boards: A Field Guide to Building and... on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Venture Deals'.
Read the book, focusing on chapters related to term sheets and valuations.
Take notes on key concepts and negotiation strategies.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Write a blog post about crowdfunding

Show steps

Writing a blog post about crowdfunding will help you solidify your understanding of the topic and share your knowledge with others.

Show steps

Research different crowdfunding platforms and strategies.
Outline the key points you want to cover in your blog post.
Write a clear and concise blog post with examples.
Edit and proofread your blog post before publishing.

Develop an Investor Pitch Deck

Show steps

Developing an investor pitch deck will allow you to apply the concepts learned in the course and prepare for real-world fundraising.

Show steps

Define your target audience and investment goals.
Create a compelling narrative about your business.
Design visually appealing slides with key information.
Practice your pitch and get feedback.

Attend a local startup event

Show steps

Attending a startup event will allow you to network with other entrepreneurs and potential investors.

Show steps

Research local startup events in your area.
Prepare a brief introduction about yourself and your business.
Attend the event and network with other attendees.
Follow up with interesting contacts after the event.

Create a financial model for your business

Show steps

Creating a financial model will help you understand your business's financial projections and capital requirements.

Show steps

Gather historical financial data for your business.
Project future revenue and expenses based on realistic assumptions.
Create a cash flow statement, income statement, and balance sheet.
Analyze your financial model and identify key drivers of profitability.

Career center

Learners who complete Entrepreneur 101: Raising Cash & Venture Capital Funding will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chief Executive Officer

A chief executive officer is the highest-ranking executive in a company, responsible for making strategic decisions, managing operations, and ensuring the company's long-term success. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course is directly relevant for CEOs, providing a comprehensive overview of the capital raising process. This training helps build a foundation in understanding how to create investor-worthy presentations, navigate the venture capital and angel investor landscape, and effectively manage the financial aspects of the business. The course's coverage of valuations, term sheets, and exit strategies equips the CEO with essential knowledge for strategic decision-making and long-term growth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Executive Officer

Startup Founder

A startup founder is responsible for creating and growing a new business. This involves developing a business plan, securing funding, building a team, and managing operations. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course may be particularly useful for startup founders, as it addresses the challenges of raising capital. The course helps build a foundation in creating investor-worthy presentations, understanding different types of investors, and navigating the venture capital process. The course touches on business plans, financial models, and valuations which may be directly applicable to the challenges faced by a startup founder. It will also help to know about angel investors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Startup Founder

Venture Capitalist

A venture capitalist invests in startups and small businesses with high growth potential. This career involves analyzing business plans, assessing market opportunities, and making investment decisions. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course helps build a foundation in understanding the capital raising process from the entrepreneur's perspective. Such a background may be beneficial when evaluating potential investments. The course's discussion of investor presentations, financial models, and term sheets may prove useful to a venture capitalist as they negotiate deals and manage their portfolio. The modules on locating investors and understanding investor types helps those on both sides of venture capital.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capitalist

Angel Investor

An angel investor provides capital for startups, often using their own personal funds. Success in this role requires a solid understanding of business valuation, deal negotiation, and risk assessment. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course helps anyone seeking to be an angel investor by providing insights into the fundraising process from the entrepreneur's point-of-view. This course may be useful as it also covers topics such as investor presentations and financial models, which are key components in evaluating investment opportunities. The sections covering types of investors, locating investors, and investment documents could be very helpful when determining an investment strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Angel Investor

Private Equity Associate

A private equity associate supports the investment team in sourcing, evaluating, and executing private equity deals. This role involves financial modeling, due diligence, and industry research. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course helps a private equity associate by providing a foundational understanding of the capital raising process from the perspective of entrepreneurs and startups. The course touches on topics such as venture capital, angel investors, and investment documents, which are essential for assessing investment opportunities. The course's coverage of term sheets, valuations, and exit strategies could be beneficial in the due diligence process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Private Equity Associate

Chief Financial Officer

A chief financial officer oversees the financial operations of a company. This includes financial planning, reporting, and risk management. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course may be useful for a chief financial officer, particularly in a startup or growth-stage company. The course touches on the capital raising process, including navigating venture capital and angel investors. The instructor's direct experience working with venture capitalists and angel investors could be very useful. The course's syllabus includes investor presentations, financial models, and term sheets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Financial Officer

Business Development Manager

A business development manager focuses on identifying and pursuing new business opportunities to drive revenue growth. This often involves networking, building relationships with potential partners, and negotiating deals. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course helps a business development manager by providing a framework for understanding the capital raising process, which can be valuable when working with startups or companies seeking funding. The sections on venture capital, angel investors, and private equity could be particularly relevant, as they offer insights into how these types of investors operate within the business ecosystem. This course may be useful to have a shared language in fundraising.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Investment Banker

An investment banker advises companies on raising capital through the issuance of stocks and bonds. This role involves financial modeling, valuation analysis, and deal structuring. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course may be useful for investment bankers, as it provides insights into the perspectives and needs of entrepreneurs seeking funding. Understanding the various stages of the venture capital process, as covered in the course, provides a foundation for structuring deals that align with both investor and company goals. The course's coverage of investor presentations, term sheets, and exit strategies helps build a well-rounded understanding of the investment lifecycle.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Financial Analyst

A financial analyst evaluates financial data, conducts market research, and provides investment recommendations. This role requires expertise in financial modeling, valuation, and risk analysis. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course may be useful as it provides a practical understanding of the capital raising process, which is essential for assessing the viability of investment opportunities. It touches on calculating capital requirements, understanding different types of investors, and creating investor-worthy presentations. The course's modules on financial models and valuations supplement the analytical skills required for financial analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Portfolio Manager

A portfolio manager is responsible for managing investment portfolios for individuals or institutions. This involves making investment decisions, monitoring market trends, and managing risk. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course helps portfolio managers by deepening the understanding of alternative investments, such as venture capital and private equity. The course touches on identifying promising investment opportunities and evaluating the potential risks and returns associated with them. The course's coverage of venture capital, angel investors, and financial modeling provides valuable insights for making informed investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Business Consultant

A business consultant advises companies on improving their performance and efficiency. This involves analyzing business operations, identifying problems, and developing solutions. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course may be useful for business consultants, particularly those working with startups or small businesses. The course touches on capital raising process, including creating investor-worthy presentations and understanding different types of investors. The course's coverage of business plans, financial models, and valuations may be directly applicable to helping companies prepare for fundraising or strategic planning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Consultant

Fundraising Manager

A fundraising manager is responsible for developing and implementing fundraising strategies for nonprofit organizations. Success in this role requires strong communication, relationship-building, and financial management skills. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course may be useful as it provides a foundation in understanding the capital raising process. The course touches on how to create investor-worthy presentations, how to understand different types of investors, and how to locate investors. This may be useful to understand how to attract funding. The discussion of financial models may also be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fundraising Manager

Sales Manager

A sales manager leads a team of sales representatives to achieve sales targets. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course may be useful as it provides insights into the financial aspects of running a business, which helps in understanding sales strategies and their impact on the company's overall financial health. The course touches on understanding capital requirements, creating investor-worthy presentations, and financial models. The course's topic on understanding what investors look for in a presentation may inform how a sales manager presents their own sales data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Product Manager

A product manager is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product or product line. This role requires market analysis, customer understanding, and technical aptitude. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course may be useful as it provides insights into how investors evaluate new ventures. The course touches on the importance of creating investor-worthy presentations, understanding market opportunities, and developing financial models. It may help to better align product development with the company's overall fundraising goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Marketing Director

A marketing director is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote a company's products or services. This role requires a deep understanding of market trends, consumer behavior, and marketing channels. The 'Entrepreneur 101' course may be useful as it provides insights into how investors evaluate a company's potential. The course touches on the importance of creating investor-worthy presentations, financial models, and business plans. This may inform a marketing director's understanding of how their marketing efforts contribute to a company's overall valuation and attractiveness to investors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Director

Entrepreneur 101

Raising Cash & Venture Capital Funding

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical guide to raising business capital

Activities

Career center

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