Before fundraising we advise entrepreneurs to educate themselves on the process and terms. It is important that you understand what you are signing up for and the potential ramifications further down the track. Signing up to the wrong terms can have disastrous consequences.
Entrepreneur education
Reading
We suggest you read these basic texts or something similar, so that you understand common terms.
- ‘Secrets of Sand Hill Road, Venture Capital and How To Get It’ by Scott Kupor.
- ‘Venture Deals’ Brad Feld and John Mendelsohn: the founders’ and venture capitalist’s bible
- ‘Angel Investing’ by David Rose: a comprehensive and straightforward explanation of how angel investing works’
- Review the standard term sheet and seed documents on the AVCAL website
- Review Airtree Ventures open sourced VC term sheet complete with clear explanations of terms
- Read 20 ways your company will fail by Jason Mendelson or watch it here.
Further reading
“ Knowledge is power. Be more Tony Stark and read this list” Ian Gardiner, Investment Partner, Jelix Ventures.
Preparing your Pitch
- Google “One Page Pitch Canvas” for a simple guide to the structure and content investors want to see in your deck.
- Watch the TED talk on YouTube entitled “How to avoid death By PowerPoint” for a simple and powerful guide to how to present your deck.
Innovation Bay
Register as an entrepreneur and come along to the breakfast events for networking and hear pearls of wisdom from successful entrepreneurs, investors and other startup community luminaries.
Podcasts
‘Open the Pod Bay Doors’ hosted by Ian Gardiner, Investment Partner, Jelix Ventures – another way to listen and learn from startup sector superstars. Brownie points if you don’t need help making the Space Odessy 2001 connection.
Videos
Potential sources of Funding
- Innovation Bay –Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, (You can also attend great brekkie events to hear pearls of wisdom from rockstar founders.) www.innovationbay.com
- Sydney Angels http://sydneyangels.net.au/
- Brisbane Angels http://www.brisbaneangels.com.au/
- Melbourne Angels http://melbourneangels.net/
- Capital Angels – Canberra http://www.capitalangels.com.au/
- Scale: Women angel investors funding women entrepreneurs http://scaleinvestors.com.au/
- For more details you can review this, but it was published in 2016 so may be a little out of date. http://www.pollenizer.com/2016/08/09/funding-options-available-startups-australia/
- Airtree Ventures: opensource list of investors https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LoF39WfiwJOpivK5xDZ7ZXjLCME07nWcKxjlD2a2Ih8/edit#gid=2136785868
Female Founders
If you are a female founder we suggest you explore the following fabulous resources:
- Heads Over Heels: Cherry picking strong female founders and helping them accelerate growth by way of powerful introductions and coaching http://headsoverheels.com.au/
- SpringBoard: Bootcamp for women founders- helping clarify business model, coaching, pitch training and more – https://sb.co/
- Elevacao: Pitch training and more, for very early stage female tech founders http://www.elevacao.org/
- Inspiring Rare Birds: All sorts of training sessions and resources aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs, including a dedicated grants application expert http://www.inspiringrarebirds.com/
- Scale: Women angel investors funding women entrepreneurs http://scaleinvestors.com.au/
- LMBDW ( ie Like Minded Bitches Drinking Wine)- young, vibrant, global network of women entrepreneurs, co- founded by fabulous female entrepreneur Gen George http://likemindedbitches.com/
Grants
Federal
- R&D Tax Incentive: https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Research-and-development-tax-incentive/
- Entrepreneurs’ Programme: https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/entrepreneurs-programme
- Export Market Development Grant: https://www.austrade.gov.au/Australian/Export/Export-Grants/About/what-is-emdg
- Landing Pads: https://www.australiaunlimited.com/LandingPads/apply-now
- CSIRO Kick-Start: https://www.csiro.au/en/Do-business/Solutions-for-SMEs/Our-Funding-programs/CSIRO-Kick-Start
- IP Australia: https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/about-us/news-and-community/news/grants-and-assistance-
- General Information – Innovation and Science Australia: https://www.business.gov.au/assistance
- General Information – National Innovation and Science Agenda: https://www.innovation.gov.au/
- General Information – Department of Industry Innovation & Science: https://industry.gov.au/Innovation-and-Science-Australia/Pages/default.aspx
- Manufacturing Modernisation Fund: https://www.business.gov.au/Grants-and-Programs/Manufacturing-Modernisation-Fund
NSW
- Tech Vouchers: https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/business-and-industry-in-nsw/innovation-and-research/techvouchers
- Minimum Viable Product Grants: https://www.jobsfornsw.com.au/our-products/minimum-viable-product
- Building Partnerships Grants: https://www.jobsfornsw.com.au/our-products/building-partnerships-grants
- Accelerating Growth Loans: https://www.jobsfornsw.com.au/our-products/accelerating-growth-loans
- General Information: https://www.innovation.nsw.gov.au/whats-happening/grants-startups
QLD
- Accelerate Small Business Grants: https://advance.qld.gov.au/
- Office of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur: https://www.chiefentrepreneur.qld.gov.au/
VIC
- Invest Victoria: http://www.invest.vic.gov.au/how-we-can-help/planning/incentives-grants-and-programs
- Launch Vic: https://launchvic.org/
WA
- New Enterprise Incentive Scheme: http://www.newindustries.wa.gov.au/
NT
- Business Growth Program: https://nt.gov.au/industry/start-run-and-grow-a-business/business-growth-program