Getting Funded: Proof-of-Concept, Due Diligence, Risk and Reward

Investors receive thousands of business plans, but only a few businesses receive funding. While there are many "how-tos" out there for entrepreneurs, no one has focused on the mind-set, tools, and foundation that are important to investors, and therefore essential to entrepreneurs. Getting Funded examines and develops a framework on which to base a business concept, conduct due diligence research and risk analysis, refine a business model and reformulate a business strategy, and develop a risk and reward structure that protects investment money and incentivizes entrepreneurs to successfully manage the opportunity to create and share value. Getting Funded shows entrepreneurs the tools and framework critical to a venture's success, teaching entrepreneurs to refine their business model and strategy as well as to develop an investment model to improve the investability of the venture and thereby increase the chances of getting funded. Even without the need for external funding, these tools will improve a venture's potential odds of success.

Table of Contents:
Foreword; Ramona Kay Zachary PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Investment Model: An Overview PART II: IS THE MARKET OPPORTUNITY REAL AND LARGE ENOUGH? 2. Customer Value 3. Market Demand 4. Is the Opportunity Real and Large Enough? Refine the Customer Value Concept PART III: IS THE BUSINESS MODEL EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE? 5. Business Model Design 6. Financing Stage Milestones 7. Is the Business Model Efficient and Sustainable? Reconfigure the Business Model PART IV: IS THE REWARD WORTH THE RISK AND EFFORT? 8. Risk and Return 9. Investment Liquidity and Valuation 10. Is the Reward Worth the Risk and Effort? Realign the Incentive Structure

About the Author :
Chandra S. Mishra is Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Department of Management Programs, College of Business, Florida Atlantic University, USA. He is co-author of The Theory of Entrepreneurship (2014). His interests include finance and entrepreneurship, including venture design, venture capital, technology commercialization, incentive compensation, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions.

Review :
"Mishra provides a useful and sensible framework that will help entrepreneurs increase the likelihood they succeed and help investors increase the likelihood they invest in the right entrepreneurs and startups." - Steven N. Kaplan, Neubauer Family Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, USA "In this insightful book, Mishra provides a comprehensive explanation for how investors assess and add value to entrepreneurial startups, and how entrepreneurs can secure funding." - Dean A. Shepherd, Professor and David H. Jacobs Chair of Strategic Entrepreneurship, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, USA; Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Business Venturing "Mishra presents a focused, well-constructed path for startups to increase their odds of a successful financing. Getting Funded is particularly timely in the current environment of too many startups chasing a finite supply of capital." - Barry Steiner, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. "Mishra has clearly brought his vast expertise and experience to bear in capturing the diverse and challenging issues faced by entrepreneurs and investors throughout the entrepreneurial process. The book will be an advantageous read for entrepreneurs and investors alike who want to mitigate the risks in executing investment and financing decisions, as well as preparing for the ultimate goal of creating value for an exit. Equally important, as a result of the book's balanced presentation, both the entrepreneur and the investor will come away with a more complete understanding of the other's perspective and what it will take to structure a win-win deal for all parties." - J. William Petty, Professor of Finance and W.W. Caruth Chair of Entrepreneurship, Baylor University, USA "A useful, sensible framework for investors and entrepreneurs to mitigate the risk of loss and improve the odds of success." - Amar Bhide, Thomas Schmidheiny Professor of International Business, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA "An exceptional, focused analysis presenting a venture capital investment model with an efficient and effective risk management strategy - a must-read for both entrepreneur and investor." - F. John Mathis, Editor, The Journal of Private Equity; VP and Dean, Global Graduate Business Programs, Global Finance Professor Emeritus, National American University, USA "Mishra is the right person to write this book. He has applied his extensive academic background in a manner that provides very useful information for practitioners." - Robert Strom, Former Director of Entrepreneurship Research, Kauffman Foundation, USA "Mishra provides powerful tools geared toward insightful planning. His analysis-driven approach to decision making will align and empower investors and entrepreneurs while de-risking and maximizing success." - Orin Levy, Director, New World Angels, USA; Board of Directors, Bioceptive, USA