TL;DR - One should raise outside capital when/if his/her startup cannot convert users to buyers; it lost a big customer; it is facing intense price competition; there has been a rapid change in technology; and/or it is looking to expand to new markets.
Helpfulness - 4
Tags - outside capital, startup financing, raising capital, venture capital, VC
Questions answered:
- When should founders approach venture capitalists?
- In what cases should founders raise outside capital?
Summary:
- If a founder needs to raise venture capital, he/she should start the process of talking to potential VC providers at least six months before he/she actually needs the funds.
- A founder needs to raise outside capital when/if:
- 1. The startup can’t convert users to buyers
- If the startup is using a freemium model (offering free basic services and charging for additional features) and struggling to get any conversions, it will run out of capital.
- 2. The startup lost a big customer (whom it was relying on for its revenue)
- 3. The startup is facing intense price competition from rivals
- Intense price competition puts startups in imminent financial danger; the startup can either hold prices and risk losing customers or reduce prices and watch its margin shrivel - either way, it will suffer lower cash flows
- 4. There has been a rapid change in technology (forcing the startup to invest lots of capital in technology to stay competitive)
- 5. The startup is looking to expand to new markets