Financing a Small Business


Recent Financing a Small Business Articles

7 Rules for Bootstrapping a Business

By Ilya Pozin |  Jan 26, 2012

Your task: Build something people want, minimize your risk, and maximize your chances for survival. Here's how.  Read more


VCs Are Not Your Friends

By Steve Blank |  Jan 25, 2012

If you're lucky, your investors will be likable and helpful, too. But their loyalties never lie with you.  Read more


How to Judge a New Venture in 15 Seconds Flat

By Jon Burgstone and Bill Murphy, Jr. |  Jan 24, 2012

I ask one question to determine whether a new company has a future. The 15-second answer tells me all I need to know  Read more


Blow Dry Wars Heat Up

By Courtney Rubin |  Jan 24, 2012

Drybar closes a $16 million investment to help with expansion while its biggest competitor marches into its territory.  Read more


Can a Smartphone-Based Ultrasound Raise $4 Million?

By J.J. McCorvey |  Jan 24, 2012

Elevator Pitch: Mobisante created a hand-held, affordable, cloud-based ultrasound system. Will it be able to raise the money it wants to develop a tablet-bas...  Read more


10 Lies Never to Tell Investors

By Erik Sherman |  Jan 23, 2012

All the confidence in the world won't convince a VC these statements are true. Here's why these 10 fibs hurt you -- and what to say instead.  Read more


The 2 Things About Your Start-up Idea That Actually Matter

By Garry Tan |  Jan 23, 2012

Y Combinator's Garry Tan hands you the only yardstick you need when starting a technology company. How does your idea measure up?  Read more


Investors Put More Money In Bigger Companies

By Kimberly Weisul |  Jan 20, 2012

A new report shows that venture capitalists invested much more in 2011 than in 2010 -- but that the amount of money going into seed-stage deals plummeted.  Read more


Why the Obama Plan for Cabinet-level SBA Means Nothing

By Constantine von Hoffman |  Jan 18, 2012

Making the SBA chief a member of the Cabinet is the executive branch equivalent of giving an honorary degree or getting an Emmy award: Sounds nice, means not...  Read more


The Social TV Space Heats Up

By Courtney Rubin |  Jan 12, 2012

Social TV start-up GetGlue closes a $12 million round but it has plenty of competition.  Read more


How This Crowdfunded Gadget Got to CES

By Lindsay Blakely |  Jan 11, 2012

A year ago, it was just a fledgling Kickstarter project. Now Kogeto has VC funding and a spot on Apple Store shelves.  Read more


A Start-up to Create 23 Million Jobs in America?

By Nicole Carter |  Jan 9, 2012

Serial entrepreneur Howard Leonhardt talks about his plans to start a new kind of stock exchange that will cater to start-ups and small business.  Read more


Big Money for Cheap Legal Services

By Courtney Rubin |  Jan 5, 2012

Rocket Lawyer, which offers free legal documents and subscriptions for cheap legal advice, has raised $10.8 million.  Read more


Why Klout Cares More about Mobile Than Justin Bieber

By Courtney Rubin |  Jan 4, 2012

The social influence measuring start-up raises a reported $30 million. Among its plans: to develop a mobile app.  Read more


Congratulations! You've Closed Your First Round. Now What?

By Schuyler Brown |  Dec 29, 2011

Closing a first round of funding is a major achievement. But you won't see any cash for months. What do you do until then?  Read more


When Your Customers Want One Thing -- And Your Investors Want Another

By Ellie Cachette |  Dec 22, 2011

Balancing competing demands is just part of being an entrepreneur. But what do you do when your customers square off against your investors?  Read more


Making Corporate Wellness Fun

By Courtney Rubin |  Dec 22, 2011

Social gaming and wellness start-up Keas raises $6.5 million after a change in direction yields results.  Read more


5 Ways to Think Like a Venture Capitalist

By Christina DesMarais |  Dec 21, 2011

Tips from a Silicon Valley titan who has thrived as both an entrepreneur and investor.  Read more


3 Ways the Government Can Fund Your Business

By Steven Pedigo |  Dec 15, 2011

We've all heard about SBA loans, but how about NMTCs and CDFIs? Here's how to start cutting through the alphabet soup and get some dough.  Read more


Venture Capitalists are Bullish on Consumer Internet Companies—and New York

By Kimberly Weisul |  Dec 14, 2011

As much as VCs may complain about 'froth' in the market, a new survey shows that they don't expect it to go away soon. And they pick New York over Boston as ...  Read more


Mark Peter Davis, CEO of Kohort

By Inc. staff |  Dec 14, 2011

Mark Peter Davis is the CEO of Kohort and a Venture Partner with High Peaks Venture Partners.  Watch video


Why You Can't Get Funding: It's Not Because You're a Woman

By Christina DesMarais |  Dec 14, 2011

It’s a debate that won’t die, but one female tech entrepreneur says, forget gender. If you can't get money, you're making one of these four mistakes.  Read more


The Secret Dealbreaker

By Ed Powers |  Dec 13, 2011

Entrepreneurs are famous for the passion they pour into their businesses. But when it comes to finance and dealmaking, that's not always a good thing.  Read more


Outbox Wants to Revolutionize U.S. Mail

By Courtney Rubin |  Dec 12, 2011

Co-founder Evan Baehr is one of several new entrepreneurs that may make you less dependent on the U.S. Postal Service.  Read more


How to Pitch a VC: 11 Insider Secrets

By Josh Linkner |  Dec 12, 2011

Follow these guidelines from a serial-entrepreneur-turned-venture-capitalist, and improve your odds of getting funded.  Read more