Comments on: How to Finance a Green Business http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/ Green & Sustainable Business Ventures: For Entrepreneurs & Investors Tue, 22 May 2012 15:40:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Competitive Advantage http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-107879 Competitive Advantage Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:47:41 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-107879 Really good post. I have a business in mind (though not green) and I was thinking about what is the best way of financing it. Your post gave me lots of options and idea. thanks. Really good post. I have a business in mind (though not green) and I was thinking about what is the best way of financing it. Your post gave me lots of options and idea. thanks.

]]> By: Mark Winstein http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-71571 Mark Winstein Sat, 01 May 2010 05:19:20 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-71571 www.EcoSector.com provides capital guidance, coaching, and related services to green entrepreneurs at any stage of development, including a free initial working session which often is sufficient to get ecopreneurs on the right funding track. I believe there should be far more caution when recommending friends and family rounds. 90% of all businesses fail within 10 years. Without a deep understanding of the root of these failures, most people who do FFA rounds will lose the money of the people who matter the most to them. Same with debt financing of startups - this is an exceptionally risky strategy which can lead to loss of vital assets such as retirement savings or homes. VC's and angels provide capital primarily to entrepreneurs who have already met certain success criteria. Most green entrepreneurs have no idea what those criteria are, so as a result only 1 in 100, and perhaps as few as 1 in 500 succeed with that approach. The answers are quite simply and straightforward just not so obvious. We bring over 27 years of experience in all aspects of green business and NGO development to the green business movement, including a decade focused exclusively on the proper techniques for raising early-stage capital. Mark Winstein Founder www.EcoSector.com 208-596-6500 http://www.EcoSector.com provides capital guidance, coaching, and related services to green entrepreneurs at any stage of development, including a free initial working session which often is sufficient to get ecopreneurs on the right funding track.

I believe there should be far more caution when recommending friends and family rounds. 90% of all businesses fail within 10 years. Without a deep understanding of the root of these failures, most people who do FFA rounds will lose the money of the people who matter the most to them.

Same with debt financing of startups – this is an exceptionally risky strategy which can lead to loss of vital assets such as retirement savings or homes.

VC’s and angels provide capital primarily to entrepreneurs who have already met certain success criteria. Most green entrepreneurs have no idea what those criteria are, so as a result only 1 in 100, and perhaps as few as 1 in 500 succeed with that approach.

The answers are quite simply and straightforward just not so obvious. We bring over 27 years of experience in all aspects of green business and NGO development to the green business movement, including a decade focused exclusively on the proper techniques for raising early-stage capital.

Mark Winstein
Founder
http://www.EcoSector.com
208-596-6500

]]> By: Premium Finance http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-38755 Premium Finance Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:00:03 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-38755 Nice Article... Nice Article…

]]> By: James http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-25069 James Sun, 17 May 2009 14:21:17 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-25069 I am in need of funding for my business which is erosion control for construction sites. We protect undisturbed land surrounding construction sites.. Anyone have any ideas on how I find some "green" assistance? I think my business would qualify but not sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated.... I am in need of funding for my business which is erosion control for construction sites. We protect undisturbed land surrounding construction sites.. Anyone have any ideas on how I find some “green” assistance? I think my business would qualify but not sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated….

]]> By: 4 Essential Posts On Small Business Financing : Ecopreneurist http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-14490 4 Essential Posts On Small Business Financing : Ecopreneurist Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:09:03 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-14490 [...] How To Finance A Green Business by Leah Edwards is an excellent post that covers four potential sources of cash for green businesses: SBA loans, social-venture venture capital funds, Friends-and-Family financing and partnering with a nonprofit organization. [...] [...] How To Finance A Green Business by Leah Edwards is an excellent post that covers four potential sources of cash for green businesses: SBA loans, social-venture venture capital funds, Friends-and-Family financing and partnering with a nonprofit organization. [...]

]]> By: More on Creative Financing for Green Businesses : Ecopreneurist http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-5133 More on Creative Financing for Green Businesses : Ecopreneurist Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:20:10 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-5133 [...] How to Finance a Green Business Get Started With Your Green Business, No Matter How Small the Start [...] [...] How to Finance a Green Business Get Started With Your Green Business, No Matter How Small the Start [...]

]]> By: Milagros Blanco http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-3347 Milagros Blanco Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:33:47 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-3347 Very helpful. There is so much competition these days specially in green projects. A project must be exceptional to attract any interest. Very helpful. There is so much competition these days specially in green projects. A project must be exceptional to attract any interest.

]]> By: Ecopreneurist: How to Approach a Venture Capital Firm with a Cleantech Business Idea : CleanTechnica http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-823 Ecopreneurist: How to Approach a Venture Capital Firm with a Cleantech Business Idea : CleanTechnica Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:11:39 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-823 [...] I’m pleased that cleantech is hot and that many investors want to help build sustainable businesses and eco-focused companies. This post is part of a series on sources of capital for eco-entrepreneurs and green business finance. [...] [...] I’m pleased that cleantech is hot and that many investors want to help build sustainable businesses and eco-focused companies. This post is part of a series on sources of capital for eco-entrepreneurs and green business finance. [...]

]]> By: Gustavo http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-767 Gustavo Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:57:31 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-767 Another new way to fund is thru P2P (peer-to-Peer) lending sites such as Prosper.com or chipin.com. They rate your credit-worthiness and allow you to post your request for a loan and desired interest rate, up to $25k. Multiple individuals/lenders in the online community then bid on your loan and interest rate ($50-100+ at a time). It becomes a legit loan with rates better than most credit cards. Tip: It helps if you have a couple of friends who will post testimonials and get the bidding process rolling. Another new way to fund is thru P2P (peer-to-Peer) lending sites such as Prosper.com or chipin.com.

They rate your credit-worthiness and allow you to post your request for a loan and desired interest rate, up to $25k. Multiple individuals/lenders in the online community then bid on your loan and interest rate ($50-100+ at a time). It becomes a legit loan with rates better than most credit cards.

Tip: It helps if you have a couple of friends who will post testimonials and get the bidding process rolling.

]]> By: Tina Anderson http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/comment-page-1/#comment-587 Tina Anderson Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:49:01 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/02/18/how-to-finance-a-green-business/#comment-587 I think especially with this type of business, friends and family financing would be a great way to go. But all four methods have good potential. I think especially with this type of business, friends and family financing would be a great way to go. But all four methods have good potential.

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