Private Equity Finance vs. Venture Capital: Which is Right for Your Business?
Creative entrepreneurs are in the business of developing big ideas. When a good business idea with the potential to become a powerful business takes spark and the entrepreneur wants to develop it further, it’s usually at this stage that substantial capital is needed. For industries with large barriers to entry, private equity finance can be an excellent way to secure the large amounts of capital you need to launch the startup idea.
What is Private Equity Finance?
Private equity finance and capital comes from private equity investment firms. Large amounts of money are raised and collected from individual and institutional investors. The money is then pooled into a fund that is used to invest in new business ventures. The private equity investment firm decides on specific objectives on how to invest their funds in new or emerging businesses in need of capital.
Private equity financing is sought when other forms of financing is not available or difficult to acquire. Banks require assets to collateralize a loan, and startups usually have little or no assets. Individual partners and investors are difficult to organize because the business concept is yet unproven at the startup stage. Thus, private equity financing is there to help new businesses with great ideas succeed.
Private Equity Finance vs. Venture Capital
A venture capital firm is an example of a private equity investment firm. However, venture capital specifically refers to the acquisition and development of new and risky businesses with high growth potential. Venture capital amounts usually start at no less than $3 million. New businesses are expected to turn around significant profits or go public with a stock offering usually within five to seven years.
Private equity investment firms, however, encompass a larger spectrum of assets classes and equity securities, including venture capital, as well as leveraged buyouts, distressed buyouts, mezzanine and secondary capital, and growth capital.
Additionally, private equity investment firms may choose to invest smaller amounts in startup businesses. Private equity finance in the amounts of $50,000 to $500,000 is not uncommon. With smaller amounts of capital doled out, private equity investment firms are able to help and grow more than 25 times the number of businesses than venture capital firms.
Sources of Private Equity Finance
Whether the creative entrepreneur needs capital to conduct market research, seed money for product development, or beginning stage financing to penetrate a specific market, private equity finance is one of the best options for funding. However, where can the creative entrepreneur go to find private equity financing?
Usually, an entrepreneur goes directly to a private equity investment firm with a proposal for capital. Most can be found online, and a wise entrepreneur will utilize a private equity investment firm database that contains lists of firms with varying specialties. To maximize your chances of funding success, find private equity investment firms that tend to specialize in your specific industry.
Brokers may also be a good way to target a private equity investment firm. A broker in this industry has years of experience and numerous contacts and is able to help direct the entrepreneur in need of capital to the right firm. Though fees are hefty for this service, it may be worth the cost to target the major players and get the right private equity financing.
Whether large or small amounts of financing is needed for capital growth, entrepreneurs and business owners can find their special financing needs through private equity investment firms.