Whether you’re a solopreneur, small business owner or building the next unicorn, it takes money to build a business! Understanding how to best finance your business is one of the most critical parts of your journey to success. And it can also be one of the most overwhelming and daunting. SheMoney, Kinect Capital and Womenpreneurs as well as expert guest speakers had an interactive workshop designed to:
Learn more about the capital landscape and the possibilities that exist for all types of businesses, whether you’re a one-woman-shop or on a mission to scale.
Identify the type of capital that’s appropriate for your startup or small business at your current stage of growth.
Deep dive into that category of funding to make sure you know how/where to access it, what’s required during the process, and the next steps you’ll likely need to take.
Each breakout session was be led by subject matter expert(s) and included an overview of key terms, important considerations, and tangible next steps to pursuing that financing option.
Equity Financing
Debt Financing
Alternative Financing
Grants & Non-Dilutive Financing
Breakout Session Details:
Equity Financing - Session Leads: Tara Spalding & Kimmy Paluch
Equity investment, a way for a business to raise funds by selling ownership in the company to investors, is one of the most widely discussed funding options for startups. But what’s not talked about as often are the various types of equity investment and the nuances and essential considerations behind each. To help make sense of it all, our experts will provide an overview of the basics of equity financing for startups, including different types of equity funding (think Angel investment and venture capital investment), how they work, and what entrepreneurs need to know to navigate the process effectively.
Debt Financing - Session Lead: Stef Sample & Waruni Murphy
Debt financing has long been a go-to for funding businesses. And now, more credit products are available to small businesses and startups than ever before, from traditional bank loans and lines of credit to new peer-to-peer lending platforms. But understanding which are a fit for your business and how to access them can feel overwhelming. Breakout session experts will walk us through the many options available, as well as important considerations to take into account, from fees and repayment terms to the relationship between personal and business credit.
Alternative Financing - Session Lead: Kirsten Horning & Spence Thunell
Not every business is a fit for more traditional forms of debt and equity financing. And other businesses may want to explore additional, and often more flexible, options to add to their funding mix. Whatever the reason, alternative financing can be a great way to grow your business instead of, or alongside, a bank loan or investment from a traditional VC. We’ll dive into several options, including crowdfunding and revenue-based financing, to better understand the exciting opportunities outside the conventional equity and debt landscape.
Grants & Non-Dilutive Financing - Session Lead: Cleopatra Louise
Non-dilutive financing is a broad category that covers any funding you get without giving away any ownership of your company. For this breakout session, we’re zeroing in on the types of non-dilutive financing that come at no cost. We’ll talk about all the creative ways that business owners can access funds or resources (i.e., business services) that don’t require giving away ownership, have no fees, and don’t require repayment, from private grants to federal grants, uncovering untapped revenue sources, and more.
In addition to these breakout sessions, we had bites, sips, and the opportunity to connect with other founders and business owners!
A special thank you to our Partner Sponsor: Zions Bank
Thank you to our Event Host: Kiln and our Beverage Sponsor: Vine Lore Wine & Spirits
*While our events and offerings are catered to women+, we welcome and invite all men and allies who share our values for a more equitable world!