Secure venture capital? Easy.Getting a business up and running or pushing a brilliant product to the marketplace requires capital. For many entrepreneurs, a lack of start-up capital can be the single biggest roadblock to their dreams of success and fortune. Venture Capital For Dummies takes entrepreneurs step by step through the process of finding and securing venture capital for their own projects.* Find and secure venture capital for your business* Get your business up and running* Push a product to the marketplaceIf you're an entrepreneur looking for hands-on guidance on how to secure capital for your business, the information in Venture Capital For Dummies gives you the edge you need to succeed.

Introduction 1Part I: Getting Started with Venture Capital 5Chapter 1: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Venture Capital Basics 7Chapter 2: The Venture Capitalist Mindset 17Chapter 3: Is Working with a VC Right for You? 33Chapter 4: Alternatives to Venture Capital Funding 45Chapter 5: Connecting with Investors Online and Face to Face 65Part II: Becoming Attractive to Venture Capitalists 85Chapter 6: Positioning Your Company for Funding 87Chapter 7: Cultivating Relationships 111Chapter 8: Providing an Exit Strategy 131Part III: Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Deal Design and Due Diligence 149Chapter 9: Structuring Pre-VC Deals 151Chapter 10: Leading the Risk Conversation 173Chapter 11: Telling Your Valuation Story 195Chapter 12: Negotiating Your Terms 211Part IV: Pitching to Investors 235Chapter 13: Due Diligence: Preparation and Fundamentals 237Chapter 14: Planning Your Pitch 261Chapter 15: Visualizing the Deal: Creating Your Pitch Deck 275Chapter 16: Show Time! Making Your Presentation 299Chapter 17: If at First You Don't Succeed -- and Even If You Do -- Try, Try Again 309Part V: The Part of Tens 321Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Lose a Deal 323Chapter 19: Ten Places and People That Can Lead You to a VC 327Index 331