While raising capital has never been easy, it has become a lot moredifficult over the past few years. The dot-com debacle has madeinvestors skittish, especially when it comes to financingearly-stage start-ups. As a result, more and more entrepreneurs arebeing forced to compete harder and harder for a spot around themoney well. At the end of the day, all most have to show for theirefforts are tattered Rolodexes and battered egos. What they need isthe competitive edge that comes with having a friend in thebusiness?an advisor who?ll cut through the mumbo-jumboand tell them in plain English how to get the money they need. Whatthey need is Raising Capital For Dummies. Whether you?re just starting your business and need alittle seed capital to launch your first product, or you?relooking for a little help expanding an established business into anew market, this friendly guide helps you get the financing youneed to realize your dreams. You?ll discover how to: Tap personal sources of financing, as well as family andfriends Approach customers and vendors for financing Hook up with commercial lenders Find angel investors  Get an SBA loan Raise cash through private equity offerings Woo and win investment bankers and venture capitalists Venture capital guru, Joseph Bartlett explains in plain Englishthe capital-raising strategies and techniques used by some oftoday?s most successful businesses, including tried-and-truemethods for: Assessing your financial needs and creating a solid financialplan Researching sources of financing and making first contact Finding, contacting, and convincing angels Getting your customers to finance your company Understanding and exploiting matching services Exploring commercial banks, savings institutions, creditunions, finance companies, and the SBA Qualifying for a loan Working with placement agents Raising cash through IPOs and mergers From raising seed capital and funds for expansion to IPOs andacquisitions, Raising Capital For Dummies shows you how toget the money you need to survive and thrive in today?swinner-take-all marketplace.