Your startup ran out of money. Most founders freeze. That is the real mistake.

I have been through it more than once. And here is what I have learned: there are more ways to fund a company than most founders ever think to look for. Most of them are faster, cheaper, and less dilutive than going back to investors with your hat in your hand.

This guide covers every legitimate source of capital I have used, watched others use, or know to work. Some of these you know. Most people miss the ones that have saved me more than once.

Read it now. Save it. And if you are in it right now, start at the top and work your way down.

Table of Contents

  1. Go Back to Your Existing Investors
  2. Invoice Financing and Receivables Factoring
  3. Customer Prepayments and Advance Contracts
  4. Revenue-Based Financing
  5. Bridge Loans and Convertible Notes
  6. Strategic Investors: Customers and Partners
  7. Grants and Non-Dilutive Capital
  8. SBA Loans and Government Programs
  9. Venture Debt
  10. Angel Groups and Syndicates
  11. Crowdfunding: Equity and Rewards
  12. Founder-Led Revenue Generation
  13. Cost Restructuring as a Funding Event
  14. Asset-Based Lending
  15. Family Offices
  16. Corporate Venture Capital
  17. Secondary Sales of Existing Equity
  18. Licensing and IP Monetization
  19. Sell Something Smaller
  20. Managing the Crisis Before You Fix the Funding
  21. The Emergency Funding Checklist