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EBookClubs

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Book Savvy Entrepreneurs Business Handbook

Download or read book Savvy Entrepreneurs Business Handbook written by Tallis Salamatian and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2020-01-07 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When I was first starting out in entrepreneurship I was looking for a golden goose mentor that could give me the formula for success. There isn't one. One exceptionally bright mentor shared with me that mentors, like anyone, draw from their experience and there can be multiple paths to the same outcome. So the best thing you can do is find several mentors with a variety of experience taking different paths to success. In this book I distill my 15 years of executive experience in multiple industries. I give you multiple ways to solve the issues that will arise when running a startup. The content is organized chronologically to help you through starting your first or next venture, including templates for an executive summary, pitch deck and financials. This book is designed to be everything you'll need to know in one place.

Book Raising Funds

Download or read book Raising Funds written by Steve Dorough and published by Archway Publishing. This book was released on 2019-10-07 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It doesn’t matter if you need to raise thousands of dollars or millions, the same basic principles of fundraising apply. Steve Dorough, who has developed and implemented successful campaigns for numerous clients, shares a blueprint for raising funds in this guide. Step by step, he describes how to develop a compelling strategic plan for fundraising. He also explains how to test the feasibility of your campaign and implement a successful fundraising initiative. Learn how to: • anticipate and respond to objections from potential donors; • share a strategic plan with larger constituencies; • set reasonable fundraising goals; and • recruit a highly-qualified team. This guide is written as a narrative about a fictional chamber of commerce in a fictional community somewhere in the United States. However, the fundraising principles and processes can be successfully applied to any nonprofit. Filled with examples of agendas, letters, reports, and checklists covering every aspect of the fundraising process, this guide takes you through the critical steps that will help you raise funds.

Book The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management

Download or read book The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management written by Stanley Weinstein and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2017-02-28 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The real-world guide to successfully funding your nonprofit program The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management is the comprehensive handbook for successful fundraising, with a practical focus that applies across the nonprofit sector. With a focus on planning, self-assessment, continual improvement, and high-payoff strategies, this book provides more than just ideas—it shows you the concrete, real-world actions that make it all happen, and gives you the tools you need to bring these concepts to life. This new fourth edition features the latest information about social media campaigning, internet fundraising, crowdfunding, and more. Timelines, checklists, and forms help you streamline management tasks to focus on effective development, and updated sample reports and budget information help you begin implementing these approaches quickly. The nonprofit world is becoming increasingly competitive in terms of funding, and fundraisers are being asked to perform miracles more than ever before. This book offers a time-tested framework for fundraising success, with step-by-step guidance through the entire process from prospect to program. Understand and apply the major principles and best practices of fundraising Manage information, resources, development, and volunteers Adopt new approaches to relationship-building and prospect identification Write grants and fundraising materials that make a rock-solid case for support There is never enough funding to go around. To survive and thrive, nonprofits must revitalize interest and generate more support. Gone are the days of door-knocking and bake sales; strategy is critical, and execution must be top-notch. The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management shows you the real-world strategies that get your programs funded.

Book The Nonprofit Marketing Guide

Download or read book The Nonprofit Marketing Guide written by Kivi Leroux Miller and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2010-05-13 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A nonprofit's real-world survival guide and nitty-gritty how-to handbook This down-to-earth book shows how to hack through the bewildering jungle of marketing options and miles-long to-do lists to clear a marketing path that's right for your organization, no matter how understaffed or underfunded. You'll see how to shape a marketing program that starts from where you are now and grows with your organization, using smart and savvy communications techniques, both offline and online. Combining big-picture management and strategic decision-making with reader-friendly tips for implementing a marketing program day in and day out, this book provides a simple yet powerful framework for building support for your organization's mission and programs. Includes cost-effective strategies and proven tactics for nonprofits An ideal resource for thriving during challenging times Fast, friendly, and realistic advice to help you navigate the day-by-day demands of any nonprofit Written by one of the leading sources of how-to info and can-do inspiration for small and medium-sized nonprofit organizations, Kivi Leroux Miller is,among other things, a communication consultant and trainer, and president of EcoScribe Communications and Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com.

Book People to People Fundraising

Download or read book People to People Fundraising written by Ted Hart and published by John Wiley and Sons. This book was released on 2008-04-21 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cutting-edge strategies, data, and techniques from the world's foremost ePhilanthropy experts. Giving donors the chance to participate in and contribute to the success of a charity beyond the online gift is proving to be successful for many nonprofits. Find out how to make the most of your online fundraising efforts with the expert advice found in People to People Fundraising: Social Networking and Web 2.0 for Charities. Featuring a Foreword by James Austin of Harvard University, this hands-on guide is filled with creative ideas, techniques, and suggestions to help readers harness the power of social networking for your charity, including: Getting supporters to do more than give Evaluating your Web site Blogs — an important development in fundraising The power of celebrity in building communities How to leverage an individual supporter's social network Online marketing to ethnic and special interest communities How to influence single-gift Web donors to become monthly donors The opportunities and challenges of multi-channel marketing Why ePhilanthropy succeeds — seven pillars of e-success Connecting with planned gift donors and prospects Buttons and banners on company Web sites Plus much more! Based on the authors' decades of combined real-life experiences plus scores of international case studies demonstrating ePhilanthropy success stories from around the world, People to People Fundraising provides a wealth of proven, practical techniques to help you boost your organization's success.

Book Funded

    Book Details:
  • Author : Katherine Hague
  • Publisher : "O'Reilly Media, Inc."
  • Release : 2016-09-21
  • ISBN : 1491940239
  • Pages : 173 pages

Download or read book Funded written by Katherine Hague and published by "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". This book was released on 2016-09-21 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The venture capital world is often intimidating and hard to navigate, even for the most seasoned entrepreneurs. But it doesn’t have to be. Entrepreneurs who run effective fundraising processes don’t do it by accident. With this book, you’ll learn what it takes to successfully raise a round of funding for your company. Author Katherine Hague explains how the venture capital industry works, and walks you through each step necessary to plan, execute, and optimize your own fundraising round. Packed full of exercises, checklists, and templates, this book guides you through the process from start to finish. It’s ideal for entrepreneurs raising later rounds of capital, as well as those just starting out. Gain an understanding of core venture capital concepts and standards Learn how to develop and hone an investor pitch Come away with a plan to hit the fundraising trail for your company Develop the confidence you need to negotiate key terms in a funding deal Understand best practices in fundraising, and learn how to avoid the top 10 fundraising mistakes

Book Nonprofit Fundraising 101

Download or read book Nonprofit Fundraising 101 written by Darian Rodriguez Heyman and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2016-01-19 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Raise more money for your cause! Based on expert advice and insights from a variety of respected industry experts, Nonprofit Fundraising 101 is an essential text for nonprofit professionals, volunteers, activists, and social entrepreneurs who want to leverage best practices to promote their cause. Built upon the success of the best-selling Nonprofit Management 101, this easy to digest book provides practical, comprehensive guidance for nonprofit fundraising around the globe. With tips and tools, expert advice, and real-world insights from almost fifty industry leaders, this robust resource addresses the entire spectrum of fundraising for nonprofits, including: Planning, hiring, and tracking progress Individual donors, major gifts, events, and direct mail Board and volunteer engagement Foundation and government grants Corporate partnerships Online and email fundraising Social media and mobile crowdfunding Earned income and social enterprise Written by and for front line practitioners and geared towards a global audience of emerging and established leaders, this field guide offers step-by-step formulas for success. Nonprofit Fundraising 101 features a foreword by fundraising guru and Soul of Money author Lynne Twist, insights from notable non-profit professionals such as CNN's Van Jones, and an afterword by Kiva.org Co-Founder & President Premal Shah. This book also provides indispensible ideas and diverse case studies ranging from grassroots efforts to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and advice for organizations of all sizes and focus. Chapters are brief and easily digestible, featuring extensive resources for additional learning, concrete best practices, and pitfalls to avoid. Enjoy this must-read manual to learn tried and true ways to raise more money for your cause, nonprofit, or charity.

Book Fundraising with Businesses

Download or read book Fundraising with Businesses written by Joe Waters and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-11-15 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 40 proven strategies for raising big money with businesses There's a reason why nonprofits are getting smaller checks from corporate giving programs. Companies are abandoning or slashing giving budgets and instead focusing on win-win pacts that drive sales and change the world. Nonprofits need guidance and practical know-how in this new age of mutually beneficial nonprofit and business partnerships. Presenting forty practical fundraising strategies to help small to medium-sized nonprofits raise more money from businesses, Fundraising with Businesses breathes new life into nonprofit / for-profit relationships to begin a new era of doing good and well. Presents new and improved fundraising strategies for raising money from businesses—from in-store register promotions and shopping fundraisers to online workplace giving solutions and digital campaigns involving popular social networking sites. Written by an experienced fundraiser and renowned blogger and speaker on business giving. Features case examples of successful nonprofit/corporate partnerships that will be regularly updated via a link with the online pin board Pinterest. The fundraising potential of working with businesses is greater than ever. Read Fundraising with Businesses and discover the tools to turn existing and new business relationships into successful—and lucrative—partnerships.

Book Start Your Own Nonprofit Organization

Download or read book Start Your Own Nonprofit Organization written by The Staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc. and published by Entrepreneur Press. This book was released on 2017-08-08 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: FOLLOW YOUR PASSION Serving missions rather than profits, the nonprofit sector employs 11 million people, making it the third largest industry in the United States, and often provides our communities’ most fundamental services. Whether your mission is to save puppies, feed children, or preserve history, Start Your Own Nonprofit Organization equips you with the tools you need to start, run and grow your organization. This guide provides mission-driven entrepreneurs like you with the latest industry research and pairs it with advice from real-world nonprofit leaders to teach you how to: Determine if your business idea is nonprofit or for-profit Manage the day-to-day operations and onboard key staff and volunteers that help you achieve goals Write a business plan, mission statement, and grant proposals that gain funding and help grow the organization Manage your finances to the satisfaction of the IRS Integrate the latest technology, apps, and social media strategy to aid in volunteer tracking, donation facilitation, and audience outreach Plus, gain insight and hard-won lessons from nonprofits like the Susan B. Komen Foundation, Prosperity Indiana, the Melanoma International Foundation, and the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits No matter what kind of nonprofit you want to start, this guide will turn your hope for change into help for a deserving community—starting now!

Book Get Funded   The Startup Entrepreneur   s Guide to Seriously Successful Fundraising

Download or read book Get Funded The Startup Entrepreneur s Guide to Seriously Successful Fundraising written by John Biggs and published by McGraw-Hill Education. This book was released on 2020-09-08 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From a TechCrunch founder and award-winning strategist comes the most comprehensive guide to the newest fundraising options for today’s entrepreneurs. Fundraising for startups has changed dramatically in the past decade. There was a time when VCs were rock stars and a founder with a big idea and a little drive could raise a few hundred thousand dollars to build a business. But those days are gone. In the aftermath of the Great Recession and a massive drop in tech investments, it’s become harder and harder for founders to raise money. The good news? Today’s entrepreneurs have more options than ever before—with greater opportunities to get the ball rolling, get investors excited, and Get Funded! A comprehensive, cutting-edge guide from tech journalist and entrepreneur John Biggs and communication strategist Eric Villines, Get Funded! will enable you to: Create a solid business plan and a powerful story that investors respond to Explore a wide range of funding options—and find the ones that are right for you Understand valuation and dilution Plan, prepare, and deliver the perfect pitch Raise money through grants, micro-loans, micro-donations, and crowdfunding Take advantage of the latest online resources and financial tools Filled with step-by-step strategies, ready-to-use resources, and on-the-ground insights, this is a must-read for every entrepreneur. Even if you’ve started a business before, you’ll discover a whole new funding landscape with exciting tech-driven models―including crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe and Patreon, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, IEOs (Initial Exchange Offerings), micro-loans, and micro-donations―as well as more traditional, tried-and-true methods. Beyond a road map to the current world of funding, Get Funded! provides proven strategies for pitching, marketing, bootstrapping, and more. It’s a complete 360-degree tool with easy-to-follow worksheets and online resources that will help you build a sustainable funding strategy that’s right for your business—and crucial to your success. Whether you’re starting a food truck or a biotech startup, Get Funded! has got you covered.

Book The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management

Download or read book The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management written by Stanley Weinstein and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2009-03-17 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are now more than 1 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, and the fundraising industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy. The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management presents step-by-step guidance on planning, self-assessment, continual improvement, cost effective fundraising strategies and much more. An accompanying website contains checklists, grids, and sample forms. Plus, the Third Edition adds a chapter on internet fundraising as well as updated statistics. Fundraising professionals will benefit from the practical advice on managing the complexities of a development office.

Book Scaling Global Change

Download or read book Scaling Global Change written by Erin Ganju and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2018-03-21 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Grow your start-up into a global influence with real-world impact Scaling Global Change provides social entrepreneurs with the strong organizational foundation they need to change the world. Through the story of Room to Read, one of the fastest-growing nonprofits in the last 18 years, this book features clear, real-world lessons for growing a non-profit or social enterprise, with special insight into girls’ education and literacy programming in lower-income countries. By outlining theories of program, operational, and system-level change, the discussion delves into the meat of the entrepreneurial spirit and applies it directly to everyday strategic decisions. The book begins with an overview of essential communication, vision, and execution fundamentals, and then dives into a discussion of metrics, monitoring, planning, leadership, and more. Clear guidance on internal operations, fundraising, team building, management, and other central topics provides a roadmap for new and experienced leaders, while further exploration of influence, strategy, and government funding relates the wisdom of experience from the perspective of a successful organization. Cross the chasm from start-up to mature organization with worldwide impact Gain insight into the theoretical and practical underpinnings of nonprofit success Adopt new perspectives on effectiveness, excellence, and influence Translate ideas into action in a way that will change the world Social entrepreneurship has taken off more than ever, and the market is crowded with optimistic leaders wanting to change the world. How do you differentiate your organization from the pack? How can you stand out, stand up, and make a real impact? These lessons are gained through experience and building a strong organizational culture; Room to Read has treaded this path and found itself at the heights of success. With Scaling Global Change, you reap the benefit of experiential lessons while applying them to the success of your own organization. **All Royalties from the sale of Scaling Global Change will be donated directly to Room To Read**

Book 10 Fundraising Ideas and Strategies

    Book Details:
  • Author : Alex Genadinik
  • Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Release : 2014-08
  • ISBN : 9781502378354
  • Pages : 0 pages

Download or read book 10 Fundraising Ideas and Strategies written by Alex Genadinik and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2014-08 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a relatively short, but very powerful book full of fundraising ideas and insights on how to raise money. Most entrepreneurs struggle when it comes to raising money. Over time I have accumulated different practical strategies for how to raise money for a business, and I explain all of them in this book. This book evolved out of my business coaching practice and my Problemio.com business apps I created. The apps have over 1,000,000 downloads across iOS and Android by entrepreneurs just like you. As entrepreneurs kept asking how to raise money for their business, I kept researching new ways to raise money. In this book, I compiled 10 great ways to raise money for almost any business or nonprofit organization. Not all the fundraising strategies outlined in this book will work for everyone. But many of the strategies should be very possible for most businesses. Additionally, this book goes beyond fundraising strategies. It also covers fundamentals of how much money you need to raise, and helps you understand the fundraising ecosystem, and what various strategies can mean for your business. HOW MUCH MONEY YOU NEED TO RAISE Before the book starts suggesting specific strategies, you must first understand how much money you need to raise for your business. The book explains how to calculate how much money you will need to raise so that you can structure your fundraising plans to reach your goals. STANDARD FUNDRAISING IDEAS First, I cover some common fundraising strategies like how to raise money by getting loans, grants, investments and donations. These four broad strategies are common, but most entrepreneurs don't know enough about how to get the most out of these strategies. Additionally, while people have been raising money by getting donations for a long time, there is a relatively new way to raise donations, and that is a method called crowdfunding. I explain crowdfunding strategies in the book, and give a number of tips for how to get the most out of it for your business, and what you can realistically expect. CREATIVE FUNDRAISING IDEAS Once you explore the standard ways to raise money, the book presents you with a number of creative fundraising strategies where you should use your creativity and resourcefulness to get the funds you need. I sincerely hope this collection of fundraising strategies helps you and I wish you the best of luck with your business. In addition to that, since it is difficult to raise money, the book also covers how to start your business cheaply so that you don't actually need to have as much cash to start your business as you think. For what kind of businesses can you raise money using the strategies in this fundraising book? With the fundraising strategies in this book, you can raise money for a restaurant or diner, coffee shop, barbershop, nightclub, local event, business selling t-shirts, most kinds of stores ranging from boutiques to grocery stores to jewlery shops, animal care or grooming, lawn care or landscaping businesses, moving businesses, gym, frozen yogurt or ice cream shop, a deli, liquor store or a sandwich shop, a beauty salon or a hair salon, a spa, a daycare business, a hardware store, commercial cleaning or residential cleaning, car wash, general contractor business, dog walking or pet sitting, martial arts studio, or a dance studio. Here is a list of potential online businesses for which you can raise money using the strategies in this fundraising book: blogging, affiliate marketing, elearning, create a channel on YouTube, become an author and sell books on Amazon and the Kindle, or become a freelancer or a local concierge.

Book The Fundraising Rules

Download or read book The Fundraising Rules written by Mark Peter Davis and published by . This book was released on 2013-03-22 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Fundraising Rules is a very clear explanation of the startup fundraising process, written by a person who has been on both sides of the fundraising process as a venture capitalist, angel investor and venture-backed startup founder. This book will guide you through the fundraising process from planning your fundraising strategy, to creating pitch materials, to getting the meeting, to closing the deal. You can read more about Mark Peter Davis, the author, on his blog http://mpd.me or follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/mpd. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: "THIS IS VERY CLEAR!" - Julien Smith, NY Times Best Selling Author and Startup CEO "A practical guide from someone who has seen thousands of pitches - read it to get the inside track on how to get funded with the least amount of pain." - Jeff Bussgang, General Partner of Flybridge Capital Partners & Author of Mastering the VC Game "The Fundraising Rules should be required reading for entrepreneurs raising any round of capital. These tools will increase your odds of successfully getting funded, raising the right amount of money at the right valuation, and starting off the relationship with your investors in the best possible way." - Jed Katz, Managing Director of Javelin Venture Partners, Co-Founder of Rent.net & Move.com "This book is a clear step-by-step guide to the funding process and a great reference for founders preparing for that rite of passage." - Erick Schonfeld, Executive Producer at DEMO & Former Editor of TechCrunch A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Many of the world's best entrepreneurs are bad at fundraising. At first, I didn't understand why, since the skills used in fundraising are many of the same skills used to create businesses. Over time, however, the reason these athletes underperform became clear. They don't possess a fundamental understanding of the fundraising process. They have the skills, but not the knowledge. My mission in writing this book is to illuminate the fundraising process so that engaging these venture capitalists is no longer like walking in the dark. I will provide a detailed account of both the key steps in fundraising and the rationale behind them. The information should help entrepreneurs see through the eyes of the venture capital investor, enabling them to better understand motivations of investors and how best to engage them. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mark Peter Davis is a serial entrepreneur, community organizer and venture capitalist. He is a Venture Partner at High Peaks Venture Partners and a co-founder of Venwise, Devspark, Founder Shield and several other companies. Mark is the author of a blog (mpd.me) that addresses industry topics and offers guidance to entrepreneurs on how to raise venture capital. Mark is also an occasional contributor to a number of industry news services, including PE Hub, Mashable, OPENForum, Business Insider and Inc.com.

Book Prerequisites for Fundraising Success

Download or read book Prerequisites for Fundraising Success written by Melvin B. Shaw and published by Fund U Publishing & Communications. This book was released on 2013-01-06 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Want to jumpstart your fundraising but aren't sure where to begin? "Prerequisites for Fundraising Success" walks you through the steps for planning, launching, and maintaining successful fundraising programs. You will learn how to: Assess your organization's strengths and challenges Set attainable goals Develop a fundraising plan Hire the right staff Encourage teamwork Tell your story and raise awareness Recruit volunteers and cultivate leaders Manage your data Approach donors Reward donors Ideal for: Volunteers Board members Fundraising staff Workshops and retreats This user-friendly, workbook-style guide teaches the fundamentals needed to build a stronger organization and more secure financial future.

Book Fundraising Basics  A Complete Guide

Download or read book Fundraising Basics A Complete Guide written by Barbara L. Ciconte and published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. This book was released on 2011-08-24 with total page 602 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As nonprofit organizations face heightened scrutiny by the general public, donors, regulators, and members of Congress, the Third Edition of the essential book on the basics of fundraising provides new, up-to-date and valuable information that every fundraiser needs to know. With ethics and accountability being the primary theme of the Third Edition, this practical guide will continue to provide an overview of the field and give development staff, managers, and directors a platform from which to operate their fundraising programs. The new edition also provides much needed information on giving trends, computer hardware and software available for fundraisers, cost estimates and workflow timetables, and the importance of the Internet. This primer remains a must-have for anyone new to the fundraising arena.

Book The Fundraising Rules

Download or read book The Fundraising Rules written by Mark Davis and published by . This book was released on 2013-02-11 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Fundraising Rules is a very clear explanation of the startup fundraising process, written by a person who has been on both sides of the fundraising process as a venture capitalist, angel investor and venture-backed startup founder. This book will guide you through the fundraising process from planning your fundraising strategy, to creating pitch materials, to getting the meeting, to closing the deal. You can read more about Mark Peter Davis, the author, on his blog http://mpd.me or follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/mpd. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: "THIS IS VERY CLEAR!" - Julien Smith, NY Times Best Selling Author and Startup CEO "A practical guide from someone who has seen thousands of pitches - read it to get the inside track on how to get funded with the least amount of pain." - Jeff Bussgang, General Partner of Flybridge Capital Partners & Author of Mastering the VC Game "The Fundraising Rules should be required reading for entrepreneurs raising any round of capital. These tools will increase your odds of successfully getting funded, raising the right amount of money at the right valuation, and starting off the relationship with your investors in the best possible way." - Jed Katz, Managing Director of Javelin Venture Partners, Co-Founder of Rent.net & Move.com "This book is a clear step-by-step guide to the funding process and a great reference for founders preparing for that rite of passage." - Erick Schonfeld, Executive Producer at DEMO & Former Editor of TechCrunch A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Many of the world's best entrepreneurs are bad at fundraising. At first, I didn't understand why, since the skills used in fundraising are many of the same skills used to create businesses. Over time, however, the reason these athletes underperform became clear. They don't possess a fundamental understanding of the fundraising process. They have the skills, but not the knowledge. My mission in writing this book is to illuminate the fundraising process so that engaging these venture capitalists is no longer like walking in the dark. I will provide a detailed account of both the key steps in fundraising and the rationale behind them. The information should help entrepreneurs see through the eyes of the venture capital investor, enabling them to better understand motivations of investors and how best to engage them. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mark Peter Davis is a serial entrepreneur, community organizer and venture capitalist. He is a Venture Partner at High Peaks Venture Partners and a co-founder of Venwise, Devspark, Founder Shield and several other companies. Mark is the author of a blog (mpd.me) that addresses industry topics and offers guidance to entrepreneurs on how to raise venture capital. Mark is also an occasional contributor to a number of industry news services, including PE Hub, Mashable, OPENForum, Business Insider and Inc.com.