ANGEL INVESTORS

Angel investors are good souls with a healthy sense of self- interest. Figuring they can get a higher return if they’re prepared to take a bit of a risk, they’re also often successful entrepreneurs themselves and want to give their fellow travellers a hand up.

Think of funding from an angel investor as a bridge or gap-filler between being a start-up and qualifying for venture capital. The kinds of dollars we’re talking about here are between about $150,000 and $1.5 million. Beyond that point you’re in low venture-capital territory.

The SBA estimates that there are around 250,000 angels in U.S., funding about 30,000 companies a year. So, how do you hook up with one? Not an easy task, unfortunately. It comes down to networking. Start by talking to professional and business associates - they will often know someone who knows someone etc.. Also, check out ACE-net if you’re prepared to sell a security interest in your company. It’s an internet-based listing service for securities offerings of small, growing companies. The website is at https://ace-net.sr.unh.edu/pub/.

VENTURE CAPITAL

You’re in big leagues now. Generally you’re in ballpark of millions (of dollars that is) rather than thousands. Venture capital firms look for their return on investment from capital appreciation rather than interest (unlike banks, for example). They’re generally looking for a return of 500-1,000% on exit.

It won’t surprise you to learn that venture capitalists are particularly leery of internet-based businesses right about now and not without good cause. It also serves them right. But if you have a solid business plan and strong growth potential, this could be an option for you longer term.

One of common concerns about this form of financing, however, is that you may have to part with an unacceptable amount of control over your own business. In return for their risk, venture capital firms will usually want some control over how business is run and a say in business decisions. A venture capitalist will expect a seat on board, for example.

It’s important to remember, though, that it’s in venture capitalist’s best interests for your business to succeed, so giving up some control in exchange for outside expertise may well be something worth thinking about.

To find venture capitalists, get a hold of “Pratt’s Guide to Venture Capital Sources” for a listing of 1,500 or so including names, contact details and areas of interest. Of course, you'll find no shortage of information online as well.

For most readers of this article, your best bet would be to start out by investigating various loan programs offered via SBA (or your country’s local equivalent). But don’t overlook more obvious, close to home sources first. For example, if you have family funds at your disposal and you’re confident that your business will succeed, better to start out slow and ease into outside sources of financing as your business cashflow can support it. After all, Uncle Jack is much more likely to be understanding about occasional cashflow crunch than your bank manager. Of course, if you're NOT confident that your business will succeed, don't get into debt with *anyone*, let alone family members.

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Elena Fawkner is editor of A Home-Based Business Online ... practical business ideas, opportunities and solutions for work-from-home entrepreneur. http://www.ahbbo.com

Elena Fawkner is editor of A Home-Based Business Online ... practical business ideas, opportunities and solutions for the work-from-home entrepreneur. http://www.ahbbo.com

Denver airport is well-known for being an "hot'n'high" airfield, which has led to some technical problems for operators, since lift capacity of airplanes is decreased. Airplanes either need to reduce their fare-paying payload -- and lose revenue -- or accelerate to a high speed -- which requires longer runways. In Denver's case, no runway was long enough for heavy airplanes taking-off bound for Europe. The first idea management found was to embed lights located at end of runway into ground to lengthen existing runways (nearly 90ft gained). This has already diminished technical restrictions, but a new 16,000ft runway is under construction and will be among longest on earth for commercial use.

DIA hopes that these first links to Europe will show way to other carriers, notably Air France from Paris, to place airport in US' top airports and make Denver a more attractive place to make business.