All Posts in "INVESTOR TYPES"

Alternative Sources of Finance for Uganda: Mara Launch Fund

One of the alternative sources of finance for Uganda is the Mara Launch fund. For many Ugandans, particularly those starting out in business with only a concept, this is a good place to start.

Basic information

Target: Start ups and early stage businesses

Alternative Sources of Finance for Uganda: Mara Launch Fund
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Sector focus: All

Amounts provided: UGX 5,000,000- UGX 10,000,000

Funding type: Venture capital

Means, rather than providing a loan, the fund takes a % of shares in the company

Key criteria

Model can be repeated across Africa;

Profitable business within 3-5 years (exit period for fund);

Strong management

Further information

search online for “Mara Launch Fund”

Tel: +256(0)414 233 700/800

Who is behind the fund?

Ashish J. Thakkar; CEO,Mara Group;

Alex Rezida, Partner at Nangwala, Rezida & Co. advocates; and

Peter Mukiza, Managing Partner in Uganda for Quantum capital.

What is the process like?

1. Submit business  plan should include information consistent with the key criteria for the fund.

2. Introductory meeting. If the fund likes the plan, the investor will meet the fund team.

3. Due  means the fund “verifies” the information presented in the plan.

4. Term sheet. Document spelling out the basic terms and conditions.

My view/tips for success in accessing the funds for your business

1. Team:Venture capital funds like Mara know that a great team will develop and implement the idea successfully. If you have no internal capacity, have a professional join you so that your plan includes a strong team.

2. Executive summary. Investors are busy people and so … READ MORE ...

Ronnie Jackson by — September 25, 2019 in Venture Investors
Strategies On Ways To Uncover Venture Capital Investors

From the most important concerns of persons who are preparing to begin a organization will be to how are they going to fund their business. Obviously, an incredible business enterprise program wouldn’t function without the need of the funds to run the concept. Some people borrow funds from wealthy friends, some use crowd-funding technique even though other loan in the bank or greater however seek equity funding from a venture capital firm.

Most small business owners opt for equity funding from a venture capital firm. Nonetheless, prior to you seek approval from venture capital investors, you need to ensure that you prioritize their welfare. You should realize that after they invest inside the company, they will be aspect owners and not just mere creditors. Consequently, they will need to view long-term revenue with your company.

Strategies On Ways To Uncover Venture Capital Investors

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Here are other recommendations on how to find venture capital investors:

  1. Make sure to come up with concrete business enterprise plan presentation – most investors look for companies with great plans that they’re able to support. You may not count on investors to are available in without having compelling suggestions for the business enterprise. As a result, ahead of seeking for VC’s, it is best to 1st care for the company plan that you will present to them.
  2. Show the investors the return of investment that they could expect – most investors are seeking to three to five occasions return of investments. You ought to make sure to present to them clearly, how
… READ MORE ...
Ronnie Jackson by — May 19, 2019 in Capital Investors
Derisking To make Your business Much More Attractive To Venture Capital Investors

Derisking would be the method of removing threat components from your enterprise in an effort to make it additional eye-catching to an outdoors investor or to an outside buyer. It’s among the most significant variables in the grooming approach as a way to be an desirable corporation to invest in i.e. “Investor Ready”.

There are dozens of areas and hundreds of ways in which a business may be exposed without knowing it. In the normal course of business an owner may not worry about these factors, as they are within the “comfort zone” of operation. For an external party to get involved however, they need a much more transparent organisation so they are not confronted at a later date with skeletons in the closet.

Derisking To make Your business Much More Attractive To Venture Capital Investors

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It is important because businesses already face uncertainty. And while a venture capital investor may have a reasonable tolerance for risk, they will not welcome unnecessary risk. The goal is to control as many areas of risk as possible, so at least the risks are known. Most companies who have had an internal focus (i.e. have focused on sales, marketing and operations in order to grow) have not thought about all the areas in which they are vulnerable.

The process of derisking limits the areas of exposure, and therefore decreases exposure to uncertainty. It also increases the chance of success through improvements in clarity in almost all areas of the business.

Derisking falls into two areas – one is simply clarification (i.e. creating a … READ MORE ...

Ronnie Jackson by — February 13, 2019 in Capital Investors

Living in the technological age is one of the greatest advantages of our generation. We have connected to other nations like we never did before. Globalization is in reach, and technology’s advancement has just started. We can now communicate to other people across distances. Ideas are being tossed around and new ones pop up like mushrooms. This can also be named as the great age of innovation and invention, as we tend to develop the things that we have only thought of decades before. The internet has helped to make all of this possible, and everything is still in the process of improving.

In the business world, tech giants rule the game. Comparing them to other industries, they are very young. Some of them even just started to develop at the end of 20th century. As the industry grows and advances, the need for tech items and products is also increasing. We bear witness to the phenomenon today: new models of phones come out almost every year and it just keeps getting better and better.

You might be wondering how much do these companies even make during this time. Sites like Loanable offer infographics to help you see their revenues in real time! Companies like Apple and Google are here, as well as others like Facebook, Netflix and other social media apps.

Welcoming a New Era – The Technological Age!
… READ MORE ...
Ronnie Jackson by — December 3, 2018 in Capital Investors

Do Startups Really Change The World?

Firstly, my hypothesis is that the startup culture will have a major positive impact on the poorest communities in the world. Or put another way, I believe the culture can spread wealth far more evenly than ever before. However, the devil is in the detail and it would be useful to debate some current assumptions. So:

Are startups good? – Tech startups currently rule the world. Millenniums and many others no longer dream of a corporate career. Many want to take their lives into their own hands and aspire to change the world. It is widely recognised that corporations find it hard to innovate and much of the action is taking place in much more agile startup teams. However, with power comes responsibility and many startups sail close to the line of social acceptability.

The so-called ‘Sharing Economy’ is a point in case. Startups such as Uber and Airbnb have ruthlessly pursued market share in winner-takes-all industry sectors. Not much sharing there then. There is a conflict between the need of these startups to grow and the messaging to their consumer base that is much more idealistic in their objectives. Is it unhealthy that these companies are able to build such large war-chests to fight off challenges by others? Don’t these startups need to grow responsibly or risk losing the support of their own users?

I feel overwhelmingly positive about startup culture. However, it is not a license to act irresponsibly or a backdoor to outright capitalism without any checks … READ MORE ...

Ronnie Jackson by — November 1, 2018 in Small Business Investors