Mezzanine Funding

Mezzanine funding – Short term lending for the long term benefit.

Mezzanine funding, in a generic sense, is a venture capital term used to describe funding for a company that is somewhere between being a startup and IPO, or Independent Public Offering. It can come in the form of stand-alone subordinate debt (the most common) or equity transactions. Sometimes it will start off a as a standard debt loan with interest, and if the initial loan is not paid back on time or in full the lender will take an equity ownership role.

Since there is a lot of risk involved for the lender, or investor the interest rate is much higher than a regular loan. The main purpose of this financing is to give a business the opportunity to get the capital they need much quicker while they wait to get a bank loan, or while they get their financing in order to improve chances of getting approved for a loan.

This additional financial leverage can facilitate:

• Mergers and acquisitions financing
• An emerging growth opportunity
• A management or other leveraged buyout
• Corporate debt refinancing
• Recapitalization
• Corporate restructuring

As subordinate debt, the rate and terms of mezzanine funding follows suit with the position it holds along the company’s evolution. As late-stage venture capital, its position, in many cases, is amidst the final round of financing prior to an IPO. Committed at this level, it usually has less risk as well as less potential appreciation than at the startup level. However, there is more risk with greater potential appreciation than in an IPO.

Seed Funding

Seed funding helps companies with a new product launch.

Seed funding is most often confused with startup capital, but they are two different things. It is provided to help a business develop an idea, create the first product, and market the product for the first time. Companies that typically qualify for seed funding are around a year old, and they have never created a product or service for commercial sale. The company is generally so young that the key management team has not yet been assembled, or if it is in tact it was recently formed.

Seed funding is most commonly provided by angel or other private investors. If your business uses an investor to gain capital there are some things to keep in mind. As the owner you will have to share your control of the business with the investors and you will also be required to share confidential business information with potential investors. Investors are also seeking to earn at least 30% on their money, so make sure your business can provide at least that much of a return before going after investors heavily.

Make sure that you also have a clear exit plan for the investment in place after a few years. In order to qualify for this sort of financing through an investor it is important that the market for your product be at least $1 billion total. These are just a few things to keep in mind when looking for an investor for your business.

Second Round Funding

Second round funding is allowing you to continually grow your business.

Second round funding is working capital for expansions of an already established business that is producing and shipping goods and services. It is for companies that are constantly increasing their accounts receivables and growing their inventory. These funds will more often than not come from a private or angel investor or a venture capitalist.

Often times second round funding from the investor will be enough to help bolster the balance sheet enough to give a business more leverage as they pursue a loan from a bank. They could then use the financing from the loan to increase business and really grow the business even further. Sometimes banks may not want to invest in some businesses, even in the second round because they may have a risky business model. A risky business model won’t turn away many investors seeking a potentially high return on their investments.

Many businesses wonder if they are at the point where they need second round funding. If your business completed a successful launch more funds are typically needed to develop the marketing plan, hire additional staff, and establish a strategic position within the marketplace. Establishing a market position is typically known as the series B round of funding. The first round of funding is called series A. This helps investors know where they stand in regards to earlier investors. Keep a close eye on the growth of your business so you go after the funding at the right point.