Access to Finance: Examining Non-Traditional Platforms for Funding

Challenge – Lack of Financing for Early-Stage Companies

Stages of Business Development:

Early- Growth

Idea/Concept

Start-up

Early-Stage

Growth

Banks, Private Equity Public Markets

FFFs, Incubators, Grants, Bus. Plan Competitions

“Valley of Death”

Supply-side challenges • Banks are structurally risk averse • Few formalized early-stage investors

Demand-side challenges • Lack of quality deal-flow

• Equity aversion of entrepreneurs • Entrepreneur skills in engaging investors