Page 84 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 20

Economy

VENTURE FINANCING OPTIONS FOR

ENTREPRENEURS

tarting a new venture, mile in investing in new startups
especially in a turbulent using their own hard earned money,
environment like Zimbabwe, unlike venture capitalists. People
is not a walk in the park. As say that without the starting capi-
San entrepreneur you need to tal you are as good as being a ship
carefully place your deck of cards without a radar. However, harbor- Abigirl Phiri is a Ph.D
student in commerce,
and weigh your options with regard ing these thoughts is clearly a lack free-lance writer, poet, International
Ambassador of Peace, GBV activist,
to how you will finance your new of judgment because there are so social entrepreneur, talent manager and an
venture. Indeed, financing your own many options one can choose from, international marketer. More of her work
business needs careful planning. if only they have the right kind of can be found on her Facebook Page:
Words are forever.
In fact, you don’t do things ‘just information at that particular point
like that’, but you need to think in time. For that reason, this is why because of the passion they have for
carefully about which option will it was rightfully put that knowledge seeing novel business plans taking
best fit your business model. Given is power and they couldn’t have said the people by storm, whilst forming
that there are a plethora of venture it any better. With the right kind of wonderfully on the market. Person-
financing methods one can take up, information on the tips of Zimba- ally I believe it is exhilarating to be
I am going to zero in on a few that bwean entrepreneurs they can do so part of such a business that will be
are pertinent to budding entrepre- much in breaking new ground. That solving the general populace’s every-
neurs, because these have their best is following religiously the con- day social problems effectively.
interests at heart. In the same vein, structive disruptive doctrine that is
business angels can go the extra popular in entrepreneurial talk.
Clearly, it is good to be associated
with the brains of such initiatives.
First and foremost, I will dwell on Many, if not most, of these business
business angels as venture financing angels, it reminds them of their
that a 21st century Zimbabwean youth and how creativity and inno-
entrepreneur can opt for. This is vation will never face a natural death
a term that was formed because on the face of earth. Thus, these an-
the “angel” is a certain individual gels do immerse themselves in such
or company that will come in the ventures for the love of it and from
life of the entrepreneur as a God the goodness of their very souls. A
sent gift. Furthermore, they can be good example is that of Professor
called angel investors, angel funders, Frederick Terman who helped out
private or seed investors depending in the birth of the Silicon Valley.
on which term catches your interest. In addition, he was instrumental in
Many a time they do not just avail helping his PhD student researches
their finances for the mere need for such as that of William Hewlett and
profit, but for fun as well. Interest- David Packard of the HP brand. As
ingly, most of these business angels a result, he got even awards for the
do get their hands on the deck pivotal role he played, not forgetting
in the early stages of the venture

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