Female Entrepreneurs and Funding

Cara O'Bleness

StartupNation contributor Heather Landau discusses the trials and tribulations female entrepreneurs face while seeking funding. 

As a female entrepreneur, what have you experienced when launching and funding your startup? 

https://startupnation.com/start-your-business/female-entrepreneurs-fght-funding/?utm_source=community&utm_campaign=newtopic&utm_medium=12978

ItsSherryTee

Being able to decipher reasons why it can be challenging to secure business venture funding can be a bit tricky especially for minority females as well as minority male applicants no matter how sound the proposal or financial stability.

One covert method used by those decision-makers is first to sing the praises of the project and how detailed, comprehensive and well organized the business plan is, then proceed to ask for additional info one item at a time. Each time that task was completed, it would never be enough - another request for additional info (one item) would be required; rinse and repeat.

Using that process makes the financing request not show up on the books as a 'No' for a minority &/or female applicant. This is a very clever ploy especially when you realize that they could have asked for all of the remaining information at once.

After piquing the brains of very successful people, what I've learned over much later years, is to implement creative ways of self-funding via thinking outside of the box. This helps to eliminate asking anyone for anything.

Cara O'Bleness

Great observations, @ItsSherryTee. It's important to think outside of the box in all aspects of entrepreneurship, especially when it comes to funding. Have you had any experience with alternate funding options, like crowdfunding? I'd love to hear your thoughts.