I’ve raised angel and venture capital for 10 start-ups now, including five that I founded and ran as the first CEO. The latest one, of course, is the company featured on “Start-Up Junkies” - Earth Class Mail. Here are a few tips that might help you as you undertake the task of funding your new company:

1. Get to know the community, and the process, from the inside. If a member of your management team, a board member or even a close-in investor is an accredited investor, have them join the one or more angel groups as an investor-member, as early before you pitch your deal as possible.
2. Drive around the track a few times to get familiar with it before race day. Get some seasoned pitch coaches to work with you before you get to the investors’ screening committee — and get plenty of sleep the night before.
3. Be a squeaky wheel. Send out weekly updates on your progress. Do whatever you can to keep investors’ interest and enthusiasm level high. Some ideas:
   • Offer a tour of your company facilities.
   • Offer a meeting with some key customers or partners
   • Announce any new key hires
   • Announce any new sales hurdles met and impressive customers
   • Announce product development milestones
   • Post links to press appearances on your company website

For seven BONUS tips on raising angel-investor and venture-capital funding for a start-up, along with detailed advice on how to work with an investor group and manage the all-important due-diligence process, check out Ron Wiener’s “Top 10 Tips for Funding a Start-Up Company” blog on Earth Class Mail’s blog and feel free to share your experiences from the start-up world and your comments on his advice.

By Ron Wiener, CEO, Earth Class Mail Corporation