Computer-driven financing: these information-service technologies can help you find capital for your company.These information-service technologies can help you find capital for your company. When it comes to financing your business, half the battle is knowing where to go for "seed" money. The right source for capital can certainly help your business grow and even flourish. As you know, the market is flooded with reference books that list venture capitalists and other lending sources. There are also a number of agencies that can provide the same information. To use either, however, means spending hours on the phone or in the library. So, to make your life easier, there are a number of computer-based services that will help you find funding sources. Nearly a dozen business groups and universities, for instance, house computer networks that match entrepreneurs with private or institutional investors (see "Matchmaking Matchmaking Matricide (See MURDER.) Kecal marriage broker whose plans are foiled by a pair of lovers. [Czech Opera: Smetana The Bartered Bride in Osborne Opera, 32] Levi, Dolly For Venture Capital," Enterprise, this issue). What's ideal about this type of service is that you don't need a computer to get with the program. Your company's information is simply stored in the database for subscribing investors to peruse pe·ruse tr.v. pe·rused, pe·rus·ing, pe·rus·es To read or examine, typically with great care. [Middle English perusen, to use up : Latin per-, per- . If you can't tolerate the notion of "Don't call us, we'll call you," consider getting CapitalBase from Applied Marketing Inc., Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (1990 pop. 444,719), state capital, and seat of Oklahoma co., central Okla., on the North Canadian River; inc. 1890. The state's largest city, it is an important livestock market, a wholesale, distribution, industrial, and financial center, and a farm , Okla. (800-639-8841). This DOS-based program ($99) provides over 10,000 financing sources, listing not only angel (private investor) networks, but federal and state programs, microlenders, investment bankers and commercial finance companies as well. Capital-Base merely gives you the information. It's up to you to find the right source that meets your need for capital. The Small Business Administration (SBA SBA abbr. Small Business Administration Noun 1. SBA - an independent agency of the United States government that protects the interests of small businesses and ensures that they receive a fair share of government ) is also doing its part in helping entrepreneurs find start-up capital. As long as you have a computer, modem, phone line and communications software (communications, software) communications software - Application programs, operating system components, and probably firmware, forming part of a communication system. These different software components might be classified according to the functions within the Open Systems , you can tap into the SBA's computer-based electronic bulletin board service, SBA Online. Available 23 hours a day, all year round, SBA Online provides funding contacts, a calendar of SBA-sponsored events and an electronic mail service. Through SBA E-mail, you can hook Can´ hook` 1. A device consisting of a short rope with flat hooks at each end, for hoisting casks or barrels by the ends of the staves. up with business interest groups, from home construction to mail-order to desktop publishing desktop publishing, system for producing printed materials that consists of a personal computer or computer workstation, a high-resolution printer (usually a laser printer), and a computer program that allows the user to select from a variety of type fonts and sizes, . Better still, you can actually download files from other agencies, including the IRS An abbreviation for the Internal Revenue Service, a federal agency charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing internal revenue laws. and the U.S. Patent Office. Best of all, this service is free of charge. What if you are having a hard time putting together that all-important business plan? Well, you can take advantage of the SBA's electronic training courses on everything from developing that plan to marketing your business or operating a franchise. Another plus: You can access a variety of publications on starting and operating a business, programs for minorities, government procurement Government procurement, also called public tendering, is the procurement of goods and services on behalf of a public authority, such as a government agency. With 10 to 15% of GDP in developed countries, and up to 20% in developing countries, government procurement accounts and laws and regulations for small businesses. There's also a hotline for technical support. HOT PRODUCT Citizen's choice This portable prints in black and white or color. Black-and-white printers may not be passe pas·sé adj. 1. No longer current or in fashion; out-of-date. 2. Past the prime; faded or aged. [French, past participle of passer, to pass, from Old French; see , but everyone these days sure seems to want a splash of color. The Notebook Printer II, from Santa Monica, Calif-based Citizen America Corp., lets you have your cake and eat it too. By simply changing the thermal ink cartridge, you can print in black and white or color. The Notebook Printer II has laser-quality resolution of 360 by 360 dots per inch. Better yet, this printer is portable. It weighs only 2.6 pounds, including the battery. To speed things up, the Notebook Printer II can print 30 sheets at a time with the optional automatic feeder (S69). Both Mac and PC compatible, this colorful gem lists for $399. |
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