Types of Venture Capital funding
The various types of venture capital are classified as per their applications at various stages of a business. The three principal types of venture capital are early stage financing, expansion financing and acquisition/buyout financing.
The venture capital funding procedure gets complete in six stages of financing corresponding to the periods of a company’s development
- Seed money: Low level financing for proving and fructifying a new idea
- Start-up: New firms needing funds for expenses related with marketingand product development
- First-Round: Manufacturing and early sales funding
- Second-Round: Operational capital given for early stage companies which are selling products, but not returning a profit
- Third-Round: Also known as Mezzanine financing, this is the money for expanding a newly beneficial company
- Fourth-Round: Also calledbridge financing, 4th round is proposed for financing the “going public” process
A) Early Stage Financing:
Early stage financing has three sub divisions seed financing, start up financing and first stage financing.
- Seed financing is defined as a small amount that an entrepreneur receives for the purpose of being eligible for a start up loan.
- Start up financing is given to companies for the purpose of finishing the development of products and services.
- First Stage financing: Companies that have spent all their starting capital and need finance for beginning business activities at the full-scale are the major beneficiaries of the First Stage Financing.
B) Expansion Financing:
Expansion financing may be categorized into second-stage financing, bridge financing and third stage financing or mezzanine financing.
Second-stage financing is provided to companies for the purpose of beginning their expansion. It is also known as mezzanine financing. It is provided for the purpose of assisting a particular company to expand in a major way. Bridge financing may be provided as a short term interest only finance option as well as a form of monetary assistance to companies that employ the Initial Public Offers as a major business strategy.
C) Acquisition or Buyout Financing:
Acquisition or buyout financing is categorized into acquisition finance and management or leveraged buyout financing. Acquisition financing assists a company to acquire certain parts or an entire company. Management or leveraged buyout financing helps a particular management group to obtain a particular product of another company.
Advantages of Venture Capital
- They bring wealth and expertise to the company
- Large sum of equity finance can be provided
- The business does not stand the obligation to repay the money
- In addition to capital, it provides valuable information, resources, technical assistance to make a business successful
Disadvantages of Venture Capital
- As the investors become part owners, the autonomy and control of the founder is lost
- It is a lengthy and complex process
- It is an uncertain form of financing
- Benefit from such financing can be realized in long run only
Exit Route
There are various exit options for Venture Capital to cash out their investment:
- IPO
- Promoter buyback
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Sale to other strategic investor
Examples of venture capital funding
- Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR), one of the top-tier alternative investment asset managers in the world, has entered into a definitive agreement to invest USD150 million (Rs 962crore) in Mumbai-based listed polyester maker JBF Industries Ltd. The firm will acquire 20% stake in JBF Industries and will also invest in zero-coupon compulsorily convertible preference shares with 14.5% voting rights in its Singapore-based wholly owned subsidiary JBF Global Pte Ltd. The fundingprovided by KKR will help JBF complete the ongoing projects.
- Pepperfry.com, India’s largest furniture e-marketplace, has raised USD100 million in a fresh round of funding led by Goldman Sachs and Zodius Technology Fund. Pepperfry will use the fundsto expand its footprint in Tier III and Tier IV cities by adding to its growing fleet of delivery vehicles. It will also open new distribution centres and expand its carpenter and assembly service network. This is the largest quantum of investmentraised by a sector focused e-commerce player in India.
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