Frequently Asked Questions
Our Frequently
Asked Questions page is continually being updated and expanded. Please
contact us if you have
any additional questions about our services. Yes. Bristol
Capital Partners, an affiliate of Bristol investment Group may invest
small amounts (less than $1 million) directly in a given company. However,
our network of venture capitalist companies and private investors invest
much larger amounts in almost all types of quality venture capital-seeking
companies. For example, investors in our network invest in 1) all United
States regions and selected international regions, 2) seed, early, expansion,
and mezzanine stage companies, 3) Information Technology, Health Care
and Life Sciences, Industrial Technology, and Non-Technology industry
sectors, and 4) numerous niche investment areas.
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For more contact
information, please click here.
Why use Bristol Investment Group for raising capital?
How do you define venture capital?
Does Bristol invest in capital-seeking companies directly?
What type of businesses work with Bristol Investment Group?
What is the typical amount of capital sought by the businesses
that work with Bristol Investment Group?
What type of private investors and institutions does Bristol
Investment Group contact?
How do I get my investment opportunity referred to your network
of venture capitalists and private investors?
Should my capital raising strategy be focused on targeting
private investors or institutions?
Do you post my business plan on the Web?
Are you a broker-dealer or investment advisor?
Do you provide any warranties or guarantees?
Is my business plan kept confidential?
How long does it take to complete the financing?
May I contact the venture capitalists directly?
Will my business plan be referred to any venture capitalists
without my knowledge?
Can I select which venture capitalist will receive my information?
Do I have to submit an electronic copy of my complete business
plan?
How much does this service cost?
How do I contact you if I have more questions?
Why use Bristol Investment Group for raising capital?
An important reason to use Bristol Investment Group to raise capital is
that it is a registered NASD broker/dealer. Bristol Investment Group has
the advantage of being a small broker/dealer and thereby offers our clients
direct senior management exposure. Most small capital raisers are not
broker dealers and cannot legally facilitate the sale of securities.
It is the law that any private placement or sale of securities is handled
by a registered broker/dealer. If the sale is not conducted by a registered
broker/dealer, the Securities and Exchange Commission may intervene and
stop your company from the sale or at a later date when your company is
facing an Initial Public Offering.
How do you define venture capital?
The professional venture capital community consists of approximately
3,000 accredited venture capital providers, including private and public
management firms, small business investment companies ("SBICs"), corporate
venture groups, financial institution venture groups, and family-owned
venture groups. Venture capital professionals typically raise "closed-end"
investment funds from institutional investors such as private and public
pension funds, endowments, corporations, high net worth individuals, and
wealthy families. Some venture capital professionals manage "open-end"
funds that increase in size as they invest in companies. Venture capital
professionals typically make minority or non-controlling equity investments
in technology-focused, high growth entrepreneurial companies. Some venture
capital professionals invest in non-technology companies as well as niche
investments, such as minority or woman-owned, publicly traded, or regional
companies or strategic technologies.
Does Bristol invest in capital-seeking companies directly?
What type of businesses work with Bristol Investment
Group?
We consider proposals that are often characterized as growth stage businesses.
It is important that the basic business model makes sense, and the management
team can demonstrate the ability to make the business succeed. Typically,
we look at high-tech, health care, industrial and telecommunication companies
including wireless and mobile technology companies.
What is the typical amount of capital sought by the businesses
that work with Bristol Investment Group?
We specialize in growth stage businesses that typically require between
$2 million and $15 million.
What type of private investors and institutions does Bristol Investment
Group contact?
Bristol's private investors are usually successful entrepreneurs themselves.
They can contribute essential business skills, practical experience, contacts
and capital, but don't necessarily require a controlling interest. They
may wish to work full or part time in the business, as well as advise
on strategic issues. Because private investors do not answer to an investment
committee, they are able to make quick decisions and take risks when investing
their own money.
Bristol's institutional investors are the leading venture capital companies
and private equity investors in the industry. Given more than 20 years
experience in the investment banking industry, the management leverage
long-standing business relationships with these investors and venture
capital groups to ensure the proposal is reviewed carefully and given
special attention. With the tremendous deal flow currently experienced
by these institutions, a personal contact is the only way to ensure that
time is taken to read the proposal carefully.
How do I get my investment opportunity referred to
your network of venture capitalists and private investors?
Bristol Investment Group must first review your business plan and executive
summary. If you have already developed an Information Memorandum or a
Private Placement Memorandum, this will accelerate the process. Once we
have had the opportunity to review your business, we will schedule a face-to-face
meeting and determine how best to proceed, outlining, in advance, the
investors which have indicated interest in financing your type of business.
Our review process usually takes only a few business days. Follow up phone
calls are always welcome.
Should my capital raising strategy be focused on targeting
private investors or institutions?
Entrepreneurs typically solicit friends and family first, as well as any
other business contacts they may have. However, the choice may be limited.
Mutual trust and respect is of course, necessary, but other criteria for
a long term business relationship such as relevant experience, strategic
vision, sufficient cash and resources may not be apparent. If personal
contacts are not appropriate, then it may be worthwhile to use one or
more "business angel" introductory services to effectively contact a large
number of private investors. Bristol Investment Group can act as such
an agency, linking entrepreneurs seeking capital with a network of investors
interested in seed, start-up and expanding businesses.
Private investors are likely to be actively involved in the businesses
in which they invest, and are sometimes willing to work full time. Many
have founded businesses themselves and had successful business careers,
so that they are able to bring management skills and industry contacts
to the businesses in which they invest. In general, because private investors
are individuals investing their own money, they are able to take risks,
and invest instinctively. They do not need to justify their actions to
an investment committee and cannot be chastised if they make a bad decision.
For this reason, a small, start up, high risk business is more likely
to be able to attract investment from a private investor than from a venture
capital company.
Do you post my business plan on the Web?
No. Only pre-qualified venture capitalist and private investors are
given access to your business plan or information memorandum. Bristol
Investment Group is dedicated to protecting the confidential information
of its client companies.
Are you a broker-dealer or investment advisor?
Yes. Bristol Investment Group is a registered NASD broker/dealer and
fully authorized to represent any company in a private placement involving
the sale of securities.
Do you provide any warranties or guarantees?
No. Bristol Investment Group does not provide any warranties or guarantees.
See Legal Notices for further information.
Is my business plan kept confidential?
Yes. The information we collect about your investment opportunity is kept
strictly confidential and is only referred to our network of venture capitalists
and private investors as appropriate. For further information about our
privacy and confidentiality policies, see Legal
Notices.
How long does it take to complete the financing?
That, of course, is a matter of timing and preparation. With a well
written business plan already in place and the management prepared to
meet with investors immediately, the process will typically take eight
to twelve weeks depending on your company's industry and business model.
Can I contact the venture capitalists directly?
Yes, but unless you have a personal relationship with the venture
capitalist, your submission will be considered "one in the mountain of
proposals" and will be given a lower priority for its review. Given our
long-standing relationships and strong reputation for presenting only
the highest quality investment opportunities, our business plans are usually
given very high priority.
Will my business plan be referred to any venture capitalists
without my knowledge?
No. You will always know who receives your business plan. Prior to our
contacting investors, Bristol Investment Group will typically provide
you with the names of the venture capitalists and investors that will
receive your executive summary and detailed information. When they view
your executive summary and show an interest in your company, you will
be notified by Bristol Investment Group.
Can I select which venture capitalist will receive
my investment opportunity?
Yes. Bristol Investment Group will pursue the financing through its channels
of established venture capital institutions and private investor network;
however, if you wish to submit additional names for Bristol to contact
or wish to omit certain individual or institutions, you may do so. Bristol
welcomes these modifications as we realize this improves the chances of
securing the financing.
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Do I have to submit an electronic copy of my complete
business plan?
No. If you wish you may forward a hard copy of the business plan for
our review. Please see our contact information. It may become necessary
to develop a more formal Information Memorandum at which point a digital
version of the plan will become necessary, but in the evaluation stages,
a digital version is not required.
How much does this service cost?
Fees for capital raising services are contingent upon successful completion
of a financing and are always agreed upon prior to beginning a project.
Fees are based on a percentage of the total amount raised by the Company
and may include a minimum retainer. Because of the substantial effort
we undertake on behalf of a client, we require an agreement that gives
us the exclusive right to represent the Company for a stated period of
time.
How do I contact you if I have more questions?
110 East 59th Street, 29th fl.
New York, NY 10022
Tel: (212) 593-3157
Fax: (212) 202-5022
Website: http://www.BristolDirect.com
Email: