Capital Raising
Before describing the capital raising services Argo Partners can provide, it is necessary to describe the funding landscape in Australia. The following picture presents a rough segmentation of the sources of funding available to businesses in Australia, depending on the lifecycle stage the business is at, and the basis on which the funds are usually provided or accessed.
Note: Angel = business angel investor, either a person or an angel investment group. HNW = high net worth investor (a person); VC = venture capital; PE = private equity (i.e. expansion, mezzanine, MBO and LBO funds); IPO = initial public offering or listing on a stock exchange.
We can help suitable Australian businesses raise capital from various types of investor and access government grants. While we usually work with early-stage technology-based ventures, we can assist any business that has a large addressable market, good growth potential and strong competitive advantage, partially based on unique and protected or protectable intellectual property.
Raising Capital from Investors
Argo Partners holds Australian Financial Services Licence 298916. This means we can introduce and promote our clients to sophisticated and professional investors like business angel investors, HNW investors, venture capital funds; strategic investors (i.e. other businesses, usually larger corporations); as well as other licensed advisers/intermediaries and their HNW investor networks.
Where there is mutual interest, we can facilitate and help negotiate investment deals. We can also assist with: Business Plans; investor presentations; Information Memoranda; and Terms Sheets; to meet the needs of our clients and potential investors.
Applying for Government Grants and Assistance Programs
There are a range of grants and tax concessions available from the Australian federal and state governments. Please click here for a list of the ones relevant to Australian early-stage technology-based ventures, particularly those based in NSW. We regard grants as a source of funding and support that should be included in a business plan to complement other capital and revenue raising initiatives. Most government grants and assistance programs are designed for DIY application, requiring only time and effort on your part. However the application criteria may require demonstration of a credible strategy and business plan, and possibly matching funding from investors (see above). We can help with these aspects of a grant application.
Our Process
Before offering to provide any of these services, we need to understand and believe in your business. For these reasons we prefer to work with our current and former COMET clients, or clients we have developed business plans for, as we have developed a deep understanding of their business over an extended period of time. We are similarly careful to qualify potential investors before introducing them to our clients or releasing information to them.
Please contact us for further information, or to request a proposal.
The scope of the services we can provide and the type of investors we can deal with are governed by our Australian Financial Services Licence 298916 issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) . For more information, refer to Opportunities for Investment & Partnering.