Alexandra Fraser, Author at Memeburn

Alexandra Fraser joined Invenfin, an early-stage venture capital firm wholly owned by Remgro in 2009, after completing her Masters in International Business and Emerging Markets (cum laude), at the University of Edinburgh’s Business School. Her degree focused on finance and technology management, with her thesis analysing the Venture Capital Industry in South Africa. Alex is involved in managing and assessing new investment proposals for Invenfin, using her technical and business background to achieve this. Alex also has a B.SC in Molecular and Cell Biology and Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurial Management from UCT, and has worked for a number of companies in South Africa, Australia and the UK. This involved working closely with Government, University Technology Transfer Offices and the Private Sector in the start-up space. Alex is passionate about entrepreneurship and frequently speaks and guest lectures on entrepreneurship and venture capital to students.

Why you should network when raising funds for your tech venture
By Alexandra Fraser on 21 February, 2012
The value of attending networking events is often hard to quantify, as it takes valuable time, but it is worth the effort especially if you are considering starting your own business; building an innovative product or trying to raise funding. Funders invest in companies and founders they know Although we receive many proposals through our website at the VC firm I'm part of, all of the deals that we have concluded (i.e. invested in) to date, have been sourced through our networks. An essential part of our business is the relationships that we’ve been building and nurturing with various suppliers and...

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VC funding is not a blank cheque with no strings attached
By Alexandra Fraser on 24 January, 2012
Receiving venture capital (VC) funding is a significant accomplishment for any entrepreneur as it takes months of hard work and negotiation. Some entrepreneurs believe that once they have secured a funding commitment from an investor, they will have carte blanche with the cash and can report back to their investors as and when it suits them. Nothing could be further from reality. A VC will not write you a cheque for the full amount allowing you to spend it as you please. An early-stage funder will typically fund your business in stages. This means is that you will get funding for...

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Five elements needed to attract startup funding
By Alexandra Fraser on 28 November, 2011
Raising funding can be potentially expensive, as it requires resources, and time-consuming experience. Done correctly, it can yield valuable results and a substantial financial investment to grow your business. Enthusiastic entrepreneurs that want to go this route should be well prepared and display these five key essentials that funders look for when considering investing. 1. Know your market Clear and thorough market and competitor analysis is the mainstay of any successful business concept -- even more so when seeking funding. Understanding who you’re selling to, what pressing need you’re addressing and what competition you’re facing enables the funder to evaluate the...

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Pitching perfection to investors: A 10-step guide
By Alexandra Fraser on 18 October, 2011
Enthusiastic entrepreneurs looking to raise funding must realise that a great business case alone is definitely not enough to guarantee a favorable outcome. Not preparing adequately for a presentation to an angel investor or a venture capital fund is a sure-fire way of guaranteeing failure. The power of a strong, well polished pitch to funders cannot be underestimated and it warrants considerable time and effort to make sure that you hit the mark first off. Here are some tips on what funders might expect from entrepreneurs hoping to make a good impression. 1. Perfect your micro pitch This is your 90-second introduction,...

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Funding your business: 8 ways to win over VCs
By Alexandra Fraser on 19 September, 2011
In the world of venture capital (VC), ideas are plentiful but fundable businesses are hard to find. Despite the perception, VCs do not fund ideas alone, no matter how solid passionate entrepreneurs believe they are. To negate risk, VCs evaluate proposals based on several characteristics, often in-line with their specific funding mandate, to bridge the huge divide between a cool idea and a fundable business. Differentiated VC funds are inundated with requests for capital to get start-up businesses to the next critical level but very few offer significantly differentiated product or service in the eyes of their target market. The tech...

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5 Common mistakes startups make when applying for funding
By Alexandra Fraser on August 16, 2011
There is a perception among entrepreneurs that a revolutionary idea is enough to secure the venture capital needed to kick-start their businesses. This is simply not true. Here are five of the most common mistakes made by entrepreneurs when applying for VC funding. 1. No WOW! Factor The first rule in the VC game is that your business proposition must have an exceptional differentiating factor. You need to know what your sustainable...