Trend in Entrepreneurial Activity and Funding During Fluctuating Economic Cycles
Introduction
Global capital markets have been greatly impacted by the current economic climate. This has created significant challenges in startup capital and infusions of capital from Venture Capital funds or other types of angel investment. 2011 was, indeed, a transitional year for small businesses around the world. The primary issue is that it has become clear that credit will remain less available and that many institutions will remain risk-averse. A simple assessment would be that there was a hope that credit would start flowing again and that investment would be less restricted and it has now become clear that this is not a short-term problem. There was a time when a solid business plan was enough, then having a background in startups became desirable, then having the ability to prove one’s concepts became more important. In order to better understand what an entrepreneurial organization, especially a small business, needs to do in this current economic cycle, this research will look at numbers and types of market entrants, initial public offerings, funding opportunities, and ways to enhance profitability. This research will also examine how the fluctuations of various economic cycles have an impact on funding sources. The funding sources of angel investment, venture capital, private equity, and bootstrapping will be considered, leading into an understanding of the perspectives of the various stakeholders in an effort to develop a 360-degree perspective on the issues. Therefore, the outcome of this essay is to look at how emerging small businesses are facing a particularly challenging cycle for funding. The formula for success has changed and it is important to hold costs to a minimum and keep a small organization lean and low to the ground. Knowledge, globalization, and