Legal Issues Regarding Raising Capital

When <a rel="nofollow"businesses. The same holds true for Small Business
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', 'Investment Companies (SBIC's) that are licensed by
outgoing/article_exit_link']);" href=" for venturethe US federal government. In regards to angel
capital</a> there are a number of legal issuesinvestors, raising capital from these individuals begins
that you will need to consider. Foremost, it should beto enter into the grey area of looking for venture
noted that only a qualified attorney who has specialcapital. Foremost, most angel investors (assuming
expertise in securities law can provide you with thethat this is an arms length transaction) must be
necessary information regarding your specific needs.accredited investors. Please review our previous
This article is only intended to provide an overviewarticles in regards to the definition of an accredited
of some of the issues that you may encounter whenand sophisticated investor (these are different terms
going through the capital raising process.according to the SEC).
 As we have discussed earlier, it may be imperative
In regards to raising private capital, you cannotfor you to have a private placement memorandum
actively advertise that you are seeking capital.(which may or not need to be filed with the SEC).
According to regulations set forth by the SecuritiesThis document, in a legal format, spells out the
and Exchange commission there are a number ofamount of capital sought, investors' rights, and other
different regulations that you must adhere to whendisclosures regarding risks related to your business
raising capital from private sources such as angelinvestments. Depending on the type of investment
investors or venture capital firms. Typically, you canthat you are seeking, again – you may or not
approach venture capital firms without limitation asmay not need to have this document drafted by a
they are in the business of providing capital forsecurities attorney.