Entrepreneurs

You have a great idea for a business, you’ve spent a lot of time developing a plan for how to make it succeed, and now you just need resources to get it off the ground and running.  That’s where COIN might be able to help.

If your business is like many others, small business loans less than $25,000 can be hard to obtain through normal loan sources.  COIN investors are individuals who are interested in helping local entrepreneurs succeed by providing relatively low loans directly to them.  By becoming an entrepreneur member of COIN, you will have the opportunity to present your business plan to COIN investor members who may or may not choose to talk with you further about your business.  You can start that process by submitting a Business Opportunity form, which will also create your membership in COIN.  If you do attract a COIN investor, the terms of your loan with them, or any other financial arrangement you make with them, will be completely up to you and the investor(s).  COIN helps make connections – the rest is up to you.

COIN entrepreneur members also benefit from information provided by COIN, as well as document resources and other services, but the greatest advantage to the free membership is the opportunities you may get to present your business to potential COIN investors.  There are several ways to help increase the likelihood that a COIN investor might choose to work with you, and one of the most important is to ensure you have a solid business plan.  For that reason, entrepreneurs wanting to present to COIN investors must first have their business plan vetted through one of the COIN partners, either the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) or the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE).  Those organizations can also help you prepare to make inspired and informative presentations that investors would welcome.  Start the process by submitting a Business Opportunity form.