Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does my plan fall within BaseCamp's area of interest?
2. How do I get BaseCamp interested?
3. What does BaseCamp bring besides money?
4. Will I be treated fairly?
1. Does my plan fall within BaseCamp's area of interest?
A great way to judge whether your venture falls within a Basecamp's 'comfort zone' is to compare it to their current portfolio. If the sector, stage, or location of your venture is very different from the BaseCamp's current companies, it may be too time consuming for us to understand your distinctiveness and effectively help you post investment.
BaseCamp are primarily interested in two types of ventures:
1. Applied Internet Technology - Companies deploying standard internet technologies to improve work flow and productivity in existing markets. "Taking the friction out of transactions."
2. Internet Infrastructure...Particularly Software tools - Companies developing software products or services that enhance, improve, or speed up the process of developing, testing, and deploying enterprise WEB applications.
Other very important factors besides the industry are that the enterprise must have growth potential combined with consistent progress since its founding. This is typically a venture that has already assembled the key components such as a solid management, a competitive product, and at least one customer. BaseCamp expects to invest $500,000 in a company.
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2. How do I get BaseCamp interested?
Once you know that your company falls within BaseCamp's area of interest, getting us interested is as simple as sending us your business plan. We are always looking for new companies to fund and would love to review your plan. In addition, the best way to get a venture firm to pay attention to a business plan is to have it personally referred to them by their current portfolio companies, limited partners, or affiliated individuals. From our web site, you can see that BaseCamp is very involved with each and every company we chose to fund. Finding and recruiting insightful references that are known to BaseCamp can really catch our eye.
Once in the door, good plans are distinguished by having a savvy combination of the right elements and arguments for success. The elements which BaseCamp focuses on are an experienced, high profile management, a competitive product or service with compelling value, a large growing market, and distinctive relationships with customers or partners, which gives us good visibility of growth potential. Demonstrating a consistently growing momentum is critical to raising the excitement and attention level among BaseCamp investors. BaseCamp looks for companies with a projected revenue of at least $50 million in 5 years.
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3. What does BaseCamp bring besides money?
BaseCamp brings the experience of it's team to the companies it invests in, not just money. Both of BaseCamp's principals (Mel Baiada and Tom Drury) have broad, technology company operating backgrounds and expertise. Both have started companies, raised capital, hired staff, gone to market with products, and created successful exits for their investors. This experience base is contributed naturally to the management teams of the companies that BaseCamp invests in. Here at BaseCamp Ventures, we believe that it is this operating background which sets us apart from other venture funds. We not only provide funding, but our guidance and our knowledge of the industry which contribute to your companies success.
BaseCamp also brings contacts that are vital for keeping a company ahead of its competition, and for successful future investments. Combined, Mel Baiada and Tom Drury have over 40 years of experience as entrepreneurs. They have a network of key relationships that can help develop their customers and partners profiles.
Fund raising, whether through other venture companies, bankers, creditors, or the public markets is one of the most important and worrisome issues on the mind of an entrepreneur. BaseCamp's goal is to alleviate these worries through our guidance, assistance, and support of our relationships with its portfolio companies 100%.
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4. Will I be treated fairly?
BaseCamp Venture is interested in fulfilling the interests of entrepreneurs as well as our own interests. An entrepreneur should be confident that their guides at BaseCamp will do whatever is necessary to help your company. We want to strategically and financially facilitating your operational efforts. Our actions and reputation with all of our portfolio companies demonstrate the extent to which we are respected and have aided their growth and success. The easiest route to getting comfortable with BaseCamp is to get in touch with portfolio company officers and directors and ask them about their relationship to us. BaseCamp Ventures maintains a long term view of the venture business. We want to not just get it off the ground, but help your venture climb to the top over time.
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