Founded by unscripted TV veteran John Ehrhard, Orson will use the funds to build teams to scale the science of unscripted storytelling and generative AI, expand production of its successful StoryStrip™ technology and launch new products.

WINTER GARDEN, Fla., June 20, 2023 — Orson, a story-as-a-service startup, officially announced today that it has raised $3 million to deepen its investment in generative AI and the science of video storytelling to help users build meaningful human connections. The new investment, raised from a group of private investors, including Cyan Banister and Long Journey Ventures, will also be used to scale up automated video storytelling platform StoryStrip’s™ technology and to support new product development in generative AI.

“Despite this being the most connected era in human history, we are actually more disconnected from each other than ever before,” said Orson Founder John Ehrhard, the co-owner and executive producer of OAKZ Media, a pioneering unscripted TV production company. “There’s a huge lack of empathy and connection across humanity, which manifests itself in schools, dating pools, offices, homes, literally everywhere. Technology is now allowing us to live in a digital first world at arm’s length from each other while the soft skills that real connections are built on, like empathy, atrophy. Orson wants to change that by leveraging the power of generative AI, and the team’s vast background in helping people tell their stories for television, to help humans be more human.”

Created in 2020 by Ehrhard, Orson has automated the process of video storytelling with Orson’s AI-enabled Director and its StoryStrip™ technology. Orson makes creating compelling video easy, and is designed to integrate into clients’ platforms to help them deepen relationships with their customers and create new revenue streams. Orson fully automates unscripted video-making by conducting interviews, crafting stories, and automatically editing and scoring to create compelling episodes with music, imagery and graphics. For clients, Orson’s videos translate into more engagement—and revenues; for end users, Orson’s videos translate into a way to tell their story and build authentic connections.

Eli Weinstock-Herman, Orson’s CTO and technical co-founder, explained how and why Orson will use the new funding:

“This funding helps us continue to expand from our beta last fall, adding new storytelling capabilities, expanding to more audiences, and continuing to develop AI capabilities for our automated director.”

Weinstock-Herman, a technical leader at four startups and a distinguished engineer with more than two decades of experience, added: “We are giving every group of friends, family, or team a virtual, automated production team to help tell their story.”

Orson, which has raised $8 million in total funding, also plans to invest in its story science team as well as its platform sales and marketing teams. Further, the funds will be used to support the launch of a new, soon-to-be-released product.

Carl Ryden, Chair of the Orson Board of Directors and Co-Founder of PrecisionLender, discussed why he and other investors believe in Orson.

“Everyone’s got a story, but not all can tell it right,” said Ryden. “That’s where John and his Orson team step in. They’re on a mission to transform ordinary tales into moving narratives that resonate. Backed by funding, a dedicated team, and the latest tech, they’re changing the game of storytelling for everyone. In a world craving personal connections, Orson’s use of AI, cloud computing, and the impressive cameras in our pockets is addressing this need like never before.”

Robert Fredrick, an Orson Board Member, shared his thoughts on the impact Orson will have.

“The Orson team being assembled is full of rock stars who have been focused on compelling and engaging content and editing for decades,” said Frederick, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Amazon Anywhere and Amazon Web Services.

“The creation of Story as a Service generative APIs and User Interfaces that allow 3rd parties to embed broadcast quality video content into their existing mobile and web offerings is a game changer that will impact the social media, e-commerce, sports, news, and education verticals.”

ABOUT ORSON

Orson is the first generative AI platform created to enhance human connection by facilitating the sharing of one’s authentic self through video storytelling. Founded in 2020, Orson was developed by unscripted film and TV experts with more than two decades of experience documenting over 50,000 hours of real people’s stories. Using AI-enabled directors and its StoryStrip™ technology, Orson’s video storytelling process is fully automated and scalable, allowing for powerful narratives and story-driven video to be created through interviews with people. Orson’s Story-as-a-Service was designed to integrate with partner platforms and communities to create product extensions and new revenue streams that increase user engagement and create deeper human connection.

For more information about Orson, visit https://heyorson.com/.

Media Contact:
Candice Stokes
[email protected]
706-718-1143

SOURCE Orson

The real estate portfolio manager will join RFA’s growing team, concentrating on institutional client relationships, strategy development, investment sourcing, and asset management

LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2023 — RCLCO Fund Advisors (RFA), the investment advisory affiliate of RCLCO, is pleased to announce that Sriyas R. Pande will be joining the team as Vice President, reporting to RFA Managing Director Ben Maslan.

“Sriyas has a proven record of success and experience across a wide range of activities in institutional portfolio management and real estate asset management and we are thrilled he has chosen to join us at RFA,” said Ben Maslan. “Our clients look to RFA for broad and deep knowledge of all phases of real estate investment, and both high-level strategic advisory and ground-level implementation, and Sriyas’ wide range of experience will help us advise them effectively.”

Pande joins RFA with extensive investment and portfolio management experience, most recently as Real Estate Portfolio Manager at the Employees Retirement System of Texas. At ERS, he oversaw the pension fund’s relationships with open end core funds, closed-end multi-family funds, and PropTech funds. Prior to his tenure at ERS, Pande was an Asset Management Analyst with Harbor Group International, where he worked in all aspects of investment management including acquisitions, due diligence, asset management and dispositions.

Pande has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas Christian University and a Master of Science in Real Estate from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY). In 2022, he was selected as a Pension Real Estate Association’s John W. Koza Leadership Fellow. He is based in the Los Angeles area.

About RCLCO Fund Advisors (RFA)

Established in 2011 and an SEC Registered Investment Advisor since 2014, RCLCO Fund Advisors advises institutional investors on real estate investments through its analytical rigor, highly customized client-centric service, and impassioned search for alignment. With approximately $100 billion in real estate assets under advisement, RFA’s diverse and experienced team offers a differentiated approach to real estate investing to address the unique challenges faced by institutional investors through its focus on demand-driven investing, real estate operations, and partnership alignment. Learn more at www.rclco.com/rfa 

About RCLCO

RCLCO is the “first call” for real estate developers, investors, the public sector, and non-real estate companies and organizations seeking strategic and tactical advice regarding property investment, planning, and development. Our team leverages quantitative analytics and a strategic planning framework to provide end-to-end business planning and implementation solutions at an entity, portfolio, or project level. With the insights and experience gained over 55 years and thousands of projects, RCLCO brings success to all product types across the United States and around the world. RCLCO has offices in Austin, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, and Washington, DC, and offers an array of consulting services across real estate economics and management consulting. Learn more at www.rclco.com 

Media Contact:
April Roberts
[email protected] 

SOURCE RCLCO Fund Advisors

Funding will enable Guardian to accelerate production and expand commercial operations to farms nationwide 

WOBURN, Mass., June 20, 2023 — Guardian Agriculture, the leading developer of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) systems for commercial-scale sustainable farming – and the first and only eVTOL company with FAA approval to operate commercially nationwide – today announced a Series A fundraise of $20 million. Led by Fall Line Capital, this round will support expansion of commercial operations across farms nationwide and accelerate the ramp-up of large-scale manufacturing of its SC1 aircraft.

“Customers, investors, and regulators recognize that there’s no better application of electric, fully-autonomous aircraft than in commercial farming,” Guardian Agriculture Founder and CEO Adam Bercu said. “We have taken a practical approach to building and deploying our technology that puts us well ahead of other eVTOL developers. As the first and only eVTOL-maker with FAA approval to operate commercially, this funding will allow us to begin and quickly expand commercial operations – on real farms, with paying customers – sooner as we continue to strengthen our team and ramp up aircraft production.” 

The Guardian SC1 platform – which already has more than $100 million in customer orders – is the only autonomous, electric, aerial crop protection system designed specifically for large-scale agriculture. And unlike existing unmanned autonomous systems, Guardian designs and manufactures its system entirely within the U.S., supporting U.S. competitiveness, jobs, and ensuring national security. Guardian Agriculture will begin commercial operations in support of its Wilbur-Ellis customer in California this summer.

“Any farmer buying new machinery today can tell you about reliability problems as complexity has far outpaced quality control,” Fall Line Capital Managing Director Clay Mitchell said. “Guardian is the first company to develop unmanned aerial application technology that’s made with aviation-grade engineering and manufacturing, which greatly enhances reliability and performance. Even beyond the cost savings and elimination of soil and crop damage, the first thing farmers will notice about Guardian’s product is that it works.”

Founded in 2017, and with offices in Massachusetts and California, Guardian Agriculture has assembled a world-class team of engineering, autonomy, and manufacturing leaders that previously held executive-level positions at Apple, BAE, Sikorsky, Adobe, Tesla, and Uber.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Guardian Agriculture

GHENT, Belgium, June 20, 2023 — After raising $1.4 million in 2022 and successfully launching its product, award-winning Belgian access management start-up NineID announced raising another $1.2 million, successfully closing its $2.6 million seed round. The funding came from lead investor Pitchdrive, Comate Ventures, and several business angels (including Showpad’s founders). NineID just opened a New York office and has customers like World Forum The Hague (who recently welcomed Ukrainian president Zelensky). The funds will be used to fuel internationalization and product expansion.

Organizations such as World Forum The Hague, PSA (world’s largest port group), A.S. Watson (world’s largest international health & beauty retailer), Alpro (part of Danone Group), and dozens of other multinationals joined NineID’s client base in search of one thing: a modern access control solution. Other technologies are outdated and offer limited security. In addition, manual onboardings and check-ins are not user-friendly and can lead to administrative chaos.

The company offers a SaaS platform that centralizes user identification, certificates, and training documentation, making it easily accessible for audits. In addition, NineID provides hardware for on-site access management, utilizing QR codes, smartphone scans, or facial recognition.

The founders, Roy Jeunen and Frederik Keysers, built the solution while experiencing cumbersome security procedures themselves. “In previous roles we underwent long queues and countless security checks prior to getting site access via (RFID) badges. Anyone can pass on this badge, making the whole process useless.” says Roy.

“Companies often lose sight of physical identity and access management when focusing entirely on cyber security.” adds Roy. “Physical badges are often prone to sharing, copying, or theft – allowing hackers to gain access to unauthorized premises and use unattended computers or network ports. This opens the literal and figurative door for security breaches.”

NineID put their theory to the test by successfully infiltrating an unknowing company and accessing all sensitive information within 15 minutes. “Physical breaches are responsible for over 10% of data breaches, according to sources like IBM. NineID’s solution ensures that everyone entering a site is 100% security compliant.” says Frederik.

To further expand internationally and enhance their solution, NineID secured additional funding from Pitchdrive and prominent figures in the Belgian technology landscape, such as Comate Ventures, the founders of Showpad, and Drupal CMS’ founder.

For more information: nineid.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105309/NineID_founders.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105310/NineID_Logo.jpg

SOURCE NineID

STOCKHOLM, June 20, 2023 — Taggr, a leading Swedish intelligent assets company, has successfully completed its Spring 2023 financing round, securing 1.2 million from venture capital firms Polar Structure and Capelin Ventures. This funding propels Taggr closer to its vision of becoming a global leader in intelligent assets across a range of key industries such as construction, transportation, logistics, and mining and quarrying.

Recognizing the transformative potential of intelligent assets technology and sharing risk with customers through its unique business model of selling information instead of a technical device, system, or service, Taggr has devised an unprecedented offer. This approach minimizes barriers to adoption, enabling customers and partners to deploy these advanced capabilities rapidly. With the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) soon to come into effect, Taggr’s unique approach to measuring and reporting CO2e emissions will become indispensable for companies and cities seeking to be compliant with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). Both combustion-based and electrified equipment can benefit from capabilities that allow tracing back when, where, and how much energy was consumed.

According to reports within the construction equipment industry, Taggr’s capabilities will be instrumental in achieving up to a 50% reduction in the carbon footprint of construction equipment. 
This latest funding round signifies a vote of confidence from the investor community in Taggr’s innovative approach and market potential. Polar Structure’s investment is not just a financial endorsement but also a vital part of a strategic alliance to catalyze Taggr’s growth trajectory. 
The capital injection will be utilized to advance product development, scale operations, and broaden customer outreach. As Taggr navigates the emerging intelligent assets landscape, the backing of Polar Structure and Capelin Ventures will be invaluable. Their support will aid Taggr in capitalizing on this technology’s immense potential and shaping a future where digital intelligent assets become an integral part of multiple industry verticals. 

“Polar Structure invests holistically to contribute to transforming cities and communities to make them sustainable and more efficient. Our investment in Taggr exemplifies this commitment, as it enables precise monitoring of equipment and goods, forming the foundation for optimizing utilization and logistics – both of which are crucial factors in achieving net-zero goals,” says Tobias Emanuelsson, Founder and CEO of Polar Structure. 

For more information,
please visit – www.taggr.se 

Andreas Eriksson, 
+4670-555 61 65,
[email protected]

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Taggr AB

RALEIGH, N.C. , June 20, 2023 — Gradient Health, a leading medical AI data-sharing company, announced today the successful closure of a $2.75 million funding round led by ReMY Investors & Consultants. The investment will enable the company to continue assembling the world’s largest and most comprehensive annotated medical imaging library into a secure, unified platform. Joining ReMY on the round were new investors Boro Capital, Supernode Ventures, MedMountain Ventures, The Triangle Tweener Fund, David Golan, and Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2) as well as existing investors VentureSouth and Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health.

With the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence in healthcare, access to high-quality and diverse medical imaging data is vital for the development of innovative and robust solutions. Gradient Health’s groundbreaking approach addresses this critical need by providing a vast collection of annotated medical images in a single, secure repository. By growing and curating this extensive library, the platform will empower researchers to unlock new insights and minimize bias, fueling advancements in diagnostics and therapies.

“We are thrilled to have secured $2.75 million in funding, which will accelerate our mission to transform medical AI data sharing”, said Josh Miller, CEO of Gradient Health. “This investment will allow us to continue assembling the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of annotated medical imaging data. With this dataset, we aim to revolutionize medical research, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.”

The company’s platform offers a range of powerful features designed to facilitate compliant research and seamless collaborations. It employs state-of-the-art security measures to ensure the privacy and compliance of sensitive patient information. Additionally, it provides advanced tools for developers including machine-learning-ready formatting, the ability to search by diseases and imaging modality.

“We’re excited by Gradient’s vision of building the data layer that will underpin all future medical AI” said Shana Barghouti, Co-CIO at ReMY Investors & Consultants who led the round. “We’ve been impressed by the team, the vision, and the progress that the team has made already. Gradient Health are building capabilities that will allow for rapid and game-changing advancements in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.”

Jay Goss, General Partner at investors Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health who invested in Gradient Health in a previous round said “As healthcare charts its path with the world of artificial intelligence, which is still in the early innings, a significant unlock comes from accessing clinical data – especially imaging – so that the models are trained responsibly. Gradient has established itself as the leader in this, ensuring an efficient marketplace of sorts exists between algorithm makers and the healthcare industry. We couldn’t be more excited to be involved with this exciting company and stellar team.”

Gradient Health’s data-sharing platform has garnered recognition from industry experts for its potential to revolutionize healthcare research. The company aims to collaborate with academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and technology partners to collectively advance medical knowledge and improve patient care.

About Gradient Health.

Gradient Health is a medical technology company headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. They provide instant access to the raw and labeled medical images needed to train and validate technologies, getting more equitable innovations to market, faster. Gradient was founded to power better medical research by accelerating AI development.

Health innovators from around the world use Gradient Health’s platform to improve their products, without compromising speed, quality of research or data privacy.

For more information about Gradient Health, visit gradienthealth.io

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2104567/Gradient_Health_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Gradient Health

LONDON, June 20, 2023 — Boost Capital Partners is excited to announce the launch of its first fund to support founders who are building exceptional user experiences to solve real-life problems.

Based in London and having successfully completed its first close of $30M, the fund is led by a team with a collective experience of over 25 years in the digital consumer and gaming industries. Boost Capital Partners is founded by Alvaro Alvarez del Rio, a seasoned investor in the consumer space who has backed around 100 companies at or before seed stage including Deliveroo, Supercell, Hutch Games and Tenor. The partners in the team, Ignacio Monereo and Pablo Morenes, have also held leadership positions at companies including Google, Meta and Blackstone.

Boost Capital Partners invests in pre-seed and seed companies with initial ticket sizes of up to $750,000 and follow-on capabilities. It targets a broad range of sectors of the real economy where the user experience can be significantly improved, including health, wellness, education, sustainability, entertainment and finance. It has already backed 7 companies in geographies across Europe and Latin America.

Boost firmly believes that outstanding user experiences lie at the heart of a successful digital business and they can be used to positively impact people’s lives (read its manifesto). It also believes that extraordinary technology founders in any industry should not be hampered in their efforts to build category-defining products by a lack of expertise in the mechanics that define user behaviour. That is why its support extends beyond just financial investment as it aims to provide guidance on critical aspects in the growth of a company including user acquisition, engagement and revenue generation.

The team at Boost Capital Partners looks forward to working with the next generation of dreamers in the software industry to create intuitive solutions to the hardest real-life challenges.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2104195/Boost_team.jpg

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Boost Capital Partners

LONDRES, 20 de junio de 2023 — Boost Capital Partners se complace en anunciar el lanzamiento de su primer fondo dedicado a apoyar a empresas y fundadores que buscan resolver problemas de la vida cotidiana a través de una mejor experiencia de usuario.  

Con sede en Londres y tras haber completado un primer cierre de 30 millones de dólares, el fondo está dirigido por un equipo con una experiencia colectiva de más de 25 años en las industrias de videojuegos y consumo digital. Boost Capital Partners está fundado por Alvaro Alvarez del Rio, inversor con una larga trayectoria en la industria tecnológica y que a día de hoy ha respaldado más de 100 empresas en su etapa inicial tales como Deliveroo, Supercell o Tenor. Completan el equipo de socios, Ignacio Monereo y Pablo Morenes, los cuales se unen tras haber ocupado puestos de liderazgo a nivel internacional en empresas tales como Google, Meta o Blackstone.

Boost Capital Partners invierte en capital semilla con un ticket inicial de hasta 750.000 dólares y tiene capacidad para aumentar su inversión en rondas posteriores. Se dirige a una amplia gama de sectores de la economía real donde la experiencia de usuario puede mejorarse significativamente, incluidas verticales como la salud, educación, sostenibilidad, entretenimiento o finanzas. A día de hoy ya cuenta con siete empresas dentro de su portafolio tanto en Europa como en América Latina y espera ampliar dicho número en los próximos meses.

Boost Capital Partners considera que la experiencia de usuario es una pieza fundamental para el éxito de un negocio digital o incluso de una nueva tecnología (lea su manifiesto). Así pues, su objetivo es apoyar a aquellos fundadores que buscan crear productos capaces de redefinir categorías, en las cuales se pueda mejorar la experiencia de usuario notablemente y que en definitiva tengan un impacto positivo para los usuarios. El apoyo de Boost Capital Partners se extiende más allá de un mero soporte financiero, y su objetivo es ayudar a las empresas participadas en aspectos críticos para su crecimiento, desde la adquisición de usuarios, el tutorial o primera experiencia, hasta mejoras tanto en la retención como en la generación de ingresos.

El equipo de Boost Capital Partners espera poder trabajar con la próxima generación de emprendedores ayudando a crear soluciones intuitivas para la vida real.

Foto – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2104195/Boost_team.jpg

Contacto: [email protected]

SOURCE Boost Capital Partners

“Opportunity is everywhere, we just need to develop the vision to see it” – Latoria Williams on securing funding and financing options to support business expansion

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 19, 2023 — Each business starts with an idea, but you still need money to make your vision a reality. We spoke to Latoria Williams, CEO of 1F Cash Advance, and asked her advice on securing funding for starting a new business.

Please, name some common challenges that new businesses face when they try to access new sources of investment and financing for their further development and expansion.

Latoria Williams: First of all, I’d say it’s a lack of knowledge of where they can seek help from. Traditional methods of financing are typically the first that comes to mind. Thus, business owners turn to banks, hoping they will receive support. This entails a few more problems. Businesses often can’t meet the lenders’ strict eligibility requirements. For example, they may not own any valuable property to pledge, have a limited credit history, or lack track records. This is especially true for early-stage businesses and startups. You can also add the likely risks that investors may not want to take on and the lack of brand identity. All these factors may hinder business owners when it comes to additional financing.

You mentioned strict traditional lenders’ requirements. Can you expand on the topic? How do traditional bank loans, with their stringent eligibility criteria, affect businesses seeking capital?

LW: Even if an entrepreneur can qualify for a traditional bank loan, they are likely to undergo a rather lengthy and complex process full of hassle and paperwork. Although there are various modern fin-tech solutions in the lending industry, conventional lenders are still quite conservative. This is how they try to offset risks and get a guarantee that their money will be returned. But for businesses seeking capital, this combination of reasons makes them increasingly look for alternative sources of funding. Thus, the most common implication lies in shifting towards available alternatives, such as venture capital companies, angel investors, crowdfunding, or peer-to-peer lending platforms.

Let’s talk about venture capital firms and angel investors. What role do they play in supporting business growth? What unique advantages do they offer?

LW: Venture capital firms and angel investors provide financial assistance in exchange for equity or ownership stakes. This means that they are interested in your business to succeed and grow. They act like mentors and advisors, guiding you through the process and helping you cope with challenges. But keep in mind that this can be a kind of disadvantage too. Besides risk-sharing, it’s also control-sharing. This way, you won’t be the only one who is responsible for making important business decisions.

I get it. There are pitfalls, anyway. And what about crowdfunding platforms? What role do they play in fundraising for small businesses? What are their benefits and considerations?

LW: Thanks to crowdfunding platforms, business owners can access a wider network of individual investors. Gone are the days when business owners had to turn to specific companies or lenders and convince them of their creditworthiness or the value of their idea. Crowdfunding platforms allow you to get donations from everyone who believes in your business and is interested in its success. Additionally, they can help you build your brand along with the community of supporters, provided that your campaign attracts interest. This can also help you get more attention from investors by demonstrating market demand.

When it comes to considerations, I’d say there are two main points. First, you will have to spend a lot of time and effort on campaign preparation and proper planning. Second, it’s important to be transparent and open to investors so that they understand where their investments are going.

You’ve also mentioned peer-to-peer lending as an alternative financing option. Could you please tell us more about how it works and what benefits it provides?

LW: Peer-to-peer platforms are lender- or investor-finding tools. What makes them different from traditional lending or investing options is that they link you with other individuals, not companies or financial institutions. Most P2P platforms come with a streamlined application process, fast access to funds, and exceptional flexibility. As there are multiple offers to choose from, you can find the one that suits your current needs and matches your cash flow capabilities. However, some options may come with high interest rates. Additionally, you may have to pay a certain platform fee.

And are there any government initiatives or grants available to support businesses seeking additional financing?

LW: Such programs are usually based on the exceptional value that your business must bring to society. For example, the Research and Development tax credits are available only to companies fostering innovation and technological advancements. Government grants are also aimed at supporting specific industries, technologies, or research initiatives.

However, there are a couple of options that owners of small businesses may consider. For example, entrepreneurs can turn to loans backed by the Small Business Administration. They typically come with favorable terms and unique benefits, such as lower down payments or flexible overhead requirements. Available options include 7(a) loans, 504 loans, and microloans.

What do you think is the importance of access to capital in boosting a business?

LW: I think it’s almost everything. I’d say it’s 80% of success. Suppose that you have an incredible idea that can potentially change the world for the better. How are you going to bring it to life without financing? We live in a capitalist world. Having an idea and making a physical effort is often not enough. Any expansion, growth, and development require investments. However, I believe that opportunity is everywhere, we just need to develop the vision to see it. Accessing capital is possible even if you can’t turn to traditional financing options.

Maybe you can name a few examples of companies that have successfully expanded after utilizing various funding and financing options.

LW: SpaceX and Oculus VR are the first that came to my mind. SpaceX raised capital through multiple sources, including private funding, government contracts, grants, venture capital firms, and strategic partners. Oculus VR initially gained capital through a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign and then attracted significant venture capital funding.

What can you advise business owners seeking additional financing to grow their business?

LW: First of all, you need to have a well-structured and realistic business plan. This plan should reflect your idea and demonstrate its usefulness and potential. Your business plan is what people will invest their money in. Try to place it in a good light. Also, before settling on one, explore different funding options. And don’t be afraid to ask for advice from professionals in your industry. Build a strong network and cultivate relationships with them. They are not your competitors but your allies and source of knowledge.

Also, if you plan to turn to investors, you should be prepared for the fact that they will seek information about your business and its progress. So start now with building a strong presence. Feel free to demonstrate your successes and let people know how far you have already come. And be prepared to go through a due diligence process.

Final question! Looking ahead, what’s your vision of funding options for businesses in the future? How do you think they will evolve?

LW: I think we’ll continue to witness the rise of alternative platforms and sources of funding. Perhaps, they will increasingly move toward online operations, adjusting to changing business and investor expectations. Also, I think lenders and investors will be even more focused on ESG (Environmental, social, and corporate governance* editor’s note) criteria in order to reward companies that are committed to sustainability and renewable energy, as well as social causes and ethical practices.

I also think that the role of blockchain technology will increase. This can significantly change traditional methods and funding models that are available to us now. And I hope that governmental support for business will continue to grow.

Thank you very much for sharing your vision and knowledge with us.

LW: It’s my pleasure. Thank you for having me. I hope this interview will help early-stage businesses and startups navigate financing options they can access.

Latoria Williams is CEO of 1F Cash Advance, the financial company with over 40 stores across the US. Her Master’s Degree in Finance and extensive expertise in business development helped her increase the company’s revenue by over 250% in a 3-year timespan. Now she is helping early-stage businesses and startups achieve their bold financial goals.

Press Contact:

Terry Havens
5189636698

SOURCE 1F Cash Advance