Make Your Business Happen

It is possible to start a business in a recession.

The financing is out there. Venture Capital firms handed out $17.7 billion in financing, angel investors are looking to nurture and mentor, and, what seems to be the most exciting of all, the age of the incubator is upon us.

Picture this: You move to San Francisco to develop your business where you are given office space surrounded by other smart, motivated entrepreneurs sharing ideas and contacts. At night, you go to dinner with some of the icons of technology, business, and investment. This is the essence of the Y Incubator founded by Paul Graham and Company. They also give you an investment to obtain between 2-6% of your company. It's hard to imagine a better way to get started and this is far from the only incubator that exists. They are sprouting up all over the country from Charlotte to Seattle. And, of course, those running the incubators are doing everything they can to help you succeed in order to make their investment worth while.

Angel investors can sometimes be exactly what their title says to your business. They provide capital and, with the right investor, the opportunity to use their knowledge in your growth. Target entrepreneurs from your industry and you will find a more hands-on director who can help guide through the perils of a start up. Netscape founder Marc Andreeson was already a legend in Silicon Valley before he started investing and mentoring the next crop of web 2.0 innovators. Contacts and industry knowledge that come from a person of his stature can change the game for a young company.

Venture capital firms want the next idea. Think mobile, on-demand, or a completely new model of commerce. They are still investing at very high rates, but don't think they are your only option.

Be creative. There is no better time than now, recession or not.