There is a $40 billion gap in funding for startup entrepreneurs. Many small-business entrepreneurs raise initial funding for their business ideas by borrowing money and getting gifts from their friends and family. 40billion.com just makes it easier, more scalable, and more fun for entrepreneurs and their friends and family to arrange business loans and gift contributions. And it's about time!

     40billion.com provides you, the entrepreneur, with the opportunity to set up your own private fundraising machine. In it’s simplest form, it formalizes and makes scalable the process of raising funds through family and friends, making an often difficult task easy and comfortable. Once you have completed your business plan and determined how much money you need to fund your business, make a list of all your family and close friends. With the business plan uploaded to your newly-created, private profile on 40billion.com, you are ready to begin raising money through gift contributions and loans. Just follow the steps below and you are on your way to achieving "the American dream."

1: Start a "Raise"

A "Raise" is a fundraising profile for your business. All entrepreneurs should start by creating a Raise. Determine how much funding you need (from $1,000 to $99,000), select at least one funding type (i.e., gift contributions and/or loans), and provide potential funders (i.e., givers, donors, and lenders) with insight into your vision for the business. You can upload a photo, video, and PowerPoint presentation, and even offer funders something in return for their generosity and support (e.g., a customer discount or free sample).

To start a new Raise, you must sign in, click on the RAISE tab at the top of the page, and then click Start a new Raise.

2: Send Invitations

Send email invitations to your friends, family, and others you trust to view your Raise. Convince them to provide funding, as a gift contribution or loan, and help fund your new business. Also, encourage them to invite their friends and family also to fund you!

Raises may be private and invitation-only, so only people who are invited (by you or others you have invited) will be able to view your Raise. Anyone can send you an invitation request via email (through 40billion.com), asking you to allow her to view your Raise. Each invitation request that you receive will contain instructions regarding how to grant access to the requester. You are in control.

To invite people to view your Raise and to fund it, you must sign in, go to My account, and click Send invitations next to your Raise. The more people you invite, the better your chances of reaching your funding target.

Also, you may share your Raise on Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn! On your Raise profile page, click Share on: Facebook, MySpace, or LinkedIn in order to post a link on your Facebook, MySpace, or LinkedIn page. This way your friends can easily access your Raise and help to spread the word.

If you'd like to spread the word about 40billion.com to other entrepreneurs, then add 40billion.com to your Facebook page or add 40billion.com to your website.

3: Schedule a Live Presentation (Optional)

Schedule a live presentation to provide more information about your business to potential funders. This exclusive feature is free, and it allows you to schedule a date and time to pitch your business idea to the people you want to fund it. You can upload your PowerPoint presentation and invite potential funders (friends, family, etc.) to watch, listen, and ask questions in real-time (via telephone conference call). While this step is optional, we highly recommend you give it a try because it is more effective than email alone. Let potential funders see your professional presentation and hear the passion in your voice to help them make the decision to fund your business.

If you don't have a business plan presentation yet, download the business plan presentation template, which guides you to create your business plan presentation (a.k.a., funding presentation) in just 13 simple slides.

To schedule a live presentation, you must sign in, go to My account, and click Schedule a live presentation next to your Raise.

4: Get Funded

People who view your Raise may provide funding from $25 to $10,000 each, as a gift/contribution or loan towards starting your business. Funding can be provided in various increments up to your funding target, but you set the funding target. 40billion.com does not facilitate equity investments or sales of stock or shares of companies.

For gifts/contributions, 40billion.com allows funds to be collected by the entrepreneur either through PayPal online payments or by mail. The funds can be deposited directly to a PayPal account designated by the entrepreneur, or checks can be mailed from funders directly to the business' address.

For loans, 40billion.com makes it easier for you to formalize a loan between friends or family members by generating a customized loan document (also known as a promissory note) that defines the terms of the loan. You can view and edit a loan document online; however, to execute a loan agreement, you may print and sign the loan document and transfer funds offline (via cash or check). There is no charge for this service, so you save up to $200!

Be sure to thank all your funders and fulfill any promises or offers that you made in Step 1. Most importantly, keep them up-to-date on your progress by posting company updates on your Raise. This communication helps to keep funders happy because they can track your progress and see how their money is helping. Also, 40billion.com's communication tools help entrepreneurs and funders to stay in touch, which may come in handy if you need additional funding later.

To add a company update, you must sign in, go to My account, click to view your Raise, and enter your update in the ADD AN UPDATE box on the left side of the page under Company Updates. Only the entrepreneur will be able to add company updates; however, everyone who views the Raise will be able to read the company updates.

5: Find Resources to Build Your Business

Once you receive funding, what's next? 40billion.com's business-to-business classifieds help entrepreneurs find the resources they need to build successful businesses. This feature comes in handy when you need a business attorney, business cards, web development, and other resources. You can even post job listings if you're looking to hire new employees or contractors.

To search available resources, click on the SEARCH tab at the top of the page, and then click Search resources.

To post a job, you must sign in, click on the Search tab at the top of the page, and then click Post a job.

If you have any questions or want to provide feedback or testimonials, contact us to let us know what you think.