14/03/2026
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Vs BUSINESS FUNDING:
Talking to various people who are pursuing various businesses, has opened up another perspective that is mostly overlooked.
The loudest cry in business is that of luck of funding for businesses.
But a closer look, into the business detail, you will soon realised that the biggest challenge is actually a viable business opportunity.
Not every business opportunity is worthy investing or funding. For multiple reasons, such as:
1. The risks may be high, and even in high risk, funding is probable, if risks are mitigated. When I discuss risk management, many people dismiss this perspective insisting their business has no risks. I have never seen one without risks.
2. Documenting a business idea in the firm if a business plan. I have come across many interesting business ideas, some novel in their own rights. But the owners just run with the idea without documenting it, hoping to convince someone to put in money. One young man even had a sample product, very excellent, but without documenting the business idea, he has struggled to raise the much needed capital injection.
3. Viability and sustainability of a business, is a technical issue that should be understood clearly by the investor, without which no funding is possible, even when the venture is profitable.
4. In this age, governance is just as good as profits, when it comes to raising business funding. Environmental Impact of the business, Social Responsibility, Governance systems must be well spelt out. If the business owner is the system himself, and the Omega, chances are that no investor wants to fund an individual but a business.
5. There are simple things we should be looking at in business, and what they simply. When you asked to provide a tax clearance certificate for example, it's not just a piece of paper, but it speaks to many things about your business, including your governance.
All these and many more, try to address how viable and sustainable the business opportunity is.
Next time you are looking for funding, the business must be addressed in a comprehensive manner for funders to be comfortable funding the business.
