Texas Investment Network

Entrepreneur FAQ

How do I submit a pitch?

The first step is to register as an entrepreneur. Then you'll be able to submit a pitch using our simple online form.

Why do I keep getting an error message when I try to login?

You must enter your email address and password with the same mix of upper and lower case letters you used when you registered. Often the problem is that a registered email address has an initial capital letter in it that is not being entered when you try to login. If you continue to have login problems use the Contact Us form to let us know.

Why is nothing happening when I try to login?

If you are submitting your login info and nothing appears to happen (i.e., you are not getting an error message) then the most likely reason is you are still logged in. If you leave the site without logging out, your login is remembered for 2 to 3 hours before it expires. When you return you can access your login area by clicking the "Entrepreneurs" link (or sublinks) in the top navigation bar (between the "Home" and "Investors" link). Where the "Entrepreneurs" link goes depends on whether you are logged in or not. TIP: You can mouse over the "Entrepreneurs" link to see what links are available and this will tell you whether you are still logged in or not.

What information should I include in my pitch?

There are tips in the pitch form about what to include in each section. Basic items that investors expect to see in a pitch are: a brief history of your business, what you need the funding for, why your company will succeeed, what relevent experience or expertise you or your team might have, what you are prepared to offer investors in return for funding.

I would like to contact a specific investor listed on your site?

It is up to the investor to decide if they want to connect with entrepreneurs based upon their pitch. It is part of our privacy policy with investors that we only provide their contact info to entrepreneurs when they express interest in the entrepreneur's proposal. We do not provide investor contact info otherwise.

Can I upload my business plan?

Yes, the Premium Service package allows you to upload additional documents for investors to view, including your business plan and/or whatever other documents you wish to share (e.g., pitchdeck, financials, executive summary, etc..)

How can I protect the confidentiality of my idea?

If you are worried about confidentiality we'd advise you to write enough to get investors interested in your project without revealing any sensitive information. Once you start discussions with an investor, you may want to ask them to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before you release more information.

Can pitches be edited after launch?

Yes, pitches can be edited at any time. Free Basic Service pitches will be reviewed after each edit to make sure no contact details have been included. You should try to refrain from making edits to a free proposal in the first few hours of it being released as there could be delays in reapproving and investors will not be able to find your proposal when they look for it. Edits to Referral and Premium Service pitches do not need to be re-approved.

What are the costs?

See the "Our Rates" page in the Entrepreneurs section of the site to find out more about what is included in our three packages. The Free Basic Service is $0, but has limitations in what you can include in your pitch and in your ability to follow up with investors who express interest. The Referral Service is $149 has no limitations on what you can include in your pitch and allows you to follow up with interested investors. The Premium Service fee is $249 and offers all the features of the Referral Service plus the ability to create an enhanced pitch and to have enhanced advertising on the site.

Do I have to pay for every contact?

No, your payment gives you access to the contact details of ALL the investors who show an interest in your pitch.

How can I pay?

We primarily use PayPal to process payments. You do not need an account with PayPal to make a payment as they offer the option to pay by credit card. Most people pay by credit card. If you have issues using PayPal contact us and we can make arrangements to use the Stripe payment service. NOTE: We do not off Paypal's eCheck option as the significant delays in clearing causes too much frustration for entrepreneurs.

Can I choose Referral Service first and then upgrade to the Premium Service later?

Yes, you can upgrade from the Referral Service to the Premium Service at any time and only have to pay the price difference.

Does my payment apply to all the proposals I submit?

No, your payment applies to the specific proposal that you pay the fee for. It is a per-proposal fee.

What happens at the end of the 180-day listing?

Before the end of your 180-day listing period you can opt to pay to resend or renew your pitch. Your pitch will then be renewed for another 180 days and will be resent to the investors. If no payment is made, you proposal will simply expire and be move to an "Archived Proposals" area of your login area.

Am I ever automatically billed to keep my proposal active on the site?

We never do automatic billing. Your proposal will simply expire after 180 days if you do not pay to have your proposal Resent or Renewed to keep it alive for another 180 days from the date of these payments.

Do I need to do my own due diligence?

We carry out a number of checks on each investor when they register, but you also need to do your own due diligence on any investor you deal with. Please check out the Security Notices page in your login area for things to look out for. Consult with legal council before paying any fee in advance of receiving funding (i.e., upfront fees). Contact us if you have any suspicions. To maintain accountability, you should only deal with registered investors or investors who have been specifically referred by a registered investor. Ask questions, get references.

How do I delete my account or proposal?

You can contact the site administrator using the Contact Us form to request deletion. You may also request that your proposal be set back to draft mode so that it can no longer be viewed by anyone but you can still view it and any interested investors who may have expressed interest in your proposal.

I have other questions. Who do I contact?

You can connect with us via our Contact Us form.

Texas Investors

Texas > Boerne

I'm a former software developer and director in a Fortune 100 company who has went out on my own to be a full-time investor. I have experience in business strategy and planning, customer experiernces, project execution, software development, and leading people. I have a BS in Computer Science as well as an MBA. I'm an individual investor who has small investments mostly in technology / software companies but am looking to help grow profitable small businesses in Texas.

$1,000 to $100,000

Texas > Coppell

Married. Dallas, TX. MBA, Invested in real estate, Individual investor.

$5,000 to $100,000

Texas > Austin

34 years old living in Austin, TX. Experience in operations, finance, marketing, and project management, mostly in upstream oil and gas. BS in Engineering and MBA from UT Austin. At this time I'm primarily interested in an equity investment for a startup food and beverage company or acquisition of an existing business. Involvement depends on type of investment/amount invested. Individual investor.

$10,000 to $100,000

Texas > Fulshear

Retired business owner, age 80, married 54 yrs. in the general West Houston area. Started a small manufacturing company in 1986 which is now run by my son. Business is steady with slow growth as we are in a niche market. Education. post graduate studies. An independent designer of restaurants and retail operations for 15 yrs in Houston before starting my company. I am an individual investor looking to help great ideas become reality.

$1,000 to $20,000

Texas > Dallas

I am an investment banker by trade, advising middle-market companies ($25 million - $500 million) on M&A and capital raising mandates. In previous roles I have also worked with merchant banks to make direct investments in private companies as well as acting as a fundless sponsor on various mandates. I am an accredited investor holding my Series 7, 63, 79, and SIE licenses. Investment Objectives: In my free time I enjoy analyzing unique opportunities from startups to mature companies, seeking to deploy capital into growing companies via creative deal structures with an investment horizon of 0-5 years (longer holds available depending on the value proposition and opportunity). Should I not have the amount of capital you are seeking, I am happy to work with you to find a solution via my rolodex of private equity, venture capital, and high net worth contacts. Education: Baylor University | BBA in Finance.

$0 to $100,000

Texas > Sugar Land

Our firm works on projects ranging from $100,000 to over $3 Million. We are not industry or sector specific, our main focus is on projected ROI (Return on Investment). We consider both existing businesses as well as start-ups. We seek to identify viable businesses or ideas with developmental prospects to infuse our capital and technical know-how. Our team appreciates the efforts of entrepreneurs as we understand the difficulties of starting up a business and growing a business. We've had numerous success stories along with a few learning opportunities. We are very patient investors that understand what it takes to scale a business organically. We can work in any capacity as needed and can leverage our network of professionals and contacts for nearly any industry.

$100,000 to $3,000,000

Texas > Dallas

Investor seeking long term partnership for the right investment. I have over 10 years in the mortgage banking field to include foreclosure, asset management and REO. My educational background is in International Business and I have a very high interest in international business and trade. I also currently function as a managing director owner of a small and private web design and development agency with a focus on Internet marketing, seo, ecommerce and web design/development. I would be very interested in opportunities in real estate single family acquisition with a buy fix and sell strategy and would consider a buy to hold depending on the investment. Would also consider small restaurant projects in the QSR category or Fast Casual sector.

$1,000 to $50,000

Texas > Flint

30 Year Old Male, Married with kids in North East Texas. Currently a Commercial Loan Officer since 2011. Bachelors, SFA Nacogdoches, TX. Investment Experience includes Real Estate, Automotive, Oil and Gas, Storage Facility, Mobile Home Park, Used Car Dealership, Residential and Commercial Construction, SPEC Construction, Fix and Flip, Multifamily Investments. Investor type is Commercial Lender or Individual Investor.

$0 to $130,000