We provide lender-ready capital raise packaging and debt or equity placement support for business owners and buyers looking to secure serious term sheets and close funding on a defined timeline.
For business owners and acquirers pursuing private debt submit your deal for review. We revert within one working day with next steps and either a quote for our services.
Finance your next trade, project or acquisition.
Debt structuring, targeted lender outreach and negotiation support through closing.
Paid advisory. Upfront retainer applies.
AI Lender Match helps business owners, investors, and sponsors identify lenders that fit their deal profile without wasting weeks on cold outreach. Get a smarter starting point for acquisitions, commercial real estate, trade finance, and structured debt transactions.
Most small business owners who ask how to find investors are really asking a narrower question. Who will put money into my business, on terms I can live with, without six months of unanswered emails? The answer depends on what you are raising, how much, and what you are willing to give up in return.
This guide explains which type of investor fits which business, where each one can be found, what they expect to see before they reply, and how Financely's AI Lender Match shortens the search for companies raising debt.
Before you search, decide what you are selling. Equity investors buy a share of your company and expect a large return when it grows or is sold. Debt investors lend money and expect it back with interest, without taking ownership. A profitable bakery expanding to a second site rarely fits a venture fund. A pre-revenue software startup rarely fits a bank. Picking the wrong side wastes months.
| Question | Equity investors | Debt investors |
|---|---|---|
| What they get | Ownership and a share of future value | Repayment plus interest |
| Best fit | Fast-growing companies with large upside | Businesses with revenue, assets or contracts |
| Your control | Diluted, often with board seats | Kept, subject to loan covenants |
| Typical timeline | Several months of pitching | Weeks to months, once the file is lender-ready |
Most small business capital in 2026 comes from one of these groups.
Individuals investing their own money, usually early and in smaller amounts. They back founders they know or sectors they understand.
Funds looking for companies that can grow many times over. Most small businesses are not a fit, and that is not a judgment on quality.
Non-bank lenders funding growth, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Often faster and more flexible than banks.
Private wealth vehicles that may lend or invest directly, especially in real assets, real estate and steady cash-flowing businesses.
Angels are found through people, not databases. Local angel networks, industry associations, accelerators and introductions from your accountant or lawyer still produce most early cheques. Cold messages to wealthy strangers rarely work.
Equity crowdfunding suits consumer brands with loyal customers. In the United States, Regulation Crowdfunding lets eligible companies raise from the public through registered portals, within annual limits set by the SEC.
Lenders are found by matching mandates. Every lender works inside a credit box defined by loan size, sector, geography and structure. Sending your file to a lender outside that box earns a fast no. This is where most small businesses lose time, and where a structured matching process pays for itself. See our guides on private credit placement and asset-based lending for the most common routes.
A clear use of funds. State exactly how much you need, what it pays for, and how it changes the business. Vague requests for "growth capital" get ignored.
Numbers that hold up. At least two years of financial statements where available, current management accounts, and a realistic forecast. Lenders focus on cash flow and repayment capacity. Equity investors focus on growth and market size.
A complete, organised file. Company documents, ownership, debt schedule, key contracts and collateral details in one place. A lender-ready file is often the difference between a reply in days and silence.
The AI narrows the field and our team does the rest. Financely's AI Lender Match screens your transaction against more than 12,700 verified lenders, including private credit funds, banks, specialty lenders and family offices that lend. It filters by product, ticket size, geography and sector, then ranks the lenders most likely to fund a deal like yours.
Your file goes only to lenders that fit. Our advisors package your financing request into a lender-ready file and run a controlled placement with the shortlisted lenders, so you are not repeating the same pitch to hundreds of names.
One fixed fee of USD 4,999. The fee is paid once, upfront, and is agreed in writing before work begins. There are no milestone payments. Financely arranges debt only and does not place equity.
Tell us what you are raising and we will send a quote covering scope and delivery.
Decide first whether you need equity or debt. For businesses with revenue or assets, targeted lender matching is usually faster than pitching equity investors one by one.
No. Financely arranges debt only. AI Lender Match covers private credit funds, banks, specialty lenders and family offices that lend.
A fixed fee of USD 4,999, paid once upfront and agreed in writing before work starts.
No. Financely works only with business borrowers.
This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Financely is an advisory and arranging firm, not a lender or broker-dealer. All financing is subject to lender underwriting, due diligence, credit approval, documentation and conditions precedent. No outcome or timeline is guaranteed.
Submit your deal using our secure intake form, and receive a quote within 1-3 business days. Existing clients can connect with their relationship manager through our secure web portal.
All submissions are
promptly reviewed, and all communications are conducted through the intake form or the client portal for a seamless and secure process.
Thank you for considering working with us. A nominal fee of US$500 is required upon completion of each form. This fee covers the time and effort we invest in reviewing your submission and crafting a thorough proposal. We receive numerous inquiries and prioritize those that carry this fee, ensuring serious applicants receive prompt attention.
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