California 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.

Registered Investors

United States > California

I've owned 2 successful businesses in the past: one home improvements, and one entry door manufacturing/distributing. Also, I helped grow a very small manufacturing business grow to being one of the largest acrylic bathtub and shower wall manufacturer in North America. I personally sit on two non profit boards at the present time. Today, I am a director of sales for the one of the largest home improvement companies in the greater Sacramento area and a father of five children. I am a private investor.

$1,000 to $50,000

United States > California

Private Investor who currently is the VP of Mergers and Acquisitions of a successful manufacturing company. Over the past years we have made several acquisitions as add-ons to our company and we are looking to expand our portfolio. Am also an active investor in the stock and bond markets as well as the residential and commercial real estate markets.

$0 to $15,000,000

United States > California

My investment history is in real estate and stocks, I purchased my 1st home in 2017 in Arizona, and made 40% profit on it in 3 years. I then used those profits and invested in a 2nd home in San Diego. I have been investing in stocks and maintaining a 15% yearly rate of return, and have recently heavily invested in crypto currencies.

$1,000 to $75,000

United States > New York

I am direct investor and I syndicate with other lenders/investors that want to quickly fund your [reasonable] loan request, at competitive rates & terms. Based in Manhattan, New York City, with 25 years experience in business and real estate finance, I have developed the valuable banking, pension fund, insurance company, hedge fund, REIT and Wall Street and specialty lending relationships you need. I am confident that I have as principal and as a syndicator, the funds you need. You may be out looking for "Angels" where other specialty funding solutions may be more appropriate or can be used as a capital supplement. This is the value of what I can offer. I have many DIRECT hedge funds, private equity firms, REITS, investors with whom I work with, that can be made available.

$1,000,000 to $50,000,000

United States > California

Just starting to invest. Am a member of an investor networking group in my area. Have been in government for many years. I am a private investor and lender that also belongs to a group.

$100 to $75,000

Canada > Kelowna

I have funded numerous projects in various fields. My background is finance and startups.

$50,000 to $300,000

United States > California

I ran an investment fund in europe ( energy related). In addition, have many experiences in startup companies.

$50,000 to $250,000

United States > California

What I'm Looking For; Startups leveraging mobile in Digital marketing Retail Healthcare Gaming Hospitality Locations: California, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nevada, Silicon Valley

$10,000 to $250,000