Now that you have gotten the great idea and you are ready to go into business, it is time to look for Investors to help fund your Startup. But before you meet an investor, make sure you have the following sorted, a viable business plan for your start-up and you know how much funding assistance you need, and what it will be used for.

Also note that finding investors is not really difficult because through the process of trying to raise money, an entrepreneur might have opportunities to talk to upwards of 40 to 50 investors, depending on their idea and location.

Finding the right investor for your startup should be your goal, because it will take a lot of efforts on your part. You may need to speak to hundreds of investors before you find the right one for your startup.

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So to save you the stress of spending time and resources in looking for where to find these investors and how to find the right one, I have put together 8 places to find investors for your startup.

1. Start-up Launch Platforms

To assist startups with finding investors, providing information, research, and assistance with all aspects of getting a business launched, including ways to connect with investors, some companies have decided to launch platforms specifically for these purposes. One of such platforms is Startups.co.

Startup.co provides an efficient way for startups to meet investor. They should be your first option because they already have 13.9 million members, which makes it the largest start-up community in the world and they also provide an extraordinary opportunity to get in front of some investors in your space for both funding through Fundable and mentoring.

But if by any chance startup.co does not work for you, another platform you might consider is Gust with $1.8 billion members already invested in start-up businesses.

2. Angel Networks

Angel networks offer a lot of benefits to startups, some of which include invest in your start-up, offering mentorship, solid advice, and provide access to their network of contacts.

So if this method suits you, places you should check out include Funded.com, Angel Capital Association, and Angel Investment Network, all of which have thousands of angel investors who provide information on the type of investments they are seeking.

3. Through top-tier business schools

Some universities who major in strong business or entrepreneurial program should be your next stop. You will easier notice that they have a strong network of investors and successful entrepreneurs from their faculty, alumni, and guest speakers.

When you finally get in touch with these universities, ensure to ask if they could point you to a directory of their high profile alumni network. This can easily help you get investors to fund your startup and even provide mentorship.

4. Through your industry friends

Networking is a means through which many startups find investors, so make sure to connect with the leaders in your industry. If you know of other founders of companies similar to you in your industry who have found investors, ask them for their recommendations.

As many investors specialize in specific markets, like biotech, retail, travel, or mobile app developing, they tend to find companies through networks. Your next action should be to do your research on angel investors who work in your field, and try to get an introduction.

5. Crowd funding

Crowd funding is a very effective way to raise funds for your business. Crowd funding sites provide you with access to many different types of investor – from the general public with an interest to participate in the “next big thing” (Kickstarter, Pererbackers, and Indiegogo) to philanthropists who believe in helping others realize their dream (RocketHub), to accredited investors seeking new ideas to fund such as OurCrowd.

But before choosing a crowd funding site to use, remember that each site focuses on different aspect way of incentivizing investors. With this in mind, study each site to know which of them suits you.

6. Incubators & Accelerators

When starting your business, accelerators should be something you should serious think about. They are usually offered by investment firms, seed funds, universities and other large established entities, accelerator programs are found pretty much all across the world.

Your start-up is your baby, and you want it to grow and flourish, so working with an incubator or accelerator gives you a whole host of investor resources to watch that business grow up and succeed. Some even offer a physical space to set up your office, making it easy to work with you directly.

Since space within the same building is also being used by other start-ups, this is a great place to exchange ideas and grow together. Start-up accelerators, such as 500Startups, TechStars, and Ycombinator, offer advice, small seed funding, and exposure to other investors through their own networks.

7.Through your mentors

Mentor are a very important part of your business especially when starting out. If you do not have a mentor in your industry yet, you should give it a thought as soon as possible. Here is way,

Your mentors see you through significant parts of your journey; they get to know your company, and you as a founder, and also have the experience to offer their guidance to help you navigate the industry.

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They could also be successful entrepreneurs themselves, or investment experts, or leading influencers in your field. Likely, they will help you to understand what investors are looking for, or even introduce you to some who could be potentially compatible with your vision. All this are what your startup needs.

8.Online Lending Platforms

Most startups are sceptical when it comes to getting bank loans to fund their business, even the banks most times are not willing to grant loans to new businesses. These has given ways to a new method of getting funds for your business. Lending Platforms.

These can be peer-to-peer platforms, non-traditional lending sources, or large investors looking to help out small businesses and profiting from the lending terms.

If you will like to try out this method, here are some credible online lending platforms, Prosper, TrustLeaf, OnDeck, and Lending Club. As usual, make a research to see which of these platforms best suit your startup.

Don’t be discouraged if you are not flooded with investment offers or you are flat-out rejected – several times, even. Try, try again because it just means you haven’t found the right investor who aligns with your business needs. Stop now and you may never find your perfect match.