Sources of start-up funding for small business run by ASD person

Hi,

Does anyone have advice on sources of start-up funding to set up a small business? I'm wondering if these is any funding available specifically for autistic/disabled entrepreneurs.

Richard

  • Glad I'm not alone, I feel my daughter isn't being supported in mainstream school, not enough support during lessons as she only has a ta she don't have a key worker, she has a few friends but they don't understand her needs, ie no detention because home work isn't done (too much information set for home work or just don't understand whats being asked). Being bullied in school when told by hospital why she can't  do PE no evidence given and forced to continue to do activities by teachers and friends who don't understand ASD Needs.

  • Accion Opportunity Fund, a nonprofit community lender, offers small business loans of $300,000 to $100,000. They can help with assistive technology, available jobs, and adaptive work vehicle costs. Businesses must guarantee the loan, and personal guarantees are often required. Requirements vary by region, so be sure to check. This way, you can start your own business or do as a friend did. He bought a franchise https://wolfoffranchises.com/episodes/ and is making passive income.


  • There are many funding options for ASD persons provided by the government and private organizations. If I were you, I would choose government funding.
    Another option is to get a loan from the bank. In comparison with government funding, the bank will give you the loan faster.
    By the way, do you know in order to get a loan is essential to have a high credit score? Let's say not less than 80 points score will be enough to be accepted for the loan. Sometimes, suspicious payments or personal debts can lower the business credit score. Sources online for b2b credit check with full reports are available 24/7 for you to see if your figures fluctuate.

  • Unfortunately, I have not yet heard of funding available specifically for autistic/disabled entrepreneurs. Although, there are many ways to raise money for a start-up project. For example, you can apply to one of the many crowdfunding platforms. The most accessible fundraising platforms are Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, RocketHub, PeerBackers, and Boomerang. However, you must understand that the success of your crowdfunding primarily depends on how you present your idea. The first thing you need is a good business plan for investors. No one will want to invest their money in a bad idea, so try to present your idea by pointing out all the advantages of your product! [link removed by moderator]

  • I was once debagged at a Rotary Club annual dinner.

    No, wait. That was a dream.

  • Hi Richard,

    I had my own distillery a few years back, and originally I had applied for funding via The Start Up Loans scheme. It's backed by the government and you'd get mentoring/support, it's also low interest and targeted for those who'd struggle to get an alternative:

    https://www.startuploans.co.uk/

    Having said that, given this seems more of a community project I'd then tend to lean towards a crowd funding platform, probably more relevant to one that has experience with, or a specific listing section for: community projects. I'd suggest that crowdfunder would seem the best:

    https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk

    With that site, you also have the ability to apply for +Extra funding, for projects relating to specific causes or regions, they do tend to vary, and its a case of what funding is open to applications. This is the page about +Extra:

    https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds

    As far as alternative grants etc, .gov.uk has a searchable list of grants and financing, relevant to different: regions, councils, cities or projects etc.

    You may also want to contact you local councils. Both town: as the Mayor tends to have a discretionary pot of funds, and county/unitary authority: as they tend to have their own schemes to tackle localised needs, which are more charitable in nature, and don't tend to get shown on .gov.uk It should list any available things on their websites, but as with mayoral funds... it can be buried somewhere on the website...

    Other than that, the usual stuff: Rotary Club, the Masons, Round Table and perhaps more generally: local business groups. All of which, at least outwardly, like to be seen to be 'helping the community'.

    Best of luck with it all!

    Chris

  • Kick starter or fiver YouTube there your best bets to get funding 

  • This topic has always been fascinating because I have several sick friends. And we often discuss with them some different ways of earning money. It would seem.. people with this disease cannot work, but some people are interested in participating in some business affairs. Recently, a friend of mine suggested an idea to me. That was before the pandemic. And it seems that everything worked out for us. We found suppliers and everything was fine. But with the arrival of the pandemic came a black streak. And our business has suffered a lot. The only ones who helped us restore the industry were the guys from the company [link removed by moderator]

  • It seems that to solve your question; there will be many nuances. And people with such diseases will not want to work. I have a friend who is 19 years old at the moment. Yes, he has an illness that prevents him from living everyday life, like many children—running and running around playing games, or just going for walks, as well as going on dates. I had questions about [link removed by moderator] , and this topic hit me hard. Because I'm not from a wealthy family, I always wanted to go out with friends or buy myself something others have.

  • Why don't you try looking for financial help from charitable organizations? That's the first option that comes to mind. If I were you, I would try that. You have a business plan, right? There are plenty of charities now that help young aspiring entrepreneurs. Or, as you were already advised above, try crowdfunding. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the ABC of finance. Running your own business will allow you to become financially independent, so think about things like [removed by Moderator] beforehand. Either way, I wish you the best of luck with your business!

    Edited by Anna Mod

  • There is a tremendous demand for promising projects in the world right now for investor funds. The mechanisms used are very different. These are internet portals for investors, various meetings, exhibitions, and conferences where budding business people can present their projects. In addition, there are many funds active in the industry that are professionally engaged in investing in startups. Now I know, loans given by banks to individuals "for any needs" are one of the most popular tools for financing small businesses, so it wouldn't hurt to consult a (Removed by Mod)

  • There is a tremendous demand for promising projects in the world right now for investor funds. 

  • I would go CAB and ask them, they if there know of any opportunities for funding in your area. Also talk to your town/county council if there anything there in your area.
    Also don't forget talk to your local businesses association/small business associations.

    Some of this is a bit dated but nothing lost looking
    https://entrepreneurhandbook.co.uk/grants-loans/

    https://www.disability-grants.org/business-grants-for-the-disabled.html

    http://www.grantsexpert.co.uk/grants-for-disabled-entrepreneurs.html

  • May be harder to persuade people to donate for purely altruistic reasons

    You never know.  I've heard of people donating for things like saving someone from bankruptcy, helping someone off the streets, helping a student to pay college fees, etc.  It's quite heartening sometimes to read of things like it: people willing to give money not just to a charity without really knowing what it's going to be spent on, but actually to be able to see tangible results of their giving.

  • I was once sub-contracted to an IT recruitment business that started up solely with £150k raised from crowdfunding.  Most of the investors were already quite well off IT professionals who stood to benefit from the contracts that the business could offer them once it was up and running - most of which came from companies like Microsoft and IBM.  They couldn't lose!  They were investing in their own future job offers!

    Here's a news story about Ursula Stone's start-up...

    Enterprise Flourishes on Blooms from Bin

  • Yes - I've backed a few crowdfunder projects myself, but they had a specific product at the end. May be harder to persuade people to donate for purely altruistic reasons, although I could offer them visits to their area/school (if it's not too far away!).

    I haven't contacted NAS directly yet. A job for next week ...

    Thx for your interest and help.

  • Wow! What an amazing business. I've been involved in crowdfunder projects before, but these were for music recordings where the people who donated got a copy of the CD or better - something tangible. Hadn't thought of crowdfunding for business start-up funds. Thx for the link. This has really got me thinking.

  • Like I was going to suggest crowdfunding - I have backed several projects (music production, book publication, film making, student art show). It's a good way to raise funds if your project has popular appeal and you can think up rewards which will appeal to people. If it is for a good cause altruism may be reward enough but offering sponsors updates on the progress of the project is often appreciated. 

    I would speak to NAS as they will have access to specialist software which can be used to find funding sources. This might even be of interest to them in which case a joint funding bid might be worth considering. There should be a local enterprise scheme in your area to offer funding advice too.