Professor hopes to inspire 1000 entrepreneurs

Howard Frederick hopes his latest work will be known as the book that launched 1000 ventures.

The professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at Unitec in Auckland has written Sources of Funding for New Zealand Entrepreneurs to fill the gap on bookshelves for small business owners seeking funding

"Most people don't know where to start or what to do," said Frederick.

With the book, he has set out to make them familiar with New Zealand's funding environment and to explain and examine the various sources of capital available to start up ventures and growing businesses.

These range from bootstrapping (creative ways of launching a business), informal investment (financial contributions from family and friends) and Government funding programmes, through to venture capital and private equity funds.

With only one in 10,000 entrepreneurs likely to see the inside of a venture capital office, Frederick said the book was a must-read.

It also provides a list of all funders and funding programmes, and in keeping the book to 100 pages, Frederick has made sure it does not take too much time for busy business owners to read.

He describes true entrepreneurs as people who habitually innovate to build something of recognised value around perceived opportunities.

New Zealand entrepreneurs, however, were not creating enough new wealth, he said.

Lifting the horizons would come through education and leadership.

Frederick wanted to see entrepreneurship taught in schools, and more attention paid to the needs of enterprising individuals with a specific Government entrepreneurship policy.

He was the author of NZ's first Knowledge Economy report in 1999.

Sources of Funding for New Zealand Entrepreneurs will be available in bookstores by July 1.

It can also be bought online at www.lulu.com/hfrederick