What Does Raising Equity Capital Mean?

Raising equity capital is the exchange of a portion of business ownership in return for cash or funds. Learn more about equity funding and how it works.

What Does Raising Equity Capital Mean?

Raising capital equity is the exchange of a portion of business ownership in return for cash or funds. Equity funding is the process of obtaining capital through the sale of shares. Companies may need to raise money to cover short-term expenses or to finance a long-term project that will promote growth. By selling shares, a company essentially sells its ownership rights in exchange for money. By comparing tangible figures that reflect all of a company's assets and liabilities in terms of share capital, it provides a clear picture of a company's finances which investors and analysts can easily interpret.

Share capital is used as capital raised by a company, which is then used to purchase assets, invest in projects and finance operations. Generally, a company can raise capital by issuing debt (in the form of a loan or through bonds) or shares (by selling shares). Investors often seek equity investments, as they offer greater potential to share in a company's profits and growth. A capital increase is usually based on wage inequality that cannot be corrected through the merit review cycle. Equity funding refers to the sale of company shares to raise capital.

The investors who buy the shares also acquire the company's ownership rights. Equity financing can refer to the sale of all types of securities, such as common shares, preferred shares, stock warrants, etc. Equity financing can provide the substantial capital you may need to promote rapid and greater growth, making your company attractive to buyers and enabling sales. Companies that choose to raise capital by selling shares to investors should share their profits and consult these investors when making decisions that affect the entire company. A PIPE is the purchase of shares in a company by a private investment firm, mutual fund or other qualified investor at a discount to the current market value (CMV) per share in order to raise capital.

When a company remains private, equity funding can be obtained from angel investors, crowdfunding platforms, venture capital firms or corporate investors. A more established company can raise funds through an IPO, selling its shares to the public. Industry giants such as Google and Meta (formerly Facebook) raised billions in capital through IPOs. The IPO allows companies to raise funds by offering their shares to the public for trading on the stock market. Such regulation is primarily designed to protect the investing public from unscrupulous operators who may raise funds from unsuspecting investors and then disappear with the proceeds.