52 CLEARING THE HURDLES: WOMEN BUILDING HIGH-GROWTH BUSINESSES
businesses—have made the process of securing commercial bank
credit accessible to women on the same terms available to men.
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Chase and Danielson made use of business credit in their
start-up phase. They structured debt agreements with pri-
vate lenders and secured lease agreements for the fleet of
cars they needed. They also sought venture capital and
approached banks for commercial loans.
Equity
Outsiders who purchase equity in a new business have an ownership
share in the venture. These investors expect to receive a substantial
share of the wealth created by the enterprise (profits or proceeds of a
sale) and many expect to play a meaningful role in the governance of
the company. Early-stage ...