Where you raise money for your company depends on the goals that you as an entrepreneur have for your company and where your company is in its growth cycle.

Here are some starter thoughts and guidelines to help your evaluation of the alternatives:

- If you have a capital-intensive business and $2-5 million in revenue, seek out a VC that invests in your segment.

- If you have an earlier-stage company ($1-3 mils in revenue), consider an early stage VC or perhaps an angel group.  (Many Angel groups are syndicating now, raising $500K-$1.5 mils as a team)

- If you have a very early stage company (under $1M in revenue), give a hard look at the angels in your area

- If you are pre-revenue company, look to the "three F's" (Friends, Family, and Fools J).  Also consider super-angels -- folks with $25-100+ million in assets who can invest a good slug by themselves (they, of course, are never fools).

- If you are in a winner-take-all segment, raise as much as you can as fast as you can.

- If you are in a multiple-winner segment, don't rush to dilution too fast - staying power, execution and focus are rewarded.

- Also consider bank financing on your receivables or other assets with a quality venture bank -- one who is comfortable with lending to early stage companies.

- Every company should look to REVENUE as a source of funding (yes, and they don't get any equity in return!). For some reason, companies spend months and months chasing funding, while an equal effort on the sales front would deliver the same cash with no dilution!

- The above comments are not absolutes.  Some pre-revenue companies raise millions on their concept.  And some great businesses with revenue can't raise money to save their lives -- yet end up winning big time.

- And never give up on bootsrapping the business -- paying yourself nothing, paying employees some equity, and running on fumes until you get traction.

There is no magic solution to funding for an entrepreneur.  In fact, according to Inc Magazine (if I recall the exact stat correctly), 85% of the fastest growing businesses in the Inc500 never took outside money.  Wow.

There is no one-size-fits-all funding plan.  But whatever you do, ask for input from experienced folks you respect.  Get a lot of irons in the fires, and keep your focus on building your business!