If marketing is the art of understanding customer needs and then creating solutions to meet those needs at a profit; then nowhere is marketing more important for an entrepreneur than at seeking funding from investors at start up and subsequent rounds.

An initial public offering (IPO) allows a company to issue stock to the public and have it traded on a stock exchange. A company should consider going public when:

Owners of growing companies typically have two paths to liquidity - either offering shares to the public through an IPO (initial public offering) or a sale of the company.

Formulating and executing an Exit Strategy is one of the most difficult challenges the entrepreneur faces in creating and then subsequently realising value in the business venture.

At its most basic, a succession plan is a documented road map for partners, heirs and successors to follow in the event of your death, disability or retirement.

It is one of the most important responsibilities of the CEO to keep the business funded at all times. No funding equals no business.

It is the dream of many entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, grow the businesses and eventually take the business public. However, a public listing may not be the natural progression once your company has grown to a certain size or profit level, nor is it the be-all-and-end-all.