Michael Bissonnette - Founder and former CEO and Chairman of AeroGrow International (Inventors of the AeroGarden), Current Founder of Bissonnette Fund

Michael Bissonnette is a serial entrepreneur and fundraising expert with over 28 years of proven experience in funding, launching, and expanding start-ups into successful companies.  He has built five businesses from concept to reality—including three multi-million dollar companies and two global enterprises. These include AeroGrow International, producer of the world’s first kitchen crop appliance, and Voice Power Technologies, which developed the world’s first hand-held consumer product that used voice recognition.

Having researched raising money through conventional channels including banks, angels, and venture capitalists, Michael quickly recognized the long odds of getting funding.  He turned to a little-known (and quite revolutionary) fundraising approach that allowed him to market his offering direct to individual investors.

In 1982, he launched his first fundraising campaign and raised $1.5 million in less than 100 days.  Michael continued to use “Investor Direct Funding” for the next 27 years to fund his companies. In total he has launched 21 funding campaigns in good times and bad, and he has been successful all 21 times.  He has raised a total of over $50 million and funded five companies with this process.

Michael has likely raised more money from small individual investors using Investor Direct Funding than any other entrepreneur in the United States.

Over time, Michael refined and improved his process into a streamlined, battle-proven methodology, which he now uses to help entrepreneurs fund their companies.

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