Funding
Remember this: an application for funds will be won or lost in the first paragraph.
Grants
Grant funding in its many and various forms is a valuable resource, especially for making things happen that would not happen otherwise. However, only a few people crack the ‘game’ of such funding applications, and the same people win time after time. Having had experience of creating winning bids for public funding, from small local authority and voluntary group schemes to major EU Framework and Structural funds projects, I have developed some insight into why people succeed or fail. See the links for more information.
Your chances can be increased manyfold by asking yourself three questions:
Investment
Many start-up or high-growth businesses need and can justify external investment. However, many entrepreneurs don't really understand investment or how to present for it. Love it or hate it, Dragon's Den has done a lot for the process, although the detail of drawing up strategies and business plans is excluded as it is poor entertainment. You can't delegate this to your accountant. You as entrepreneur have to understand finance at a basic level and the business plan has to be yours. You can and should get help and advice. There are links to some basic materials on this page.