3 Tips for Securing Funding From the Co-Founder of the All-New Premier Lacrosse League

Here's how Paul Rabil -- the sport's first million-dollar athlete -- raised the necessary capital to make the PLL a reality.

learn more about Patrick Carone

By Patrick Carone

Pro lacrosse player Paul Rabil was frustrated with the status quo, so he and his brother Mike -- along with a group of sports and media investors -- decided to create an entirely new professional league. Premier League Lacrosse (PLL), which kicks off its inaugural season this summer, closed its Series A round of funding just last week. The financing is led by investors J Tsai Sports, Brett Jefferson, and return investor, The Raine Group. The capital from the growth round will be used to fund future league operations, team and player-focused original programming and executive team expansion.

This revolutionary, tour-based professional lacrosse league features the best players in the sport and has secured a major media rights deal with NBC Sports. The network will air 19 games on television over the league's 14-weekend schedule, with all other games accessible live through NBCSports.com and the NBC Gold app.

Related: You Can't Get VC Funding for Your Startup. Now, What?

How did Paul secure the funding needed to take this idea from concept to reality? By following these three steps, which work for any entrepreneur looking to raise capital.

1. Develop a concept.

"It may seem obvious, but every entrepreneur has to develop their business concept and stress test it -- without any dollars in the bank. It's called 'finding market fit.'"

2. Develop your sources and uses.

"Your 'S & U' is your most valuable document when you go out to the marketplace to raise capital. Your 'sources' are who your capital is coming from. Your 'uses' are what you plan to do with all the source's capital."

3. Time to operate.

"When you've finished your financing, now it's up to the entrepreneur to roll your sleeves up and go out and operate on that S & U."

Related: The 5-Hour Rule Used by Bill Gates, Jack Ma and Elon Musk

Check out all of Paul's tips in the video above.

Patrick Carone

Entrepreneur Staff

Special Projects Director

Patrick Carone covers all aspects of entrepreneurship, specializing in the automotive, entertainment, hospitality, spirits and cannabis industries.

Related Topics

More from Entrepreneur Exclusives

3 Simple Ways to Boost E-Commerce Sales

Why Your First 1,000 Customers Are Your Most Important

How to Grow Your Business By Finding New Customers

3 Stress-Busting Relaxation Exercises You Can Do Anywhere (60-Second Video)

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Travel

6 Secret Tools for Flying First Class (Without Paying Full Price)

It's time to reimagine upgrading. Here's how to fly first class on every flight, business or personal.

Living

8 Things I Discovered While Working With Affluent Clients in New York City

After a decade working with the 1%, I learned that they have common traits.

Thought Leaders

The Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Cautionary Tale of Resistance to Hybrid Work

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce's needs and preferences.

Business News

I Live on a Cruise Ship for Half of the Year. Look Inside My 336-Square-Foot Cabin with Wraparound Balcony.

I live on a cruise ship with my husband, who works on it, for six months out of the year. Life at "home" can be tight. Here's what it's really like living on a cruise ship.

Starting a Business

A Founder Who Bootstrapped Her Jewelry Business with Just $1,000 Now Sees 7-Figure Revenue Because She Knew Something About Her Customers Nobody Else Did

Meg Strachan, founder and CEO of lab-grown jewelry company Dorsey, personally packed and shipped every order until she hit $1 million in sales.