companies.
5. Initial public offerings (IPOs)
Companies that are quite well-established can raise finance with an initial public offering, or IPO. IPO is a method of raising finance where companies allow its share to be traded in capital markets by offering it to the public.

4. Corporate investors
Corporate investors are large companies which invest in private companies to provide the needed funding. The investment is usually created for the purpose of establishing a strategic partnership between the two companies.

3. Venture capital firms
These are firms that make investments in businesses they believe will grow fast and appear on stock exchanges later. They invest a larger sum of money into businesses and acquire a larger stake in the company compared to angel investors. The method is also referred to as private equity financing.

2. Crowdfunding platforms
Crowdfunding platforms allow many people in the public to invest in the company in small amounts. Members of the public decide to invest in the companies because they believe in their ideas and hope to earn their money back with returns in the future. The contributions from the public are summed up to reach a target total.

1. Angel investors
Angel investors are rich people who buy stakes in businesses they believe have a potential to give higher returns in the future. The individuals usually bring their business skills, experience, and connections to the table, which helps the company in the long term.
2. Crowdfunding platforms

Major Sources of Equity Financing
When the firm is still private, equity finance can be raised from angel investors, crowdfunding platforms, venture capital firms, or corporate investors. Finally, shares are sold to the public as an IPO.
1. Angel investors

Impact of Equity financing on Business Valuation pros & cons

Equity financing is especially important during a company's startup stage to finance plant assets and initial operating expenses. Investors make gains by receiving dividends or when their shares increase in price.

After all, if equity financing can be effective for growth, then its valuation impact will only depend upon how well the company employs the capital, manages the investor relations, and brings the short-term pressures in concert with the long-term vision.

However, the drawbacks are the dilution of ownership, potential misalignment of goals with investors, and pressure to meet market expectations. The valuation set during an equity financing round also has long-term implications because either inflated or conservative valuations will affect future fundraising efforts and business strategy. Other external factors like market conditions and investor sentiment can be very crucial in determining the impact of equity financing on valuation.

Conclusion:
Equity financing can impact business valuation significantly, providing both opportunities and challenges. On the positive side, it can strengthen a company's balance sheet, reduce financial risk, and provide capital for growth, which can lead to a higher valuation, especially in high-growth sectors. The involvement of strategic investors can also add value beyond just the capital raised, further enhancing the company's prospects

In the long term, equity financing is considered a more expensive form of finance compared to debt. That is because investors demand a higher return than lenders do. Investors have a high risk when funding a company, and thus demand a higher return.

Compared to debt, equity investments offer no tax shield. Dividends distributed to shareholders are not tax-deductible expenses, but interest payments are tax-deductible. It adds to the cost of equity financing.