Never conceal debt or overvalue your assets. Order your personal and business credit reports before seeking financing. Clear up errors and put your explanation on record for any disputed items. Include in the financing proposal your explanation of any accurate negative credit information. Otherwise, when it's uncovered, you are presumed to be a liar.
Past behavior is a predictor of future behavior.
Applicants who fail the character test do not get funded. Capacity is what you can do. Investors specialize in selected industries because they know what to look for in management. Whereas banks like to see steady, controlled growth, investors need very rapid, above-average growth. Conditions are externals impacting your business that you cannot control but to which you must respond.