What is the fastest way to raise money for a business venture?

Well that's several q's isn't it.
But a word of warning: This is going to be really long and you probably know all this any way:
There's a reason: It works and it protects you and your credit rating
Here's how:
Have a really good business plan with a cash flow.
Please do a Worst Case Projection for your cash flow; plan for everything that can go wrong, be generous in your expenditure, and very conservativie in your revenue.
Ideally you should have two cash projections #1 the median plan; this should be conservative but reflect the cash transactions that will happen if everything goes right. #2 is the safe plan: where everything takes longer, costs more, and earns less. If the project cannot work in the safe plan with at least a 12% margin of safety DONT INVEST.
Potential investors will respect the fact that you are protecting their money.
Make yourself part of the management system:
If you have no say in how the investment is spent, the activities and conduct of the project(s), and no one is required to account to you for how money and resources are applied DONT INVEST.
Get the management accord that explains the duties and responsibilities of everyone in writing. This must not be a secret document, be prepared to show this to you potential investor as a method of proving your good faith.
Know your product and market: Every investment eventually requires selling something to some one, who is it? Why would they want it? How much would they be willing to pay for it? Hint: It's always less than you would pay.
If you can get preliminary agreements from purchasers that in essence say that: If you provide 5000 marbles to me next week saturday, in good condition I will give you in return 20 baseball cardson Monday. This goes a long way toward convincing investors to act quickly, and to trust your capability to deliver the product and repay the investment.
Talk to your bank manager: Good references and credit are essential, If you can get partial guarantors, some one who'll cover you to a fixed limit, this helps.
Be prepared to give something away: Venture capitalists will take up to 70% depending on the risks. Minimize those risks: less risks=less give away. Bank Loans if you can get them are the best bet. Be prepared to collateralize; you have some resources you just dont know what they are: Is it worth refi'ing you house mortgage, take a loan against your car, guarantee the loan with the physical assets of the project? Sell some stuff? $ 20K in hand can secure $200K or more. Dont give away too much: any financing that costs more than 12% of the total returns is not a good idea.
Finally : Be confident: You *were* born rich, you just don't have cash with you. BE SAFE and Good Luck