Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

On the phone … Me: So, you raised venture capital? It’s like we need a finance 101 course for entrepreneurs. In finance they call it “terminal value” but the truth is the price is as arbitrary at your A round as it is at your seed round. We raised a seed round. About $1 million. Me: At what price?

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Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Over the same 30 years, Venture Capital firms have honed their skills and strategies to match Wall Streets needs to achieve liquidity for their portfolio companies. One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is misunderstanding the role of venture capital investors. What Do VC’s Do?

Silicon Valley 223

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 223

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2015

I’ve seen friends (and family members) lose much of their savings that way over the years because “Black Swans” happen and in 1987, 2001, 2003 & 2008 (just to name a few from my memory) huge market gyrations caused much financial distress to people seeking short-term gains. At least later stage investors.

Stock 150

Stock Finance Marketing Valuation 150

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

Belnick founded BizChair.com with $500 in 2001. Holmes founded a company known as Theranos in 2003 when she was just 19 years old. Carlson founded Polychain Capital in 2016. Venture capital firms Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz among others put $15 million into it. Source: Pexels. Sean Belnick.

Cofounder 142

Cofounder Venture Capital India Valuation 142

Gust

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Me: So, you raised venture capital? Me: Raising convertible notes as a seed round is one of the biggest disservices our industry has done to entrepreneurs since 2001-2003 when there were “full ratchets” and “multiple liquidation preferences” – the most hostile terms anybody found in term sheets 10 years ago. Last year ….

Liquidation Preference 153

Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet Stock 153

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 11, 2019

I've been in venture now twice. The first time was just for a couple years, from 2001-2003, before I went to grad school. I was in Boston, working for the first time in venture capital as an analyst for this guy who was incredible and an amazing mentor. How do you develop power within a venture capital firm?

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Founder Lean Venture Capital Cofounder 68

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2012

I raised money as an entrepreneur, like you, in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005 for two different companies. These include building products, recruiting, managing your finances, marketing, selling, getting feedback from customers and … fund raising. So why would raising venture capital be any different.

Developer 366

Developer Silicon Valley PR Las Vegas 366