Steve Blank

OCTOBER 24, 2017

— Unremarked and unheralded, the balance of power between startup CEOs and their investors has radically changed: IPOs/M&A without a profit (or at times revenue) have become the norm. 20th Century Tech Liquidity = Initial Public Offering. In 1995 Netscape changed the rules about going public.

Founder 245

Founder Technical Review CTO Hire IPO 245

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2022

In the old days, every entrepreneur planned on taking their startup public, and making it big. Today the rate of startups going public (IPO – Initial Public Offering) is finally up from the dead zone of the last two decades, and is now double the rate back in 1999. Constant pressure to increase earnings.

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IPO SEC Prospectus Startup 245

VC Cafe

JANUARY 15, 2024

M&A/ Exits – This situation is compounded by a narrowing window for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and initial public offerings (IPOs). There’s a pecking order, and perhaps the right timing will be the end of the year or beginning of 2025.

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IPO Valuation Private Equity 88

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2012

Assuming your startup takes off, you will probably find that the fun is gone by the time you reach 50 employees, or a few million in revenue. The job changes from creating a “work of art” to operating a “cookie cutter.” Initial Public Offering (IPO). Entrepreneurs love the art of the start. Make it your cash cow.

Exit Strategy 241

Exit Strategy Initial Public Offering IPO Startup 241

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2011

Assuming your startup takes off, you will probably find that the fun is gone by the time you reach 50 employees, or a few million in revenue. The job changes from creating a “work of art” to operating a “cookie cutter.” Initial Public Offering (IPO). Entrepreneurs love the art of the start. Make it your cash cow.

Exit Strategy 231

Exit Strategy Initial Public Offering Startup IPO 231

Steve Blank

MARCH 18, 2011

VC’s worked with entrepreneurs to build profitable and scalable businesses, with increasing revenue and consistent profitability – quarter after quarter. The reward for doing so was a liquidity event via an Initial Public Offering. The revenue, profits and speed of scale of the winning companies can be breathtaking.

Internet 334

Internet IPO Silicon Valley Agile 334

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 11, 2015

This compensation can come in the form of a stock option , a stock appreciation right, or a similar financial instrument, which can potentially be quite lucrative for employees at the time of a merger, acquisition or initial public offering (IPO). A company can have value, even if there is no current income or revenue.

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Valuation Stock Options CPA Merger 100