Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Even though the Initial Public Offering (IPO) alternative for a successful startup seems to be coming back into vogue, it is relatively rare. IPOs in 2008, the market was up to a still trivial 159 in 2011. With the more popular Merger & Acquisition (M&A) exit strategy, the control stays with the new entity.

Exit Strategy 239

Exit Strategy IPO Investment Bankers Entrepreneur 239

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2021

Then there is the pressure to go public ( IPO ), and open your investment to thousands, maybe millions, of small investors. Utilize mergers and acquisitions to accelerate growth. As you might imagine, even with the proper planning, mergers and acquisitions are difficult to pull off.

Merger 379

Merger Due Diligence SEC IPO 379

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2015

For financial reasons alone, an IPO is a statistically rare phenomenon, happening just 275 times in 2014 , out of almost 500,000 startups. As an advisor and mentor to startups, I try to make sure entrepreneurs understand both the pros and cons of an IPO as an exit strategy.

IPO 120

IPO Initial Public Offering Entrepreneur Private Equity 120

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2019

A reverse merger is the acquisition of an already public company (usually a dormant shell) to avoid the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process and cost, to quickly get your startup on a public exchange for fund raising through visibility and selling stock. Yet reverse mergers are not all bad.

Merger 303

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 303

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2011

It has been at least a decade since going public via an Initial Public Offering (IPO) has been considered a credible exit strategy for startups. Usually a small company can sell about 20 percent of its stock in an IPO. In 1999, there were 486 IPOs nationwide; just 10 years later, in 2009, there were only 63. How’s the timing?

IPO 223

IPO Social Media Media Exit Strategy 223

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2023

The new investors you need at this stage are investment bankers, private equity, or competitors, to buy you out via merger or acquisition (M&A), or to go public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This is the exit stage for the entrepreneur, and for all earlier investors.

Angel Investor 313

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 313

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2023

So unless your business is well established, and ready to sell or go public (Initial Public Offering - IPO), you should steer clear of investment banks. Investment banks normally charge fees consisting of three components.

Early Stage 182

Early Stage Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering 182

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2020

So unless your business is well established, and ready to sell or go public (Initial Public Offering - IPO), you should steer clear of investment banks. Investment banks normally charge fees consisting of three components.

Silicon Valley 362

Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering Term Sheet 362

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

For example, if you have ever watched the Shark Tank show on TV, they always ask about the cost of customer acquisition. Equity investors realize that they won’t see any real return until an exit occurs, such as a sale, merger, or IPO. You need to have quantifiable objectives, with measurements, to keep you on the path to success.

Exit Strategy 406

Exit Strategy Merger Angel Investor IPO 406

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2018

A reverse merger is the acquisition of an already public company (usually a dormant shell) to avoid the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process and cost, to quickly get your startup on a public exchange for fund raising through visibility and selling stock. Yet reverse mergers are not all bad.

Merger 198

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 198

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2021

Especially for entrepreneurs who have not built and sold companies before, and need this startup to be an attractive acquisition or IPO target in a few years, I can’t think of a better way to enlist outside experts and keep them motivated to help you meet the challenges of a startup. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth.

Advisory Board 362

Advisory Board IPO Government Acquisition 362

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2019

This Advisory Board is a good test drive for the more formal Board of Directors required later, when going public (IPO) or the entrance of venture capital investors. Yet I suggest a small one has value for every startup, starting at inception, prior to a major investor or key business scaling initiative.

Advisory Board 247

Advisory Board IPO Angel Investor Startup 247

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2014

A reverse merger is the acquisition of an already public company (usually a dormant shell) to avoid the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process and cost, to quickly get your startup on a public exchange for fund raising through visibility and selling stock. entrepreneur funding IPO reverse merger Stock Exchange' Marty Zwilling.

Merger 246

Merger OTC IPO Stock 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

The new investors you need at this stage are investment bankers, private equity, or competitors, to buy you out via merger or acquisition (M&A), or to go public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This is the exit stage for the entrepreneur, and for all earlier investors.

Angel Investor 370

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 370

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2020

Early in your startup’s life is the best time to build relationships with the key industry influencers you will need later to make your company an attractive acquisition to a partner, or take it public (IPO). You need board members who are these influencers, or know them well.

Advisory Board 336

Advisory Board Startup IPO Government 336

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2016

Despite the fact that the number of IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) for startups have continued to decrease, I still hear it touted often as the preferred exit strategy. I suspect the exuberance for an IPO is still being driven by the highly visible successes of several companies a few years ago, including Facebook, Yelp, and Twitter.

IPO 120

IPO Initial Public Offering SEC Stock Options 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2020

It seems that most of you entrepreneurs I meet in my role as business advisor are convinced that starting a new business requires equity investors, exponential growth, and a plan to go public via IPO. If your passion is customers, you definitely will be happier as a lifestyle entrepreneur.

Small Business 311

Small Business Small Business Administration SBA Equity 311

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2017

This Advisory Board is a good test drive for the more formal Board of Directors required later, when going public (IPO) or the entrance of venture capital investors. Yet I suggest a small one has value for every startup, starting at inception, prior to a major investor or key business scaling initiative.

Advisory Board 174

Advisory Board IPO Angel Investor Acquisition 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2015

A reverse merger is the acquisition of an already public company (usually a dormant shell) to avoid the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process and cost, to quickly get your startup on a public exchange for fund raising through visibility and selling stock. Yet reverse mergers are not all bad.

Merger 120

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2011

Even though the Initial Public Offering (IPO) alternative for a successful startup seems to be coming back into vogue, it is still extremely rare. companies made the IPO transition in 2009, out of thousands of startups. With the more popular Merger & Acquisition (M&A) exit strategy, the control stays with the new entity.

Exit Strategy 235

Exit Strategy IPO Investment Bankers Entrepreneur 235

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

So unless your business is well established, and ready to sell or go public (Initial Public Offering - IPO), you should steer clear of investment banks. investment bank entrepreneur startup funding IPO' Investment banks normally charge fees consisting of three components. Their message and mission is confusing, even to professionals.

IPO 205

IPO Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering 205

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

Even still, in the context of all three points, I recommend that you evaluate the most common exit alternatives and considerations, and integrate the right one into your startup strategy and plan: M&A - merger or acquisition by another company. IPO – public company initial public stock offering.

Exit Strategy 264

Exit Strategy Private Equity Equity Technical Review 264

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2014

The only path to any return for equity investments is a liquidity event, like a merger or acquisition (M&A), or IPO. Build a path to 10x return. That’s why investors want to hear about your exit strategy. If you don’t have one, or intend to buy out investors with their own money, you probably won’t get much interest.

Liquidity Event 249

Liquidity Event Equity Venture Capital Merger 249

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2012

So here are the most common exit strategies and considerations these days for planning purposes: Merger & Acquisition (M&A). Initial Public Offering (IPO). But since the Internet bubble burst in the year 2000, the IPO rate has declined every year until 2010, and is now at about 15%.

Exit Strategy 241

Exit Strategy Initial Public Offering IPO Startup 241

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2018

The new investors you need at this stage are investment bankers, private equity, or competitors, to buy you out via merger or acquisition (M&A), or to go public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This is the exit stage for the entrepreneur, and for all earlier investors.

Angel Investor 184

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 184

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2020

Even still, in the context of all three points, I recommend that you evaluate the most common exit alternatives and considerations, and integrate the right one into your startup strategy and plan: M&A - merger or acquisition by another company. IPO – public company initial public stock offering.

Exit Strategy 376

Exit Strategy Startup Private Equity Equity 376

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2013

The only path to any return for equity investments is a liquidity event, like a merger or acquisition (M&A), or IPO. Build a path to 10x return. That’s why investors want to hear about your exit strategy. If you don’t have one, or intend to buy out investors with their own money, you probably won’t get much interest.

Liquidity Event 243

Liquidity Event Startup Equity Venture Capital 243

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2011

So here are the most common exit strategies and considerations these days for planning purposes: Merger & Acquisition (M&A). Initial Public Offering (IPO). But since the Internet bubble burst in the year 2000, the IPO rate has declined every year until 2010, and is now at about 15%.

Exit Strategy 231

Exit Strategy Initial Public Offering Startup IPO 231

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

Finally, many more mature companies, including Intel , Google and FedEx , offer seed funding to promising startups working on innovative technologies which might be good acquisition candidates later. If you're one of them, don’t second-guess yourself into never starting. Marty Zwilling First published on Entrepreneur.com on 9/25/2015.

Seed Stage 120

Seed Stage Finance Early Stage Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2014

The new investors you need at this stage are investment bankers, private equity, or competitors, to buy you out via merger or acquisition (M&A), or to go public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This is the exit stage for the entrepreneur, and for all earlier investors.

Angel Investor 232

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 232

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2016

Especially for entrepreneurs who have not built and sold companies before, and need this startup to be an attractive acquisition or IPO target in a few years, I can’t think of a better way to enlist outside experts and keep them motivated to help you meet the challenges of a startup. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth.

Advisory Board 145

Advisory Board Entrepreneur IPO Government 145

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

At this stage, you need investment bankers to negotiate a merger or acquisition (M&A), go private, or help you go public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This is the final stage of investment in venture opportunities, and is the point where investors expect to see the return and gain from the original investment.

Investment Bankers 241

Investment Bankers Venture Capital Startup Initial Public Offering 241

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Technically, this is your exit strategy, usually a merger and acquisition (M&A) or initial public stock offering (IPO). I ask for five-year projections, since that’s the average time before investors can cash out. How much and when do you foresee investors getting a payout?

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Advisory Board Liquidity Event Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2016

The new investors you need at this stage are investment bankers, private equity, or competitors, to buy you out via merger or acquisition (M&A), or to go public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This is the exit stage for the entrepreneur, and for all earlier investors.

Matching 120

Matching Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

The options here include going public (IPO), merger/acquisition, liquidate, or no exit, just paying off investors. Investors want to know how and when they might see some return on their investment, since startups require some event to show value. Most investors don’t want long-term commitments.

Business Plan 423

Business Plan Product Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 423

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2015

Especially for entrepreneurs who have not built and sold companies before, and need this startup to be an attractive acquisition or IPO target in a few years, I can’t think of a better way to enlist outside experts and keep them motivated to help you meet the challenges of a startup. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth.

Advisory Board 120

Advisory Board Startup IPO Government 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2011

So unless your business is well established, and ready to sell or go public (Initial Public Offering - IPO), you should steer clear of investment banks. Investment banks normally charge fees consisting of three components.

Silicon Valley 211

Silicon Valley Private Equity Initial Public Offering Startup 211