ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

Funding might be a need in some cases — but it’s not an absolute necessity. ? The business should be self-sustainable. The primary source of your funds should be your paying customers, i.e., your business should generate enough revenues and profits to fund the growth and expansion. Sources of Funding.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Steve Blank

APRIL 26, 2022

For the common shareholders (employees, advisors, and previous investors), a cram down is a big middle finger, as it comes with reverse split – meaning your common shares are now worth 1/10th, 1/100th or even 1/1000th of their previous value. (A A cram down is different than a down round. Why do VCs Do This?

Cram Down 414

Cram Down Founder Venture Capital Recapitalization 414

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

Ah, but today’s Internet companies have real revenue! But this mania to not miss out on the next big thing is driving some investors to pay growth-equity prices for traditional market risk (as in, they’re paying up before it is clear there is product / market fit). And so on down then line. and profits!

Saudi Arabia 309

Saudi Arabia Valuation IPO Technical Review 309

VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

A founder asked me what makes a $2M round “pre-seed”? especially if the startup already has a product and revenue? And why do we still sometimes hear about pre-seed rounds that look more like a series A in pricing and size? We’d like to see that the relevant functions are covered (who’s writing code?

Valuation 186

Valuation Software Review Generative AI Technical Review 186

Growthink Blog

MAY 23, 2011

An entrepreneur starts a company in classic " bootstrap " fashion - with a combination of sweat equity and their own financial resources. This venture capital financing - usually between $3 and $10 million - is the first of a number of rounds of outside investment over a period of three to five years.

Angel Investor 112

Angel Investor Venture Capital Sweat Equity Cram Down 112

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

In the case of startups the “buyer” is the VC looking to part cash for “purchasing” equity in your startup. forward revenue for SaaS businesses when in the years before it had been less than 5x. Why Down Rounds are Harder Than You May Think. Down rounds are hard.

Valuation 150

Valuation Down Round Startup Later Stage 150

Tim Keane

AUGUST 20, 2009

"  The problem has been that too-high valuations and too generous terms have spawned painful down rounds that squash the entrepreneur and his early investors.    New money, usually VC money, comes in and crams down those early investors and takes substantial shares from the entrepreneur. 

Milwaukee 60

Milwaukee Bootstrapping Cram Down Deal Structure 60