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Why Uber is The Revenge of the Founders

Steve Blank

While 20th century metrics were revenue and profit, today it’s common for companies to get acquired for their user base. A 20th century VC was likely to have an MBA or finance background. One last but very important change that guarantees founders can cash out early is “founder friendly stock.”

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Who Should be on Your Startup Board?

Both Sides of the Table

If angel investors are pressuring you to set up a board and if you don’t have the leverage to push back a little then I might suggest a 3-person board in which all 3 seats are appointed by the common stock and you agree to appoint one of these seats to the angel investor but perhaps make it either time based or event based.

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Flexible VC, a New Model for Companies Targeting Profitability

David Teten

This structure allows for alignment on the front end, and real-time flexibility for performance metrics,” says Samira Salman , a family office investor and advisor. . Flexible VCs have created structures based on other company performance metrics than revenues, such as profits or founder salaries. Flexible VC 102: Variations.

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8 Tips To Get the Most Out of Your Investors and Board

Both Sides of the Table

In this period (less than 2 years) he has brought on incredibly talented senior execs is sales, marketing, product management, client services, finance, vp engineering and more. In addition to helping manage the board Chris also helps represent the interests of the angel investors / common stock holders. Further Reading.

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Bad Notes on Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

It’s like we need a finance 101 course for entrepreneurs. There were no metrics. Him: On metrics. 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. I really just want to champion Finance 101 to entrepreneurs.

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Creative Common Stock

ithacaVC

One rule of simple cap tables is to issue “normal” stock to founders (common stock only) and investors (typically preferred stock, but sometimes common stock to early friends and family). Yesterday I spoke with a faculty member at Cornell about structuring an investment. Seems like a win-win.

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Bad Notes on VC

Gust

It’s like we need a finance 101 course for entrepreneurs. There were no metrics. Him: On metrics. 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. I really just want to champion Finance 101 to entrepreneurs. Your A round? Objectively.