Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

Was Paul Graham right in his “high resolution” financing post? What the entrepreneurs were really saying is, “I don’t want to take a lower valuation now, while I don’t have customers or a full team. Some thoughts on raising angel money. So let me weigh in more loudly than in the past.

Ratchet 354

Ratchet Liquidation Preference Equity Stock 354

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

We received so much positive feedback from our This Week in Venture Capital show walking through valuation calculations & term sheets that we decided to do a Q&A show this week to address topics that entrepreneurs want to learn about. The best thing to get is a “right sized&# valuation. A: It’s not best.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Term Sheet Valuation Stock Options 282

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Term-sheets and Valuations: Thinking about Negotiations.   I’ve sat down with entrepreneurs and a copy of a term sheet guide I like [ “Term Sheets & Valuations - A Line by Line Look at the Intricacies of Venture Capital Term Sheets & Valuations ” by Alex Wilmerding, Aspatore Press.] The Valuation Question.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Startup Company Lawyer

MARCH 14, 2010

After the recent announcement of the Series Seed Financing documents by Marc Andreesen, Brad Feld points out that there are now four sets of “open source&# equity seed financing documents: TechStars Model Seed Funding Documents (by Cooley). Y Combinator Series AA Equity Financing Documents (by WSGR). under $500K).

Finance 70

Finance Software Review Term Sheet Liquidation Preference 70

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

It’s like we need a finance 101 course for entrepreneurs. Me: There is no rational explanation for valuations of A round companies by ANY objective financial measure. 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. Him: $12 pre.

Venture Capital 417

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2012

But Paul Graham really did have a point in his “ high resolution fundraising ” post – that there is a problem – particularly in angel financing – with herding cats. We plan to raise at a $5 million pre-money valuation. We’re either “all in the round together” or we’re not.

Pre-Money Valuation 294

Pre-Money Valuation Finance Liquidation Preference Warrant 294

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

That’s because obtaining a pre-money valuation for a concept level technology company in excess of $1 million is difficult, particularly for a startup founder without a proven track record. By contrast, obtaining a pre-money valuation of $5 million for a business with a new viable product and even very minimal sales is somewhat reasonable.

Private Equity 94

Private Equity Pre-Money Valuation Equity Startup 94

ithacaVC

APRIL 5, 2011

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). For clarity, it is impossible to issue stock without putting a value on the company.

Common Stock 45

Common Stock Stock Cap Table Preferred Stock 45

The Next Web

JUNE 15, 2012

From Silicon Valley to Peoria, Illinois, cash-strapped startups look for inventive way to finance their business – often handing out equity to employees, consultants, vendors, and other service providers. It’s a logical solution. Plan upfront. But beyond motivation, there are more pragmatic factors at play here too.

Equity 116

Equity Stock Options Vesting Stock 116

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Furthermore, there are various forms of equity, such as preferred stock, common stock, and convertible notes, which influence the present and potential future investors. For instance, the cap table will help you with various possibilities while running business activities like available options and pre-money valuations faster.

Cap Table 112

Cap Table Pre-Money Valuation Stock Options Option Pool 112

Gust

OCTOBER 12, 2011

Last week , we took the plunge and began dissecting an example term sheet for a convertible debt financing round piece by piece. In Part II, we looked at the mandatory conversion language that is at the heart of any convertible debt financing. First, a word about the maturity date.

Finance 107

Finance Term Sheet Pre-Money Valuation Early Stage 107

Scott Edward Walker

APRIL 9, 2012

Introduction We are in the golden age of seed financing. Venture capital funds, seed funds, super angels, angel groups, incubators, and “friends and family” are all playing the seed financing game and investing early in startups in an attempt to land the next Facebook. Why Can’t a Startup Issue Shares of Common Stock to Investors?

Preferred Stock 87

Preferred Stock Finance Common Stock Liquidation Preference 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2012

As the company grows and the second or third group of investors comes in, the terms of each subsequent financing grow in size, scope, and the number of lawyers’ fingerprints on them. The price is the percent of ownership given to the investor, calculated as “investment/post-money valuation.” Seat on the board. Anti-dilution protection.

Term Sheet 223

Term Sheet Pre-Money Valuation Due Diligence Post-Money Valuation 223

Gust

OCTOBER 21, 2011

To account for scenarios in which the startup is acquired before it has a chance to complete a priced equity financing round, most term sheets and deal documents contain a “ change in control ” provision. Suppose the notes converted as if the acquisition were an eligible financing round. Most would agree this is not a fair outcome.

Finance 79

Finance Pre-Money Valuation Term Sheet Liquidity Event 79

Scott Edward Walker

MAY 15, 2012

This post is the third part of a three-part primer on convertible note seed financings. Part 1, entitled “ Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Convertible Note Seed Financings (But Were Afraid To Ask) ,” addressed the basics. Part 2, entitled “ Convertible Note Seed Financings: Econ 101 for Founders ,” addressed the economics.

Finance 64

Finance Founder Accredited Investor Preferred Stock 64

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Finance | Tuesdays. Financing a Small Business. Financing A Small Business. Personal Finance. In the past few years, hundreds of small companies have been snatched up by private equity firms willing to agree to ever-rising valuations. Create an Inc.com account: Subscribe to Inc.coms Free Newsletters. Franchises.

Arizona 40

Arizona Equity Iowa Venture Capital 40

Gust

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

It’s like we need a finance 101 course for entrepreneurs. Me: There is no rational explanation for valuations of A round companies by ANY objective financial measure. 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. There were no metrics.

Liquidation Preference 153

Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet Stock 153

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

As the company grows and the second or third group of investors comes in, the terms of each subsequent financing grow in size, scope, and the number of lawyers’ fingerprints on them. The price is the percent of ownership given to the investor, calculated as “investment/post-money valuation.” Seat on the board. Anti-dilution protection.

Term Sheet 227

Term Sheet Pre-Money Valuation Due Diligence Post-Money Valuation 227

ithacaVC

JANUARY 24, 2013

Having a relatively small about of convertible debt on your balance sheet prior to your Series A financing is not a bad thing. One interesting point that comes up a lot is how to factor the convertible debt into the premoney valuation of the Series A round. I am going to ignore any valuation cap feature.

Valuation 53

Valuation Balance Sheet Option Pool Dilution 53

Haystack

JULY 8, 2018

For employees at early-stage companies… the equity you’ve been granted is likely common stock, just like the founders. You can read more about the types of stock granted in startups here. valuation, that’s sort of like a new IPO, but without the lockup period.

Early Stage 95

Early Stage Dilution Private Equity Common Stock 95

Gust

OCTOBER 3, 2011

For a first time entrepreneur trying to figure out the arcane world of startup financing, it can be very confusing to understand the roles that different types of investors play in funding promising companies, as well as the point in a company’s life at which they enter the stage. From +/- $1.5m

Finance 70

Finance Venture Capital Intellectual Property Early Stage 70

Gust

OCTOBER 17, 2011

As the company grows and the second or third group of investors comes in, the terms of each subsequent financing grow in size, scope, and the number of lawyers’ fingerprints on them. The price is the percent of ownership given to the investor, calculated as “investment/post-money valuation.” Seat on the board. Anti-dilution protection.

Term Sheet 158

Term Sheet Pre-Money Valuation Due Diligence Post-Money Valuation 158

Version One Ventures

APRIL 6, 2021

The company expects its direct listing to occur on April 14, 2021 with its Class A common stock trading on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol COIN. Preemadonna raised over $5M in seed financing. valuation. . If you missed it, you can read our announcement here. This marks the first IPO in the Version One family. .

Portfolio 60

Portfolio SEC Common Stock Angel Investor 60

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 14, 2010

Liquidation preference is the amount of money that an investor gets paid before the common stock (e.g. It also gets the new investor concerned that management (common stock holders) will not be incentivized because they realize that the investors will take most of the money unless there is a big upside scenario.

Venture Capital 289

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Common Stock Pre-Money Valuation 289

Startup Company Lawyer

JANUARY 9, 2011

Convertible debt with a price cap seems to be the preferred structure for early-stage financings. Over the last 12 months, I’ve noticed a trend where early-stage startup companies raise seed financings of between $250K and $1M using a convertible note with a price cap. Is a priced Series A financing a valid alternative?

Liquidation Preference 57

Liquidation Preference Finance Preferred Stock Common Stock 57

Austin Startup

AUGUST 1, 2017

TL;DR: In a market that has historically idolized huge, splashy financings and exits, an increasing number of entrepreneurs are realizing that everyone else’s definition of success — particularly among certain large VCs — isn’t necessarily aligned with their own. If you’re confident you’ll get a huge exit, maybe.

Liquidation Preference 48

Liquidation Preference Common Stock Valuation Silicon Valley 48

The Next Web

JUNE 17, 2015

But, if you have no other alternatives from professional investors, service providers can be a perfectly acceptable financing resource for you, if that is all you need and it is structured fairly. This typically comes down to the security, voting rights and valuation of the deal. Taking cash from a service provider is often just that.

Equity 60

Equity Valuation Preferred Stock Common Stock 60

ithacaVC

DECEMBER 13, 2013

The share price is calculated by taking the pre-money valuation and dividing it by the number of shares outstanding pre-money. So Share Price (SP) = Pre-Money Valuation (PMV) / Shares Outstanding (SO). That is normal for a pre-money % as it will drop down to about 10% post money depending on size of round and valuation.

Cap Table 67

Cap Table Pre-Money Valuation Option Pool Liquidation Preference 67

K9 Ventures

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

You raised a Series A round, a Series B round, and this year are just about to raise a big Series C round at a great valuation. If there is one piece of advice I would give to the founders of BST, it is to consider selling a part of their personal stock in the company at that stage.

Founder 87

Founder Common Stock Preferred Stock Stock 87

K9 Ventures

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

You raised a Series A round, a Series B round, and this year are just about to raise a big Series C round at a great valuation. If there is one piece of advice I would give to the founders of BST, it is to consider selling a part of their personal stock in the company at that stage.

Founder 84

Founder Common Stock Preferred Stock Stock 84

Eric Friedman

JUNE 27, 2016

A little bit of background first on options: In order to issue options, your company must have a valid 409A valuation setting the fair market value (“FMV”) of a share of common stock. So what most companies do is get FMV from a 409A valuation and use that for their strike price. So why would you do this?

Equity 98

Equity Vesting Cap Table Common Stock 98

keen.io

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

To begin answering this question, I started on a quest to understand startup financing. This book was written to help founders negotiate financing with investors, but it really helped me understand Keen’s financial situation, and I highly recommend it to anyone joining a startup. First, I read Venture Deals by Brad Feld.

Salary 50

Salary Equity Startup San Francisco 50

The Startup Lawyer

JANUARY 10, 2012

In most equity financing rounds, an investor will ask for (and get) a term called a liquidation preference. A liquidation preference is the amount that must be paid to a preferred stock holder before any sale proceeds may be paid to the holders of common stock (i.e., founders, option holders, etc.).

Liquidation Preference 73

Liquidation Preference Pre-Money Valuation Participating Preferred Preferred Stock 73

Scott Edward Walker

JUNE 9, 2011

As many of you know, VC investors are typically issued shares of preferred stock, not common stock. Indeed, preferred stock, as the name suggests, is preferable to (and more valuable than) common stock because it grants certain key rights to the holders, one of which is a conversion right.

Term Sheet 60

Term Sheet Conversion Rights Venture Capital Liquidation Preference 60

Ben's Blog

JULY 16, 2013

You probably thought that valuations would be roughly the same as they were the last time you raised money. And those are big companies with real earnings, so you can imagine how a private company’s valuation might fluctuate. In June of 2000, I raised money at an $820M post-money valuation. But they most certainly are not.

Down Round 78

Down Round Marketing Preferred Stock Post-Money Valuation 78

The Startup Lawyer

FEBRUARY 4, 2011

The following are some issues to consider and actions to take before accepting an incubator’s offer: (1) Calculate Valuation and Determine Value. Pre-money valuations startups receive from incubators are typically low…really low. The “revised for the cash investment only&# pre-money valuation is $600,000. (2)

Incubator 105

Incubator Pre-Money Valuation Option Pool Advisory Board 105

Startup Company Lawyer

JANUARY 31, 2011

Automatic conversion: on a $1M equity financing with no conversion discount and no price cap , provided that the transaction documents provide for a right to purchase a pro rata share of future financings. (I Optional equity conversion: on other equity financings with no conversion discount and no price cap.

Preferred Stock 60

Preferred Stock Liquidation Preference IPO Common Stock 60