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How to Work with Lawyers at a Startup

Both Sides of the Table

Forget to get around to setting up that Employee Stock Option Plan and want to be able to give the early guys their options at a low strike price? They usually ask for warrants (basically like a stock option) in exchange for taking a deferred fee. Shame about that pesky FAS 157 ruling.

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Do you even need a business coach?

Berkonomics

If the coach is also a significantly large investor such as a VC fund, the board member-coach will offer a limited amount of time outside of board work at no extra cost, all for the good of the investment. And some will willingly work for stock options, an amount to be negotiated based upon time spent and stage of corporate development.

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How Early-Stage Startups Can Utilize the SVB Collapse as a Wake-Up Call

The Startup Magazine

Be honest with yourself VCs are now going to be looking closer at margins, cost structures and true sales, and product market fit. As a founder, ask yourself – does your business actually warrant VC funding? After all, you’ve likely given your employees stock options which make them part-time business owners as well.

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Bad Notes on Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

Less than you’ll probably grant your most junior employees in stock options? There are a million ways to do quick, easy, low-cost rounds with prices. If you want to give them a 50% discount offer them $1 of common-stock warrants (no liquidation preference) for every $1 of stock they buy. Me: I know.

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Sideways Startups: Donating Private Stock

Gust

Donations of private company stock may be an effective and tax-efficient method of giving with significant benefits to the donor. These assets often have a relatively low cost basis (e.g. At a simple level, you can deduct up to 30% of your annual adjusted gross income for the value of a stock donation. The Tax Benefit.

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An experienced coach has seen your movie before.

Berkonomics

If the coach is also a significantly large investor such as a VC fund, the board member-coach will offer a limited amount of time outside of board work at no extra cost, all for the good of the investment. And some will willingly work for stock options, an amount to be negotiated based upon time spent and stage of corporate development.

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Understanding Changes in the Software & Venture Capital Industries

Both Sides of the Table

The trend of funding anything from the first $25k to funding $50 million at a billion+ valuation is unlikely to last as the skills and style to be effective at all stages are diverse enough to warrant focus. When I built my first company starting in 1999 it cost $2.5 A 90% disruption in cost spawns innovation – believe me.