Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

After years of trying to persuade Kara Nortman to become a partner at Upfront Ventures I can officially announce now that she’s joined us effective immediately. Thus began my marketing campaign. People often ask me what VCs look for when we hire partners and many have asked how to become VCs themselves one day.

Partner 408

Partner Las Vegas Los Angeles Baltimore 408

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 27, 2018

by Emmanuel de Watteville, co-founder of Blue Ocean Ventures. Evaluate the marketing and monetization strategies set in place. These two requirements are possessing smart marketing and monetization strategies. It’s essential to dissect marketing and monetization strategies together.

Early Stage 160

Early Stage Cofounder Startup Security 160

View from Seed

OCTOBER 21, 2014

Sharing these pricing expectations early with potential lead investors fundamentally qualifies your conversations, but it also runs the risk of prematurely losing a potential financing partner, or else it can reduce options to maximize your fundraise outcome. Lower-Than-Market Value. Market Value. Above-Market Value.

Valuation 336

Valuation Founder Seed Stage Angel Investor 336

YoungUpstarts

MAY 14, 2018

Marks, founder and managing partner of High Rock Partners and author of “ Middle Market M & A: Handbook for Investment Banking and Business Consulting “ Conventional wisdom says that a company grows by reaching new customers, increasing its workforce, expanding marketing or launching new products or services.

Acquisition 124

Acquisition Finance Raleigh Mezzanine 124

Scott Edward Walker

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

I’ve been doing M&A transactions for 25+ years (including nearly eight years at two major New York City law firms), and I wanted to briefly discuss an important issue for founders interested in selling their company: the distinction between strategic and financial buyers. Instead of investing in the stock market or in startups (e.g.,

Private Equity 59

Private Equity New York City Equity Deal Structure 59

David Teten

JANUARY 21, 2021

(co-written with Jamie Finney, Founding Partner at Greater Colorado Venture Fund. This essay is part of a series on alternative VC: I: Revenue-Based Investing: a new option for founders who care about control. III: Why are Revenue-Based VCs investing in so many women and underrepresented founders?

Equity 78

Equity Revenue Cofounder Colorado 78

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

Make sure your model is credible – “the market in China is 3 billion users and we will aim to achieve 1% market penetration in year one&# (yeah, right). Have an upfront proposition – how much money are you raising? How many angels have committed so far? Bottom up is better than top down projections (i.e.

Startup 133

Startup Cofounder Warrant Stock Options 133