Both Sides of the Table
JULY 22, 2010
I couldn’t understand why they wanted so many options until a friend pointed out that this just lowered their “true&# pre-money valuation (they also asked for some sharp elbowed terms in the deal). So let’s start calling the term sheet listed pre-money valuation as the “nominal&# pre-money valuation.
Both Sides of the Table
MAY 28, 2018
Every VC knows that the amount you raise is often a proxy for your valuation. So when you say $8–10m is your goal and you aren’t at all thinking about your valuation know that a VC hears “$24–40 million pre-money valuation expectations.” Every VC wants to fund a deal that seems to have too much demand.
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Both Sides of the Table
JUNE 5, 2011
But the reality is that you’re faced with two problems: 1) the earlier the stage the riskier and thus more write-offs so you need to have enough ownership percentage in your winners to make up for the losers and 2) the earlier stage your check the more likely the company will need many more funding rounds behind you and thus you face dilution.
Both Sides of the Table
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
As in, “your money into my company will convert at a 15-20% discount to the next round of capital I raise with a maximum price of $8 million pre-money valuation (or whatever the cap was).” It has nowhere near the same dilutive effects as a full ratchet except in extreme edge cases.
This is going to be BIG.
OCTOBER 10, 2014
The criteria for what is a Seed and what is a Series A for these purposes is whether or not the first round of the company was within the same year that I did the investment, and it had to be less than $750k of prior money. Well, if you group them all up, here''s what you get: Pre-Money Valuations (M). Not Launched.
Both Sides of the Table
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
For many businesses you should keep your costs low & your capital raises low until you discover whether you are really on to a big idea where there is market demand. If you are able to raise money from credible sources at a reasonable dilution percentage then I personally favor getting the round done now and building your business.
Hunter Walker
AUGUST 7, 2017
Employee options pools, typically created at the point of financings, shouldn’t be treated as haggling over dilution, but rather a strategic resource that will help founders build the best team and, by extension, a more valuable company.
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