View from Seed

APRIL 30, 2015

Glen Mello: Venture debt is a good complement to equity. It’s generally got a lower cost compared to equity capital and can help support growth. So it makes it a lot more challenging when you have debt on the books that isn’t as longer term as equity. Traction and revenue? What are some pros and cons?

Term Sheet 120

Term Sheet Equity Startup Seed Stage 120

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2010

I can save tons of development time and I think I can buy it for all equity. How much dilution should I take for it?&# My friend’s company was pre-revenue. Me: “Zero dilution. I’m not saying there are never reasons to buy another company for cash and/or equity. You’re in control.

Merger 276

Merger Technical Review Early Stage Dilution 276

David Teten

JANUARY 21, 2021

This essay is part of a series on alternative VC: I: Revenue-Based Investing: a new option for founders who care about control. II: Who are the major Revenue-Based Investing VCs? III: Why are Revenue-Based VCs investing in so many women and underrepresented founders? IV: Should your new VC fund use Revenue-Based Investing?

Equity 78

Equity Revenue Cofounder Colorado 78

Up and Running

JULY 1, 2020

You may grow to tap new markets or increase sales in your current markets. It starts with a high-level strategy and continues all the way to market analysis, sales plans, operations planning, and financial modeling. Lenders and equity investors are less emotionally involved in the plan as people within the company.

Business Plan 152

Business Plan Forecast Operations Dilution 152

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 27, 2011

And, oh by the way, we also really like the idea of the 1M/1M entrepreneurs building valuation and negotiating leverage through these business development efforts, instead of signing off large chunks of their company in form of equity early on. million in revenue. The business is already profitable with $2.9

Dilution 114

Dilution Revenue Finance Entrepreneur 114

Austin Startup

FEBRUARY 4, 2019

L to R: Tiara Zolniez (Co-Founder & Sales), Dr. Roshawnna Novellus (Co-Founder & CEO), Alisha Griffey (COO) The Forrest Four-Cast: February 4, 2019 Fifty diverse startups will aim to impress a panel of judges and a live audience with their skills, creativity and innovation at SXSW Pitch Presented by Cyndx.

Startup 50

Startup Cofounder Technical Review Equity 50

The Startup Magazine

JULY 1, 2022

The three main components of a company are production or service, marketing and sales, and finance. Production or service is the business’s core activity, which generates revenue. Marketing and sales are how you reach and sell to your target market. Equity financing is when you sell a part of your company for cash.

Technology 135

Technology Venture Capital Finance Startup 135

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

They already have several customers including some telcos, and are at about $350,000 in revenues. Whether it is credit or equity, funding is very, very tight. You can get cash without diluting your ownership in the company. Because customer financing equals revenue, not equity. Kir Devries.

Cloud 115

Cloud Silicon Valley Incubator Finance 115

ReadWriteStart

JULY 18, 2011

He believes that equity need not be distributed equally, as long as everyone involved is happy with their arrangement. And as long as founders don't have an argument about equity shares in front of the investors they are pitching. VCs need to figure out the people side of the company and raising money is a sales job.

Investment Bankers 153

Investment Bankers Technical Review Cofounder Due Diligence 153

Hunter Walker

JANUARY 2, 2017

The total value of these deals might look higher than when a tech company makes an acquihire but the premium tends to go to retention rather than the cap table (especially since (a) the acquirer might not be seen as an ‘attractive’ place to work and (b) there’s assumption of less equity upside post-acquisition).

Technical Review 116

Technical Review Cap Table Acquisition Startup 116

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

Three reasons: There is a relative valuation between the price a VC pays and their expectations of what it will exit for in an IPO or trade sale. Also, it’s harder to pay a $30 million pre-money value on an unproved company when you see public companies with $100 million in sales trading for less than $20 million.

Burn Rate 263

Burn Rate Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Private Equity 263

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 20, 2018

Since I am a proponent of using equity as a tool and he is so much opposed, this week it is his turn to make the case. These are your candidates, because they are companies already absorbing much or all the marketing expense necessary to make sales of your invention. Do I understand the royalty replaces the need for equity investors ?

IP 54

IP Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Product 54

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 21, 2010

Plus, we’re all allured by the false sense that our contract with BigCo is going to “make us&# because once they start using us it will spread like wildfire and the revenue will flow in. They negotiate a “master agreement&# to work with your company with some maybe minimum guarantees in terms of revenue.

Warrant 298

Warrant Dilution Startup Stock Options 298

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 20, 2018

Since I am a proponent of using equity as a tool and he is so much opposed, this week it is his turn to make the case. These are your candidates, because they are companies already absorbing much or all the marketing expense necessary to make sales of your invention. Do I understand the royalty replaces the need for equity investors ?

IP 48

IP Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Product 48

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

You don’t have to fight for your equity, and no one can slow you down in decision making. Don’t quit your day job until the revenue is flowing. Don’t let early funding increase risk and dilute your potential. Spread your equity internally to build the team. Bootstrapping doesn’t mean that you don’t share equity.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Exit Strategy 120

Austin Startup

MARCH 23, 2017

To briefly recap: 3/12 : Fred Wilson discussed why he dislikes convertible notes and SAFEs, and how priced equity rounds make more sense at the seed level. 3/20 : danprimack provided detail on Wal-mart/Jet.com’s acquisition of ModCloth, and how substituting (rather than supplementing) debt for equity can cause problems.

Dilution 54

Dilution Equity Warrant Distribution 54

This is going to be BIG.

MARCH 16, 2020

Some key existings who didn’t want to see their prior money get lost wouldn’t budge on a dilutive financing, despite the fact that they knew where we were headed. If you are a turnaround, bankruptcy or private equity investor and have questions about the sale process, you can e-mail me at charlie@brooklynbridge.vc.

Bankruptcy 95

Bankruptcy Private Equity Seed Stage Dilution 95

The Next Web

FEBRUARY 27, 2014

your equity in a hot new patented technology business), the higher the demand (e.g., As an example, a new restaurant may get valued at 3-4x EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and a hot dot com business with meteoric traffic growth could get valued at 5-10x revenues. Supply and demand.

Valuation 167

Valuation Forecast Seed Stage .Net 167

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 14, 2012

You are either bought for stock or for equity. Is your crappy little 12-person company really worth they and their shareholders diluting by 2% given more than a decade they’ve put in building one of the Internet’s most solid business social networks? You just said, “nobody would take 1-2% dilution.”

Valuation 316

Valuation Balance Sheet Dilution Term Sheet 316

Brandanew

JULY 11, 2015

Its existing premium customers won’t take it kindly as it dilutes the said image. Brand equity. Brand equity is the value of a brand. It may include tangible financial value such as market share and revenue as well as intangible aspects such as strategic benefits of the brand. Brand experience.

Virginia 100

Virginia Equity Differentiation Dilution 100

Up and Running

APRIL 18, 2013

For example, you don’t have to raise expensive equity to purchase 3 delivery trucks or a CNC machine. This structure is targeted on businesses that do high credit card sales volume. Revenue-based finance. RBF is an entrepreneur-friendly loan, where repayments are based on a percentage of monthly revenue.

Small Business 89

Small Business Finance Dilution Equity 89

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

The investors and the entrepreneurs are – or should be – aware that the price of the company’s equity is set by the market – in simplest terms, what an informed buyer is willing to pay.   Note that this applies only to earl stage Series A-type equity financings and assumes no cash dividends are paid to investors.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Up and Running

MAY 21, 2015

All the other sharks typically make a traditional equity investment; for example they’ll invest $100,000 at a $1,000,000 business valuation, and take 10 percent of the business. That’s called a traditional equity investment. Mr. Wonderful, by contrast typically makes his investment in the form of Debt Securities With Warrants.

Covenant 60

Covenant Liquidation Preference Ratchet Dilution 60

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

A great recent example of this was a successful group of entrepreneurs who had created a company that will do $10-12 million in revenue at their system integration business (read: services business) in 2011 after having done $5 million or so in 2010 and $2-3 million in 2009. That is $12 million in profits over 3 years. It’s pure irony.

Silicon Valley 332

Silicon Valley IP Dividend Finance 332

Small Business Force

JANUARY 14, 2016

Equity and percentage ownership has always been a lightning rod for discussion and controversy with startups and entrepreneurs. It is also less understood than it should be, with dilution and control issues being major points of concern. The point of it was that with any kind of equity distribution, dilution will always occur.

Equity 20

Equity Dilution Distribution Valuation 20

Lightspeed Venture Partners

OCTOBER 22, 2012

The company has gotten off to a fast start, $150k in revenue in the first two months, with all the marketing coming from social media. The founders have more demand than they know what to do with, and want to raise $55k for 5% equity in the company to buy a second truck. In 2011 they did $100k in sales and $40k in profits.

Pre-Money Valuation 101

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Dilution Differentiation 101

Hippoland

MAY 16, 2018

Here’s what’s happening in the equity world (from my perspective): 1) Token sales in the crypto-world do affect “equity” raises. (I I put “equity” in quotes because I include convertible notes and convertible securities in this category.) This leads me to point #3.

Seed Stage 48

Seed Stage Valuation Convertible Security Equity 48

Hippoland

MAY 16, 2018

Here’s what’s happening in the equity world (from my perspective): 1) Token sales in the crypto-world do affect “equity” raises. (I I put “equity” in quotes because I include convertible notes and convertible securities in this category.) This leads me to point #3.

Seed Stage 48

Seed Stage Valuation Convertible Security Equity 48

Up and Running

APRIL 24, 2018

Not only that, but global equity funding to digital health companies reached $3.67 Of course, you will need a killer product—but, you will also need a competent growth strategy that will encompass comprehensive marketing, sales, research and development, technology, and beyond. billion in 2017 YTD (as of May 22, 2017).

SBIR 73

SBIR Startup Artificial Inteligence Intellectual Property 73

Startup Company Lawyer

MAY 4, 2009

If a founder’s company raises more than $50,000 in debt or equity financing, excluding funds from the founder, within 18 months of formation, then the founder must pay a tuition fee of $4,500, which is used to cover the Institute’s expenses in providing the program. June 23rd, 2009: Create a revenue model for your business.

Founder 28

Founder Warrant San Francisco Intellectual Property 28

Berkonomics

AUGUST 27, 2015

They financed their companies, to the extent possible, in a manner minimizing the cost of capital, planning for organic growth in the number of customers served and in associated revenues. The Flipper’s executives usually have significant equity holdings, either actually owned or reflected in stock options.

Intellectual Property 48

Intellectual Property Balance Sheet Stock Options Valuation 48

The Equity Kicker

MAY 14, 2012

achieving first revenues. breaking through revenue thresholds – e.g. run-rates of £1m, £5m, £20m and so on. demonstrating a repeatable sales model (typically telephone sales, direct sales, or channel sales). achieving first international sales. achieving first revenues.

Finance 118

Finance Valuation Venture Capital Dilution 118

Gust

MAY 24, 2012

As a quick review, most startups begin life as corporations with a single class of equity securities, referred to as Common Stock , issued to founders, employees, and outside service providers. Options and warrants, when issued, are also typically exercisable for shares of Common Stock.

IPO 159

IPO Equity Common Stock Stock 159

crowdSPRING Blog

AUGUST 7, 2011

In addition, as long as investors can earn higher returns on T-notes, they will expect higher returns from alternative investments in equities and VC’s may follow suit for similar reasons and expect a higher IRR from their invest,ends in new ventures. Uncertainty may abate. Tax increases may be ahead. Photo: Kevin Krejci.

Small Business 86

Small Business IRR Government United States 86

epaley.com

MAY 6, 2013

Once financed, everyone at the startup should have a reasonable salary, but the real compensation for achieving the improbable is the equity that is typically shared between all employees proportional to the expected contribution of each person. Using revenue metric.s Instead they do $9MM in sales. Bonuses are toxic at startups.

Salary 41

Salary Startup Equity Forecast 41

discuss.joelonsoftware.com

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

where I can learn about how to build a sweat equity team? Rather, it is a proposal for sweat-equity investors. Mark Walsen Mark Walsen Thursday, October 09, 2008 Deleting … Approving … I think you would be better off hiring people, rather than trying to convince them to work for free in exchange for equity.

Sweat Equity 40

Sweat Equity Equity Angel Investor Affiliate 40

crowdSPRING Blog

OCTOBER 30, 2018

It is a key factor in the success and prosperity of all businesses and nonprofits, regardless of their revenues. Brand health can be measured in numerous ways, including brand reputation, brand awareness, brand equity, brand positioning, and brand delivery. This isn’t an issue you can afford to ignore. Image courtesy of Chipotle.

Small Business 55

Small Business Metrics Social Media Audience 55