Both Sides of the Table

MAY 9, 2018

I also had to negotiate a follow-on round at a portfolio company because new investors were trying to force a bit option-pool top-up that would dilute the founders and existing shareholders and existing investors were fighting over prorata rights. I always tell people that fund raising is a sales process.

Software Review 381

Software Review Churn Rate Due Diligence New York 381

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Finance | Tuesdays. Sales & Marketing | Wednesdays. Financing a Small Business. Financing A Small Business. Personal Finance. SALES & MARKETING. Before Roving Software could receive its first round of financing from professional investors, in early 1999, he had to put all the stock arrangements in writing.

Fractional CTO 40

Fractional CTO Equity Iowa Technical Cofounder 40

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

For angel groups, the distinction between groups and VCs on this issue is dwindling, especially as angel groups do bigger rounds of financing.   Note that this applies only to earl stage Series A-type equity financings and assumes no cash dividends are paid to investors. . Let’s start at the end.   First , dividends.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

ithacaVC

DECEMBER 13, 2013

They are typically pretty simple: (i) shares owned by founders and (ii) shares authorized for issuance in a stock option pool, some of which may be issued to employees already and some of which will be available for future issuance. And don’t forget that the options granted would come out of the available option pool.

Cap Table 67

Cap Table Pre-Money Valuation Option Pool Liquidation Preference 67

The Next Web

OCTOBER 7, 2013

Startup employees are granted common shares out of something called an option pool. Every time a startup raises capital, all common shareholders are diluted. In one post on Ravikant’s Venture Hacks blog called, “ The Option Pool Shuffle ,” it notes market expectations are to set aside 1 to 2 percent for a VP-level hire.

Engineer 129

Engineer Dilution Option Pool Vesting 129

Scott Edward Walker

AUGUST 31, 2011

Which financing sources should they consider? Because this is only a $725K investment, a good lawyer will recommend structuring the investment as a convertible note or a “Series Seed” financing , rather than a full-blown Series A. These people need help in defining and pursuing their business goals. At what valuation and on what terms?

Silicon Valley 45

Silicon Valley Term Sheet Liquidation Preference Redemption 45

Seeing Both Sides

JULY 15, 2009

VCs have an unfair advantage when it comes to financings. A typical start-up company will do 2-4 venture capital financings before a successful exit (or, conversely, an ignomious ending). In contrast, the typical venture capitalist, either individually or across their partnership, will do 5-10 financings in any given year.

Pre-Money Valuation 49

Pre-Money Valuation Option Pool Stock Options Post-Money Valuation 49