Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). And even with the significant cost of credit card debt, many entrepreneurs aggressively use existing cards to finance a startup.

Private Equity 106

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 106

Gust

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Me: Raising convertible notes as a seed round is one of the biggest disservices our industry has done to entrepreneurs since 2001-2003 when there were “full ratchets” and “multiple liquidation preferences” – the most hostile terms anybody found in term sheets 10 years ago. It’s like we need a finance 101 course for entrepreneurs.

Liquidation Preference 153

Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet Stock 153

The Equity Kicker

JANUARY 22, 2014

To meet growth and revenue targets, you hire and spend like never before. Investors who paid up for your financing are not happy. You fall into the spiral of death: head of sales gets replaced (at least once), CEO gets replaced (at least once), a down-round financing happens (if lucky).

Venture Capital 102

Venture Capital Down Round Valuation Lean 102

Growthink Blog

MAY 23, 2011

The typical wisdom regarding the appropriate financing course for a new company goes as follows: 1. An entrepreneur starts a company in classic " bootstrap " fashion - with a combination of sweat equity and their own financial resources. My suggestions for the investors seeking emerging companies to back?

Angel Investor 112

Angel Investor Venture Capital Sweat Equity Cram Down 112

David Teten

AUGUST 7, 2019

Likely signs of a Value investment: the company has challenges in filling out the round; the investors have more negotiating leverage than the founders during the closing process; the company has significantly better metrics (e.g. LTV / CAC, revenue growth, etc.) were clearly Momentum, but [in hindsight] they were also Value.”

Venture Capital 60

Venture Capital Valuation Stock NDA 60

Berkonomics

JANUARY 20, 2010

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder is able to self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). And even with the significant cost of credit card debt, many entrepreneurs aggressively use existing cards to finance a startup.

Private Equity 69

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 69

Scalable Startup

OCTOBER 26, 2011

It’s no longer based on a hunch, unless the company is in trouble and needs money to finish what the first round started. This problem often leads to a lowered valuation or “down round” Not a great scenario.) If the company is doing well, the second round is easier to acquire.

Mezzanine 22

Mezzanine Due Diligence IPO Angel Investor 22

abovethecrowd.com

APRIL 20, 2016

Why the Unicorn Financing Market Just Became Dangerous…For All Involved. A high performing, high-growth SAAS company that may have been worth 10 or more times revenue was suddenly worth 4-7 times revenue. By the first quarter of 2016, the late-stage financing market had changed materially.

IPO 40

IPO Term Sheet Silicon Valley Valuation 40

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

In the case of startups the “buyer” is the VC looking to part cash for “purchasing” equity in your startup. forward revenue for SaaS businesses when in the years before it had been less than 5x. Why Financing in Falling Markets is So Damn Difficult. Why Down Rounds are Harder Than You May Think.

Valuation 150

Valuation Down Round Startup Later Stage 150