Feld Thoughts

JUNE 10, 2022

She has a good article today in TechCrunch titled Embrace the down round (it’s going to be okay, maybe). Brad Feld] says his “strong belief” that “just doing a clean resetting — at whatever the valuation so that everybody is aligned and dealing with reality — is much, much better for a company.”

Down Round 162

Down Round Ratchet Liquidation Preference Participating Preferred 162

Feld Thoughts

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

I’ve seen every imaginable type of liquidation preference structure, pay-to-play dynamic, preferred return, ratchet, share/option bonus, option repricing, and carveout. I suffered through the next financing after implementing a complex structure, or a sale of the company, or a liquidation.

Cap Table 70

Cap Table Down Round Liquidation Preference Founder 70

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

At an accelerator … 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.

Venture Capital 417

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

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. People seem concerned about valuation.

Liquidation Preference 153

Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet Stock 153

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2012

The price is the percent of ownership given to the investor, calculated as “investment/post-money valuation.” The pre-money valuation is company value today, while the post-money valuation is the pre-money valuation plus the investment amount. Liquidation preference. Seat on the board.

Term Sheet 223

Term Sheet Pre-Money Valuation Due Diligence Post-Money Valuation 223

VC Cafe

OCTOBER 31, 2022

Many companies are now having to resort to tough measures in order to stay afloat, including layoffs, down rounds and tough terms from current investors. The market for pre-seed and seed rounds should remain relatively active, since those companies are many years away from even thinking about going public.

Founder 174

Founder Technical Review Down Round Liquidation Preference 174

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

The price is the percent of ownership given to the investor, calculated as “investment/post-money valuation.” The pre-money valuation is company value today, while the post-money valuation is the pre-money valuation plus the investment amount. Liquidation preference. Seat on the board.

Term Sheet 227

Term Sheet Pre-Money Valuation Due Diligence Post-Money Valuation 227