VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Carta reports that 20% of the rounds in 2023 were down rounds, but I believe the actual number is much higher. For that and other reasons (like cash preservation) VCs moved to focus more on earlier stage, and many funds that typically invest in A started deploying more into seed rounds. who’s talking to customers?)

Valuation 186

Valuation Software Review Generative AI Technical Review 186

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

We received so much positive feedback from our This Week in Venture Capital show walking through valuation calculations & term sheets that we decided to do a Q&A show this week to address topics that entrepreneurs want to learn about. As a result I had to do a down round. We will continue to do more of this.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Term Sheet Valuation Stock Options 282

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

This is why investors really like SaaS software companies where you have recurring revenue and your largest customer accounts for < 5% of your revenue and your renewals rates are > 90%. Many software companies have > 80% gross margins which is why they are more valuable than say traditional retailers or consumer product companies.

Burn Rate 383

Burn Rate Balance Sheet .Net Valuation 383

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

Responses ranged from, “hey, they’re in a HUGE market&# to “it is an amazing company and their technology rocks.&# It’s like people arguing that there’s a beautiful beach house in 2006 that represents great long-term value due to scarcity of similar property. New investors hate down rounds.

Saudi Arabia 309

Saudi Arabia Valuation IPO Technical Review 309

www.paulgraham.com

APRIL 28, 2010

I wassurprised recently when I realized that all the worst problems wefaced in our startup were due not to competitors, but investors.Dealing with competitors was easy by comparison. Angels whove made money in technology are preferable,for two reasons: they understand your situation, and theyre asource of contacts and advice.

Technical Review 76

Technical Review Startup Software Review Angel Investor 76

Scalable Startup

FEBRUARY 1, 2013

These are good things to think about and companies to study as we move back from consumer to Enterprise in the tech cycle. And so it has always been this kind of trickle-down model for 50 years. So now you have got the rise of this new set of companies that are sort of consumerized technology for businesses.

Software Review 22

Software Review Startup Venture Capital Stock 22