VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

ValuatIon should be a function of value, not ego. Kawasaki’s Law of Pre-Money Valuation: for every full-time engineer, add $500,000; for every full-time M.B.A., But valuations, especially those in the private market, are not necessarily a predictor of growth/ success. Our goals, their goals. subtract $250,000. 9M Seed: $20M ?

Founder 187

Founder Startup Valuation Pre-Money Valuation 187

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

On the phone … Me: So, you raised venture capital? We raised a seed round. You’ll find out the minimum when the next round is raised. Me: There is no rational explanation for valuations of A round companies by ANY objective financial measure. People seem concerned about valuation.

Venture Capital 417

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

Steve Blank

APRIL 26, 2022

At the turn of the century after the dotcom crash, startup valuations plummeted, burn rates were unsustainable, and startups were quickly running out of cash. Most existing investors (those still in business) hoarded their money and stopped doing follow-on rounds until the rubble had cleared. They’re Back.

Cram Down 404

Cram Down Founder Venture Capital Recapitalization 404

VC Cafe

JANUARY 29, 2024

It’s easy to find bad news about venture capital these days. In other words, the venture capital bust has only just started. 2023 was a rough year for Venture Capital and for startups, and it might get even worse. Global venture funding fell 42% year over years to $248.8

Generative AI 171

Generative AI Global Venture Capital Valuation 171

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Valuation. I wanted to call out special attention to valuation in this debate. Simply put – down rounds are very hard to achieve psychologically because insiders fight against them (rightly or wrongly) and outsiders have a mental gap that if your valuation is going down your company is forked up and they often just pass.

Burn Rate 383

Burn Rate Balance Sheet .Net Valuation 383

VC Cafe

JANUARY 2, 2023

There are 85 Israeli unicorns, but only about 50% them justify a billion Dollar valuation, according to Viola’s report. As growth investments (and valuations) go down, unicorns might struggle to survive, according to Globes. Large LPs are signalling the need to slow down, and funds realise it may take longer to fundraise.

Valuation 158

Valuation Down Round Venture Capital 158

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2023

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. Lack of checks and balances on startup valuations. In fact, the latest figures show that crowdfunding globally is expected to grow from USD 1.41

Angel Groups 201

Angel Groups Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 201

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. Lack of checks and balances on startup valuations. These groups are now largely run by volunteers at no cost to entrepreneurs.

Equity 411

Equity Angel Groups Accredited Investor Due Diligence 411

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

Under this category, you have the angel investors who would invest their own money and Venture Capital or VC firms, who manage funds aimed towards specific startup sectors and stages. The bridge or exit stage is generally of very large transactions and for companies with substantial valuation. Equity investors. Debt investors.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2: As expected at least one person accused me of writing this post because I want to see lower valuations. As the risks below get eliminated the higher the valuation investors are prepared to pay. So rounds tend to be “range bound&# where the top end of the valuation spectrum often being done in boom markets (i.e.

Pre-Money Valuation 336

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Silicon Valley Stock 336

ReadWriteStart

NOVEMBER 22, 2010

The law firm Fenwick & West LLP has released its Third Quarter 2010 Silicon Valley Venture Capital Survey. The survey looks at the valuations and the terms of financing for over 100 technology companies in Silicon Valley that reported raising capital in the third quarter of this year.

Silicon Valley 115

Silicon Valley Venture Capital Valuation Down Round 115

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

In addition to FOMO it is partly driven by massive increase in valuations for earlier-stage companies who raised money at bit seed prices but who still have product risk. million pre-money valuation is now raising $1 million at a $12 million valuation the next investor has nowhere to go but up (or sit out the investment).

Saudi Arabia 309

Saudi Arabia Valuation IPO Technical Review 309

VC Cafe

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Companies have raised record amounts of venture capital money in 2020 and 2021. According to Pitchbook’s Q3 2022 European VC Valuations Report , Europe minted 40 unicorns in the first 3 quarters of 2022. To justify the valuation, some will require 10x revenue ramp and more efficient margins.

Europe 97

Europe Balance Sheet Valuation 97

Feld Thoughts

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

There are three things that will mess you up in the long run: Too much liquidation preference : My simple rule of thumb is that if you’ve raised more than $25m and your liquidation preference is greater than 50% of your post money valuation, you have too much liquidation preference.

Cap Table 70

Cap Table Down Round Liquidation Preference Founder 70

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. than comparable companies in the same sector that raised at a higher valuation. Why, yes, they are.

Venture Capital 60

Venture Capital Valuation Stock NDA 60

VC Cafe

MAY 18, 2022

It's not "cheap" because it is down 70%. 2) Valuation multiples are always a hack proxy. venture capital and private equity) the VC index (by Refinitiv) shows a nearly 40% decline. Down rounds are coming. Source: Pitchbook NVCA Venture Monitor. Tom Tunguz, Redpoint Capital.

Term Sheet 190

Term Sheet Startup Valuation Ukraine 190

The Equity Kicker

JANUARY 25, 2016

On Friday it seemed like everyone in the venture capital industry was again reading about market turmoil, this time the news is that angel investors are pulling back and valuations taking a hit. The best startups capture all the returns so focusing too much on entry valuation is a mistake.

Venture Capital 60

Venture Capital Angel Investor Startup Participating Preferred 60

Berkonomics

AUGUST 3, 2023

My experience with early valuations by founders for friends… I’ve arrived at a significant number of companies that were looking for additional growth capital after a “friends and family” round and had to “clean up” the cap table more than a few times over the years. These include Y-Combinator and TechStars, among others.

Private Equity 118

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 118

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 26, 2020

To do that you have to show how your market is big enough (a multi-billion dollar market) to support that kind of valuation. Sangha was a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and his first venture capital investor turned out to be an alumni. Myth #3: Take the Highest Valuation You Can Get. Who is in your tribe?

Finance 205

Finance Silicon Valley Valuation Startup 205

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 4, 2016

” There are a lot of data points that one can observer to get a sense of the venture capital markets – both LP fundings into venture and VC financings of startups. They point to some widely known facts: financings & valuations are up massively over the past 7 years and non-VC money has entered the system.

LP 150

LP Valuation Burn Rate Pre-Money Valuation 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2016

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. Lack of checks and balances on startup valuations. These groups are now largely run by volunteers at no cost to entrepreneurs.

Angel Groups 136

Angel Groups Accredited Investor Equity Due Diligence 136

The Equity Kicker

MARCH 24, 2015

Everyone loves a high valuation and it’s natural for founders to want to minimise dilution. They will most probably go on to raise multiple rounds of venture capital after all. The biggest problem comes from chasing high valuations. But I’ll say it again: trying to get really high valuations is a mistake.

Valuation 60

Valuation Down Round Dilution Venture Capital 60

Berkonomics

MARCH 28, 2019

Some businesses just can’t fit within the angel capital or friends and family model for raising funds. Sooner or later you may need to seek venture capital and accommodate the needs of the venture community in negotiating the terms of an investment. How did you structure your first round? .

Limited Liability Company 48

Limited Liability Company Post-Money Valuation Valuation Down Round 48

The Equity Kicker

JANUARY 22, 2014

It all comes down to probabilities in the end – anyone can get lucky – the trick is getting a handle on how lucky your plan requires you to be… The article describes how it goes wrong in two ways, firstly: Your company is growing and scaling well, often on little invested capital.

Venture Capital 102

Venture Capital Down Round Valuation Lean 102

Gust

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Me: So, you raised venture capital? We raised a seed round. You’ll find out the minimum when the next round is raised. Me: There is no rational explanation for valuations of A round companies by ANY objective financial measure. People seem concerned about valuation. A down round?

Liquidation Preference 153

Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet Stock 153

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

It is most common to greatly overprice such a round of financing, valuing the enterprise well above what it may be worth at the moment for friends or related investors who do not have the sophistication or willingness to challenge the valuation. Do not expect grand valuations of your enterprise from these professional angels.

Private Equity 106

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 106

Startup Company Lawyer

MARCH 14, 2010

If you don’t, please educate yourself on this site, Venture Hacks and the term sheet series by Brad Feld/Jason Mendelson, among other places. If you really want to understand the nuances in venture capital financing documents, please review the NVCA model venture capital financing documents. . under $500K).

Finance 70

Finance Software Review Term Sheet Liquidation Preference 70

The Equity Kicker

NOVEMBER 20, 2015

Match closed up 23% at a valuation of $3.5bn and Square was up 45% at a valuation of $4.2bn. However in the run up to its IPO Square had indicated it would go out at between $11 and $13 per share, and then ended up at $9, and in October last year Square raised $150m at a $6bn valuation.

IPO 60

IPO Matching Ratchet Valuation 60

Berkonomics

APRIL 6, 2012

Some businesses just can’t fit within the angel capital or friends and family model for raising funds. Sooner or later these businesses will have to seek venture capital and accommodate the needs of the venture community in negotiating the terms of an investment. Email readers, continue here.]

Limited Liability Company 79

Limited Liability Company Post-Money Valuation Valuation Down Round 79

Hippoland

NOVEMBER 13, 2016

The #1 problem with the venture capital game, in general, is that *actual success* is measured over decades not years. If a company raises a good round, it gets marked up to the new value. And if a company takes a down-round, it gets marked down. And if a company takes a down-round, it gets marked down.

IRR 48

IRR Valuation Portfolio Due Diligence 48

www.paulgraham.com

APRIL 28, 2010

Another concept we need to introduce now is valuation. I say "in theory" because in early stageinvesting, valuations are voodoo. As a company gets more established,its valuation gets closer to an actual market value. As a company gets more established,its valuation gets closer to an actual market value. Better how?

Technical Review 76

Technical Review Startup Software Review Angel Investor 76

Feld Thoughts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

Some will demonstrate strategically justifiable metrics and have fantastic ‘up round’ exits; others may see liquidation preferences kick in which will negatively impact founders and employees; others may fulfill the adage “IPO is the new down round” , which has been the case for more than half of the public companies on our list.

Liquidation Preference 70

Liquidation Preference Burn Rate Balance Sheet .Net 70

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2016

Non VC Growth Rounds. The other major trend of 2012–2015 was the entrance of “non VCs” into late-stages of venture capital , which mostly consisted of hedge funds, mutual funds, corporate investors, sovereign wealth funds and even LPs doing direct deals. The market eventually slowed down. Some called this “buying logos.”

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Silicon Valley Burn Rate LP 150

Berkonomics

JANUARY 20, 2010

It is most common to greatly overprice such a round of financing, valuing the enterprise well above what it may be worth at the moment for friend or related investors who do not have the sophistication or willingness to challenge the valuation. Do not expect grand valuations of your enterprise from these professional angels.

Private Equity 69

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 69

thebarefootvc

AUGUST 26, 2015

As someone who invested through the 2001 and 2008 crashes I can assure you that down rounds and fire sales are not fun for anyone involved. Pay attention to who you’re taking money from and aim for a reasonable valuation. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish.

Marketing 40

Marketing Investment Bankers Valuation China 40

thebarefootvc

AUGUST 26, 2015

As someone who invested through the 2001 and 2008 crashes I can assure you that down rounds and fire sales are not fun for anyone involved. Pay attention to who you’re taking money from and aim for a reasonable valuation. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish.

Marketing 40

Marketing Investment Bankers Valuation China 40

thebarefootvc

JULY 26, 2015

As someone who invested through the 2001 and 2008 crashes I can assure you that down rounds and fire sales are not fun for anyone involved. Pay attention to who you’re taking money from and aim for a reasonable valuation. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish.

Marketing 40

Marketing Investment Bankers Valuation China 40