Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

They might be ideas they hatch internally (via a Foundry) or a founder who just left SpaceX and raises money to search for an idea. two founders in a garage?—?(HP The most connected and high-potential founders start with wads of cash. You have seed rounds but you now have “pre-seed rounds.” HP Style) are dead.

Pre-Money Valuation 471

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Venture Capital Early Stage 471

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 28, 2018

There’s a quick litmus-test conversation any early-stage VC will have with the founder and it’s one that you should be as prepared for as your elevator pitch. It goes something like this … VC: “How much money are you raising?” Founder: “$8–10 million” VC: “What’s your current burn rate?” Founder: “$250k / month.”

Burn Rate 247

Burn Rate Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Dilution 247

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

I’ve decided to take all of my private conversations and subjective points-of-view on the topic and make them public in a keynote speech at the Founder Showcase in San Francisco on June 15th. It’s the one bit of advice I find myself giving most frequently these days, “raise money at the top end of normal.&#.

Pre-Money Valuation 336

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Silicon Valley Stock 336

Gust

OCTOBER 20, 2011

This method compares the target company to typical angel-funded startup ventures and adjusts the average valuation of recently funded companies in the region to establish a pre-money valuation of the target. In most regions, the pre-money valuation does not vary significantly from one business sector to another.

Valuation 146

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Intellectual Property Technical Review 146

Berkonomics

JANUARY 28, 2021

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked away from deals where the entrepreneur insists on a start-up pre-money valuation that is so high, no angel could expect to make a return upon the investment, even with a reasonable sales price for the company down the road. Lessons founders learned. Here’s the “what.”.

Early Stage 62

Early Stage Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Cofounder 62

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

That’s because obtaining a pre-money valuation for a concept level technology company in excess of $1 million is difficult, particularly for a startup founder without a proven track record. million early-stage raise that involved pitching to over a dozen PE firms, which took months to negotiate.

Private Equity 94

Private Equity Pre-Money Valuation Equity Startup 94

The Startup Magazine

SEPTEMBER 12, 2019

Tempted by large sums of money and the perceived validation that comes along with being funded, founders turn to venture capitalists to accelerate their company’s growth. While the rewards may be a boon to their company in the short term, the consequences of accepting outside funding too early can be debilitating.

Early Stage 85

Early Stage Venture Capital Bootstrapping Pre-Money Valuation 85

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

In fact, most early investor work hard to help their startups get to the next level so it makes no sense for the angel investor and founders to be at odds. Convertible debt WITH a cap is stupid for founders. You rarely find full ratchets in early-stage deals any more. Investors call Bull Cap. Enter “the cap.”

Ratchet 354

Ratchet Liquidation Preference Equity Stock 354

View from Seed

OCTOBER 21, 2014

Using NextView as an example, since we both seek to lead the seed round and only lead during this round, I’ve seen this trend manifest in one of two ways: In a priced round, the entrepreneur will often share their valuation ask (or a stated floor) for the pre-money valuation of their company much sooner in the process.

Valuation 336

Valuation Founder Seed Stage Angel Investor 336

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

For instance, the cap table will help you with various possibilities while running business activities like available options and pre-money valuations faster. The data presents a historical insight on a cap table that can affect the valuation of your startup when it comes time for a new round of fundraising.

Cap Table 112

Cap Table Pre-Money Valuation Stock Options Option Pool 112

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. How much is NewCo worth to investors at this point (pre-money valuation)?

Valuation 270

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation NPV Intellectual Property 270

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

Dave Kerpen, founder and CEO of Likeable Local , just published an interview with me on Linkedin, which I’ve included below. Enter Dave: Angel investing is a great way to make a lot of money. It’s also a fast way to lose all your money. Angels are likely to lose some or all of their money on any given investment.

Angel Investor 114

Angel Investor Technical Review Venture Capital Pre-Money Valuation 114

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 27, 2014

I believe the middle isn’t being “gutted” but rather is being supplemented by “opportunity funds” and “growth funds” that sit side-by-side “core funds” allowing the firms to stay small and nimble while still being able to grab prorata rights of their best early-stage investments.

Valuation 309

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Later Stage Non-Compete 309

Gust

JULY 23, 2014

You can find this in a number of places, but in a nutshell, I prefer to invest in highly-scalable, technology-based ventures, with a particular focus on platforms, at a very, very early stage (but, oxymoronically, where there is already some type of traction).

Angel Investor 153

Angel Investor Elevator Pitch Pre-Money Valuation Technical Review 153

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. How much is NewCo worth to investors at this point (pre-money valuation)?

Pre-Money Valuation 246

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation NPV Intellectual Property 246

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

million at a $15 million pre-money valuation. We had people hearing through the grapevine that we were about to raise money and new investors started calling us to get in on the deal. My co-founder and other management team members wanted us to hold off and see whether we could get the deal done at a higher price.

Technical Review 301

Technical Review Term Sheet Due Diligence Venture Capital 301

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 15, 2016

The earlier the round, the less capital you need and the more reasonable your valuation the less time that is needed generally to raise capital. In other words, raising $2 million at a $6 million pre-money valuation has always been easier & quicker than raising $20 million at any valuation.

Burn Rate 150

Burn Rate Cap Table Valuation Software Review 150

Berkonomics

JANUARY 7, 2021

Think of startups and early stage businesses whose entrepreneurs you know. Email readers, continue here…] Often, if not co-founders, this group is rewarded through issuance of stock options from a pool of available options that usually totals 15-20% of the total company’s equity divided among all employees.

Liquidity Event 96

Liquidity Event Pre-Money Valuation Cofounder Initial Public Offering 96

Agile VC

MAY 26, 2011

Many assume it was a cakewalk, based on the success LinkedIn has enjoyed over time and the current stature of our founder/CEO Reid Hoffman (now Chairman). I thought I’d revisit it and share the story… First, you have to rewind mentally to early 2003. But keep in mind at this point Reid’s a first-time CEO.

Term Sheet 178

Term Sheet Silicon Valley Technical Review Social Network 178

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2015

In the old days VCs funded off of a “pre-money” valuation. If you add the pre-money valuation (let’s say $8 million) to the amount of money you’re raising (let’s say $2 million) you get the post-money valuation. It’s very simple.

Pre-Money Valuation 150

Pre-Money Valuation Option Pool Post-Money Valuation Dilution 150

Gust

NOVEMBER 18, 2012

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. How much is NewCo worth to investors at this point (pre-money valuation)?

Valuation 187

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation NPV Intellectual Property 187

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. How much is NewCo worth to investors at this point (pre-money valuation)?

Valuation 234

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation NPV Startup 234

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

by Paul Towers, founder & CEO of Task Pigeon. For startup founders and CEO’s it’s also just as common to see them place too much focus on the amount of money raised, and the pre-money valuation, rather than the value that each investor can bring to the table. Plus, founders and entrepreneurs talk.

Pre-Money Valuation 187

Pre-Money Valuation Seed Stage IP Deal Flow 187

Hippoland

AUGUST 31, 2018

So, I thought it might make sense to take a step back and talk about all the stages of early stage fundraising here in the Silicon Valley. In early stage investing, at least in Silicon Valley, there are basically 4 stages: pre-seed, seed, post-seed (or pre-A), and series A.

Pre-Money Valuation 90

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Silicon Valley Early Stage 90

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2016

As an entrepreneur looking for professional investors, one of the quickest ways to lose credibility and get rejected is to start with a ridiculously high pre-money valuation. Equally bad is professing no valuation estimate at all, asking investors to “make me an offer.” Team strength and experience is value.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Startup 120

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 30, 2018

What was the post money on your last round (and how much capital have you raised)? It’s not uncommon for a VC to ask you how much capital you’ve raised and what the post-money valuation was on your last round. If you’re raising at $40 million pre then you might be out of their strike zone. is to start with just the data.

Valuation 324

Valuation Post-Money Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Cofounder 324

Hippoland

AUGUST 31, 2018

So, I thought it might make sense to take a step back and talk about all the stages of early stage fundraising here in the Silicon Valley. In early stage investing, at least in Silicon Valley, there are basically 4 stages: pre-seed, seed, post-seed (or pre-A), and series A.

Pre-Money Valuation 48

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Silicon Valley Early Stage 48

The Startup Lawyer

FEBRUARY 4, 2011

But before your startup signs up and cashes that $[XX,000] check, your startup’s co-founders should sit down and evaluate the incubator’s offer. The following are some issues to consider and actions to take before accepting an incubator’s offer: (1) Calculate Valuation and Determine Value.

Incubator 105

Incubator Pre-Money Valuation Option Pool Advisory Board 105

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 19, 2013

If you are an investor in an early stage venture, wouldn’t a dialog using these questions help greatly in defining and perhaps reducing your risk? When will the company run out of money if the development of the enterprise is at a slower rate than expected? How much skin do you and your fellow founders have in the game ?

Pre-Money Valuation 105

Pre-Money Valuation Liquidity Event Cofounder Valuation 105

K9 Ventures

MARCH 23, 2011

An uncapped convertible note misaligns the incentives between the founders and the investors/note holders. The founders’ interest is to maximize the valuation of the company at the time of a follow-on financing, thereby minimizing founder dilution. Every first time founder needs to learn what it means to manage a board.

Pre-Money Valuation 132

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Equity Liquidation Preference 132

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

An average of these ranges results in a pre-money valuation of about $4MM.   If similarly situated companies are seeing $3.5MM pre-money valuations, this might become the target valuation.   A cumulative dividend can get to be very expensive and is not often a feature in early stage terms.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Rob Go

AUGUST 29, 2016

When I first started out as a VC nearly 9 years ago, most early stage company valuations were expressed as pre-money valuations. That is, the valuation of the company prior to the investment of new capital. Today, nearly all early stage term sheets I see are expressed as post-money valuations.

Post-Money Valuation 52

Post-Money Valuation Valuation Cap Table Term Sheet 52

Feld Thoughts

JULY 14, 2015

But instead of adding it on to the note or doing an equity round with a price, which could still be an early stage price but below the cap, they make the argument that since the company couldn’t raise a round, the company is worthless. So the new investment gets 60%, the founders get 39.9%, and the $1m of seed money gets 0.1%.

Recapitalization 70

Recapitalization Pre-Money Valuation Post-Money Valuation Angel Investor 70

Gust

OCTOBER 21, 2011

In descending order of preference from the founders’ point of view: 1. Assuming a hypothetical $100,000 investment at a 10% interest rate, this kind of payoff would yield a return of $5,000 ( 5% ) six months later – not exactly the kind of return angel investors are looking for when they make risky early stage investments.

Finance 79

Finance Pre-Money Valuation Term Sheet Liquidity Event 79

Feld Thoughts

JULY 29, 2011

Finance Friday’s gets off the ground with today’s post by introducing you to an imaginary startup, the entrepreneurs that we’ll being following throughout the series, and their first challenges: splitting up the founders’ equity and addressing the case where one of the founders provides the initial seed capital for the business.

Equity 137

Equity Finance Pre-Money Valuation Denver 137

David Teten

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

I would hope that a competent founder could easily educate herself about what information an investor wants with some basic research. I’ve listed below the points I recommend you cover when pitching your business to early-stage investors, including but definitely not limited to ff Venture Capital.

Venture Capital 60

Venture Capital Pre-Money Valuation Prospectus Early Stage 60

Professor VC

JANUARY 17, 2008

Again, I see nothing wrong with this, although entrepreneurs often prefer convertible debt as it defers the valuation discussion and leaves the Series A price for the venture firm to set. He also said they typically only invest at a $1 million pre-money valuation or less. for a total of $10.5M

Pre-Money Valuation 28

Pre-Money Valuation Angel Investor Angel Groups Valuation 28