Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 28, 2012

The naïve entrepreneur thinks he can relax, after he finally cashes the check from a professional investor, but in reality that’s when the work and the pressure starts. Angel and venture capital investors rarely just give you the cash, and stand back to wait for you to spend it the way you want. Do it with your eyes open.

Advisory Board 241

Advisory Board Entrepreneur Venture Capital Angel Investor 241

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2010

The naïve entrepreneur thinks he can relax, after he finally cashes the check from a professional investor, but in reality that’s when the work and the pressure starts. Angel and venture capital investors rarely just give you the cash, and stand back to wait for you to spend it the way you want. Do it with your eyes open.

Advisory Board 231

Advisory Board Entrepreneur Venture Capital Angel Investor 231

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

There’s another issue I can add to your list of things to be aware of – information rights. Generally speaking in venture capital financings the legal documents will specify that only “major investors” (a threshold set in the agreement – which can be $500,000 investor or more). You betcha.

SEC 352

SEC Venture Capital Early Stage Cofounder 352

Genuine VC

JULY 10, 2012

There are essentially two distinct basic strategies for startup entrepreneurs to raise a seed round of capital: Subscription approach – An entrepreneur sets a structure (usually a convertible note) and recruits individual angel investors who subscribe to the round, all without a term-driving lead investor.

Syndicate 207

Syndicate Syndication Seed Stage Portfolio 207

Startup Company Lawyer

MARCH 14, 2010

My general opinion is that anything that makes the financing process faster and easier or otherwise educates entrepreneurs is a good thing. (A In addition, I think that a “peace treaty&# between early-stage investors and startup companies on standard terms (at least at a term sheet level) is a step in the right direction.

Finance 70

Finance Software Review Term Sheet Liquidation Preference 70

Startup Company Lawyer

AUGUST 31, 2012

Ted Wang believes that the “reason that capped convertible debt is the current market leader is that entrepreneurs have been conditioned over time to believe that convertible debt is (a) faster (b) cheaper and (c) better for them than equity investment.” The YC Series AA documents contain similar provisions.

Convertible Security 73

Convertible Security Equity Security Preferred Stock 73

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 14, 2009

And what I mostly want to do is make entrepreneurs aware that they have nearly as much power as a real board member so you may have more people making decisions at board meeting than you thought you would. This is the real board position that entrepreneurs should concern themselves with. What exactly is a board observer?

Advisory Board 215

Advisory Board Strategic Investors Venture Capital Later Stage 215