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10 Realities Today Cause Startups To Bypass An IPO

Startup Professionals Musings

Today the rate of startups going public (IPO – Initial Public Offering) is up from the dead zone, but is still half the rate back before 2000. In my view, the key reasons that IPOs have lost their luster from an entrepreneur and investor perspective include the following: The US IPO process is still stumbling.

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Praying to the God of Valuation

Both Sides of the Table

We had nascent revenues, ridiculous cost structures and unrealistic valuations. Within 5 years I was on the board of real businesses with meaningful revenue, strong balance sheets, no debt and on the path to a few interesting exits. Until we weren’t. 2001–2007: THE BUILDING YEARS The dot com bubble had burst. I am having fun again.

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Will Your Startup Get Venture Capital or IPO in 2013?

Startup Professionals Musings

Based on the final report for 2012 from Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), it may appear that IPOs are back as a viable startup exit strategy. billion from 49 listings, and represented the strongest annual period for IPOs since 2000. Line up a winning team. Timing is critical.

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M&A or IPO?

Reid Hoffman

The fundamental choice that venture-backed entrepreneurs face is simple: M&A or IPO? prioritize speed over efficiency) when you believe you can build strategic value, even if there are many unknowns and uncertainties around the revenue model. You’re also going to be valuable and attractive as an IPO candidate.

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What Does the Post Crash VC Market Look Like?

Both Sides of the Table

Should SaaS companies trade at a 24x Enterprise Value (EV) to Next Twelve Month (NTM) Revenue multiple as they did in November 2021? But it will be patiently deployed, waiting for a cohort of founders who aren’t artificially clinging to 2021 valuation metrics. What is a VC To Do? I can’t speak for every VC, obviously.

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Is the Lean Startup Dead?

Steve Blank

Jeff Katzenberg has a great track record – head of the studio at Paramount, chairman of Disney Studios, co-founder of DreamWorks and now chairman of NewTV. Tech IPO prices exploded and subsequent trading prices rose to dizzying heights as the stock prices became disconnected from the traditional metrics of revenue and profits.

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How Do I Feel About the Snap IPO Given I Didn’t Invest?

Both Sides of the Table

It was a “disappearing text app” where the founders told me that they named the company because the idea came from how Tiger Woods got caught cheating on his wife because all of his mistresses had evidence that he cheated because they saved text messages from him. How Do I Feel About the Snap IPO Given I Didn’t Invest?

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