Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2014

Thus I’m getting more questions on new mechanisms, like crowd funding, and an old one long out of favor, the so-called “reverse merger.” It better be an established company, with millions of dollars in annual revenue and profits, following generally accepted accounting, reporting, and audit procedures.

Merger 246

Merger OTC IPO Stock 246

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Even still, in the context of all three points, I recommend that you evaluate the most common exit alternatives and considerations, and integrate the right one into your startup strategy and plan: M&A - merger or acquisition by another company. IPO – public company initial public stock offering. You can kick-off your next startup.

Exit Strategy 289

Exit Strategy Entrepreneur IPO Startup 289

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2023

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue).

Angel Investor 313

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 313

ReadWriteStart

OCTOBER 2, 2021

And even though an LLC is legally required to report its revenues, profits, and losses, it does not have to pay corporate income taxes on profits. If a founder’s goal is to grow the business for some time and exit by selling the company, through merger/acquisition, or through IPO, then the corporation (C-Corp) structure might be the best.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review LLC IPO Stock 78

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Five Quarters of Profitability During the 1980’s and through the mid 1990’s startups going public had to do something that most companies today never heard of – they had to show a track record of increasing revenue and consistent profitability. There was now a public market for companies with no revenue, no profit and big claims.

Silicon Valley 217

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 217

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2013

This requires a visible focus on the company’s revenue model, the costs to get there, and cash on hand. That means merger and acquisition (M&A), not initial public offering (IPO). They bet on the jockey, not the horse. Funding risk. Will the startup be able to get to self-sustaining mode before it runs out of cash?

Cram Down 269

Cram Down Angel Investor Intellectual Property Venture Capital 269

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2016

Premium ventures need real traction, such as 100 million users, 10 million in revenue, or brand recognition around the world. Additional defensibility elements that unicorn investors look for include speed of implementation, rate of revenue and user growth, and exceptional team strength and leadership.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Valuation Merger Exit Strategy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

Even still, in the context of all three points, I recommend that you evaluate the most common exit alternatives and considerations, and integrate the right one into your startup strategy and plan: M&A - merger or acquisition by another company. IPO – public company initial public stock offering. You can kick-off your next startup.

Equity 120

Equity Exit Strategy Private Equity Startup 120

YoungUpstarts

MAY 6, 2019

How much revenue are you generating on an annual basis? These partnerships need to bring in more revenue. There is a complete process to go for an IPO. After an IPO, you can retire and get a new management to work for the company. After an IPO, you can retire and get a new management to work for the company.

Startup 104

Startup Technical Cofounder Merger Early Stage 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue).

Angel Investor 370

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 370

VC Cafe

JANUARY 15, 2024

With the IPO window closed, growth funding severely dwindled and multiples down as a result of the public market, unicorns face tough choices in 2024. With limited options for liquidity (M&A or IPO) and significantly less growth capital, unicorns face an uncertain future. trillion, according to CB Insights.

IPO 88

IPO Valuation Private Equity 88

VC Cafe

AUGUST 2, 2022

billion revenue in 2021 for Epic Games and was played by 83.3 billion merger with IronSource , an Israeli scale-up specialising in mobile gaming monetisation might also position them as a big player in crypto gaming – offering developers the ability to integrate a simplified crypto wallet into their games in the near future.

IP 206

IP Cofounder Valuation Acquisition 206

VC Cafe

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

billion a 125% increased compared to the equivalent period in 2020, the number of Unicorns, private companies valued at $1 billion or more has grown significantly, with several companies achieving “Decacorn” status – achieving valuations of $10 billion and up, including eToro , soon to complete a SPAC merger, and Rapyd payments.

Lock-up Period 218

Lock-up Period Merger IPO 218

NZ Entrepreneur

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

Addressing real world problems, they thrive in uncertainty, generating new jobs and new revenue streams in new markets. Generating liquidity usually entails either selling the venture or an IPO. It is our startup sector which will drive this innovative progress. Startup founders are our ambitious problem solvers. pivot the business.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Software Review New Zealand Due Diligence 88

VC Cafe

OCTOBER 24, 2022

It remains to be seen what the outcomes will be in 2022 as the exit markets are less active and the IPO window is closed, but assuming the merger gets approved, we’ve already seen Activision’s $70 billion acquisition by Microsoft and Twitter’s potential $40 billion takeover by Elon Musk. appeared first on VC Cafe.

B2C 103

B2C IPO B2B 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2015

Thus I’m getting more questions on new mechanisms, like crowd funding, or going public through the backdoor as a reverse merger. It better be an established company, with millions of dollars in annual revenue and profits, following generally accepted accounting, reporting, and audit procedures. Yet reverse mergers are not all bad.

Merger 120

Merger OTC IPO Due Diligence 120

Ben's Blog

MAY 24, 2021

IPO market. There are a number of trends concerning IPOs and capital formation to note: First, the raw number of IPOs has declined significantly: From 1980-2000, the US averaged roughly 300 IPOs per year; from 2001-2016, the average fell to 108 per year. In the first quarter of 2021 alone, SPACs raised $87.9

SEC 36

SEC Accredited Investor IPO Technical Review 36

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2018

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue).

Angel Investor 184

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 184

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2014

Aggressive revenue projections and growth rate. Revenue in the fifth year should be at least $20 million, with a growth rate average of 100% per year. In other words, revenue projections are not the place to be too conservative or wildly optimistic. Gross margins greater than 50%. Show red ink to match your funding request.

Liquidity Event 249

Liquidity Event Equity Venture Capital Merger 249

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2012

Assuming your startup takes off, you will probably find that the fun is gone by the time you reach 50 employees, or a few million in revenue. So here are the most common exit strategies and considerations these days for planning purposes: Merger & Acquisition (M&A). Initial Public Offering (IPO). Make it your cash cow.

Exit Strategy 241

Exit Strategy Initial Public Offering IPO Startup 241

Steve Blank

MARCH 18, 2011

Dot.com Bubble ( 1995-2000): “ Anything goes” as public markets clamor for ideas, vague promises of future growth, and IPOs happen absent regard for history or profitability. VC’s worked with entrepreneurs to build profitable and scalable businesses, with increasing revenue and consistent profitability – quarter after quarter.

Internet 334

Internet IPO Silicon Valley Agile 334

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2014

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue).

Angel Investor 232

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 232

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2013

Aggressive revenue projections and growth rate. Revenue in the fifth year should be at least $20 million, with a growth rate average of 100% per year. In other words, revenue projections are not the place to be too conservative or wildly optimistic. Gross margins greater than 50%. Show red ink to match your funding request.

Liquidity Event 243

Liquidity Event Startup Equity Venture Capital 243

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2011

Assuming your startup takes off, you will probably find that the fun is gone by the time you reach 50 employees, or a few million in revenue. So here are the most common exit strategies and considerations these days for planning purposes: Merger & Acquisition (M&A). Initial Public Offering (IPO). Make it your cash cow.

Exit Strategy 231

Exit Strategy Initial Public Offering Startup IPO 231

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2012

In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Project both revenues and expense totals for next five years, and past three years. What is the planned exit strategy (IPO, merger, sale, including likely candidates)? Business model. Financial projections. Exit strategy.

Elevator Pitch 247

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 247

Steve Blank

JULY 15, 2010

The collapse of the IPO market and dysfunctional math in the venture capital community has stacked the odds against you. Startup lifecycle in an IPO Market. Until 1995 startups going public typically had a track record of revenue and profits. Netscape’s 1995 IPO changed the rules. Here’s why. Source: NVCA.).

Venture Capital 297

Venture Capital IPO Liquidity Event Entrepreneur 297

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2016

For example, if you have a proven product, real revenue, a big potential market, and are ready to scale up the business, every investor will be interested. On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue).

Matching 120

Matching Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution. In this section, you need to be passionate about revenue, profit, and volume growth. Many people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it assumes at least 100M users and $50M investment. Exit strategy.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

At this stage, your startup better be selling a commercial offering, have price and cost validated, with significant customer sales and a real revenue stream. This normally means more then 30 employees, and more then $1 million in revenue. Lesser amounts remain in the angel realm. Growth stage. Exit stage.

Investment Bankers 241

Investment Bankers Venture Capital Startup Initial Public Offering 241

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 11, 2015

This compensation can come in the form of a stock option , a stock appreciation right, or a similar financial instrument, which can potentially be quite lucrative for employees at the time of a merger, acquisition or initial public offering (IPO). A company can have value, even if there is no current income or revenue.

Valuation 100

Valuation Stock Options CPA Merger 100

Gust

AUGUST 10, 2014

Aggressive revenue projections and growth rate. Revenue in the fifth year should be at least $20 million, with a growth rate average of 100% per year. In other words, revenue projections are not the place to be too conservative or wildly optimistic. Gross margins greater than 50%. Show red ink to match your funding request.

Liquidity Event 176

Liquidity Event Equity Venture Capital Merger 176

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Project both revenues and expense totals for next five years, and past three years. What is the planned exit strategy (IPO, merger, sale, including likely candidates)? Business model. Financial projections. Exit strategy.

Elevator Pitch 234

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 234

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2010

For entrepreneurs who want to learn about how to work with investment banks, how to position yourself to be acquired and what the IPO markets look like this is the episode to watch. You have to be selected to present and it is typically reserved for companies that have already raised early-stage capital and are well into revenue growth.

IPO 242

IPO Venture Capital Private Placement Cofounder 242

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution. In this section, you need to be passionate about revenue, profit, and volume growth. Many people seem to use the social network advertising model for revenue, but forget it assumes at least 100M users and $50M investment. Exit strategy.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

In this section, you need to be passionate about recurring revenue, profit margin, and volume growth. Project both revenues and expense totals for next five years, and past three years. What is the planned exit strategy (IPO, merger, sale, including likely candidates)? Business model. Financial projections. Exit strategy.

Elevator Pitch 235

Elevator Pitch Exit Strategy Burn Rate Merger 235

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2010

At this stage, your startup better be selling a commercial offering, have price and cost validated, with significant customer sales and a real revenue stream. This normally means more then 30 employees, and more then $1 million in revenue. Lesser amounts remain in the angel realm. Growth stage. Exit stage.

Investment Bankers 231

Investment Bankers Venture Capital Startup Initial Public Offering 231

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

What are your forecasts for revenue, expenses and cash flow? Technically, this is your exit strategy, usually a merger and acquisition (M&A) or initial public stock offering (IPO). Since investors are buying a part of your company (not your product), this is the most important question, and is one often not answered.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Advisory Board Liquidity Event Startup 120