Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

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. And if the company does go public, the valuations are at least 10x of the last bubble. Some have labeled this period as irrational exuberance.

Lean 335

Lean Burn Rate Startup IPO 335

Steve Blank

MARCH 31, 2014

Metrics like Return on Net Assets, Return on Capital and Internal Rate of Return are the guiding stars of the board and CEO. As Harvard professor Clayton Christensen noted, these efficiency metrics provided wise guidance for times when capital was scarce and raising money was hard. Ultimately this is not just another staff function.

Private Equity 325

Private Equity Metrics China Intellectual Property 325

Steve Blank

MARCH 17, 2020

What are the new financial metrics? They triage their deals – first worrying about liquidity of their late stage deals which have the highest valuations. In every major downturn inflated valuations disappear and the few VC’s still writing new checks find it’s a buyer’s market. How do you know? Days of cash left?

Burn Rate 436

Burn Rate Startup Valuation Sales Cycle 436

Steve Blank

MAY 29, 2011

Founders that learn are more successful : Startups that have helpful mentors, track metrics effectively, and learn from startup thought leaders raise 7x more money and have 3.5x However, this does not mean that investors don’t have a significant effect on valuations and M&A). Startup Genome Report. Some of their key findings : 1.

Technical Cofounder 333

Technical Cofounder Early Stage Startup Silicon Valley 333

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Underwriters realized that as long as the public was happy snapping up shares, they could make huge profits on the inflated valuations (regardless of whether or not the company should have ever been public.) The valuations for acquisitions were nothing like the Internet bubble, but there was a path to liquidity, difficult as it was.

Silicon Valley 217

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 217

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

What most founders don’t realize is: Every stage of a startup requires a different set of metrics and milestones and founder skills. What is some of the critical metrics that matter? Note that each market – web/SAAS/physical products – and channel – online/direct sales – has different metrics and a different funnel steps.)For

Cofounder 429

Cofounder Seed Stage Valuation Metrics 429

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 24, 2017

While 20th century metrics were revenue and profit, today it’s common for companies to get acquired for their user base. As long as the CEO’s behavior affects their employees not their customers or valuation, VCs often turn a blind eye. (Today’s version is Tesla – now more valuable than Ford.).

Founder 245

Founder Technical Review CTO Hire IPO 245