Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

The topic of &# strategic&# investors came up. And I had 2 “strategic&# investors in my first company. What is a “strategic&# investor and why do you keep putting the word “strategic&# in quotes? Keep that in mind when you’re thinking about ’strategic’ money.

Strategic Investors 279

Strategic Investors Venture Capital Due Diligence Early Stage 279

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2019

Strategic Investors ?—?This In some instances strategic investors prefer not to take board seats as it might be their corporate policy. In other situations they might be writing smaller checks but want to be present at board meetings for strategic rationale.

Strategic Investors 255

Strategic Investors Startup Stock Options Venture Capital 255

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2009

You have a “strategic investor&# who wants to invest in your B round as long as a financial investor will lead. Your A round investors are not stepping up. - I will talk about how to deal with skeletons in my next post – this post only covers issues that the VC will for sure be thinking in your first meeting.

Venture Capital 264

Venture Capital Due Diligence Flash Strategic Investors 264

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 21, 2009

Strategic investors are looking to consolidate their positions : The top 6 buyers in tech & media account for 27% of all purchases. Jamie’s view is that the healthiest company in any sector will still command outsized returns (e.g. Pure Digital to Cisco) but that even the 2nd largest will get much lover valuations.

Technical Review 241

Technical Review IPO Southern California Venture Capital 241

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 14, 2009

The third scenario I’ve seen is with “strategic&# investors. Strategic is often a euphemism for investors that are from the industry you serve rather than from a purely financial investor. I’ll cover strategic investors in a different post.

Advisory Board 215

Advisory Board Strategic Investors Venture Capital Later Stage 215

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2010

Evan and I met regularly over a three year period from the time he was running Flux, which he sold to Viacom ( who was his strategic investor ). This is his third company that is in this related space and he was an early investor in Adconion.

Mobile 282

Mobile Management Southern California Application Development 282

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 16, 2012

Some “strategic investors” have rules that they can’t sit on board seats. There are times where you want two partners from a fund to be involved and you give one an observer role. Just know that two partners talking = 2x the board influence. Board observer roles are a graceful way around this.

Strategic Investors 289

Strategic Investors Early Stage Partner Naming 289