David Teten

JANUARY 19, 2021

From traditional equity VC, Flexible VC borrows the option to pursue and reap the rewards of an outsized exit. Flexible VC 101: Equity Meets Revenue Share. Equity Ownership. Yes, typically preferred equity. On average, founders own just 43% of equity by Series B , declining thereafter. Flexible VC 102: Variations.

Cofounder 78

Cofounder Technical Review Equity Dividend 78

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

When you accept outside money, particularly a private equity (PE) investment, however, that changes. In this article, I’ll provide some personal stories of how investors have navigated the balance between raising private equity capital and not losing control of their startup. You make all the decisions, when you want, how you want.

Private Equity 94

Private Equity Pre-Money Valuation Equity Startup 94

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Angel investors and venture capitalists don’t make equity investments in non-profits. Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? Marty Zwilling.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Individual and institutional donations.

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Individual and institutional donations.

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

Steve Blank

APRIL 26, 2022

At the turn of the century after the dotcom crash, startup valuations plummeted, burn rates were unsustainable, and startups were quickly running out of cash. Most existing investors (those still in business) hoarded their money and stopped doing follow-on rounds until the rubble had cleared. They’re Back.

Cram Down 408

Cram Down Founder Venture Capital Recapitalization 408

Tim Keane

MARCH 9, 2011

. | How to prepare a sales forecast for a business plan » March 09, 2011. How should I finance my new venture? It’s a deceptively simple question:  what is the optimal way to finance a new startup? This seems like an easy topic – debt where there is appropriate cash flow, equity when there isn’t. 

Finance 83

Finance Bootstrapping Startup Equity 83

Steve Blank

MARCH 31, 2014

Cheered on by finance professors, Wall Street analysts, investors and hedge funds, companies have learned how to make metrics like Internal Rate of Return look great by one; outsourcing everything, two, getting assets off their balance sheet, and three only investing in things that pay off fast. We legalized robbing the corporate treasury.

Private Equity 326

Private Equity Metrics China Intellectual Property 326

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

But this mania to not miss out on the next big thing is driving some investors to pay growth-equity prices for traditional market risk (as in, they’re paying up before it is clear there is product / market fit). And for some that means that despite waiting they may see worse valuations in the future than now. Have a cushion.

Saudi Arabia 309

Saudi Arabia Valuation IPO Technical Review 309

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2021

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, or an existing business, and haven’t yet sized any of these opportunities, you may be already late to the game. One consequence of the new sharing business model is that goods become services. Access to assets in a community leads to a reduced need to own.

Cuba 316

Cuba Venture Capital Community Valuation 316

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Small Business Success | Mondays and Thursdays. The Goods: Your Business Toolbox | Thursdays. Finance | Tuesdays. Todays Small Business News | Daily. Financing a Small Business. Buying a Small Business. RUNNING A BUSINESS. Financing A Small Business. Business Taxes.

Arizona 40

Arizona Equity Iowa Venture Capital 40

David Teten

AUGUST 20, 2019

Many are reporting that they’re seeing a more diverse pool of applicants than traditional equity VCs… even though virtually none have a particular focus on women or underrepresented founders. I’ve been a traditional equity VC for 8 years, and I’m now researching new business models in venture capital.

Revenue 60

Revenue Cofounder Founder Venture Capital 60

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Term-sheets and Valuations: Thinking about Negotiations.   I’ve sat down with entrepreneurs and a copy of a term sheet guide I like [ “Term Sheets & Valuations - A Line by Line Look at the Intricacies of Venture Capital Term Sheets & Valuations ” by Alex Wilmerding, Aspatore Press.] The Valuation Question.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

Most technologists have little interest in the mechanics of starting and building a business. That’s why I recommend that they find a co-founder who loves business challenges, including marketing and finance. Outside investors are most interested in scaling a proven business model, not research and development.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Intellectual Property Cofounder Bootstrapping 120

genylabs.typepad.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Working for Equity Instead of Cash. has an article on service firms waiving their fees and instead taking equity in their clients. Interest in this waned when the Internet bust resulted in most tech start-up equity becoming worthless, but it seems to be coming back. Not all start-up stock is created equally.

Equity 40

Equity Technical Review San Jose Stock 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2010

Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? There is no discussion of equity, or return on investment. Individual and institutional donations.

Angel Investor 143

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 143

ReadWriteStart

JULY 17, 2023

The platform has raised over $225 million through equity and debt financing to date. Furlenco’s innovative business model has disrupted the traditional furniture industry in India. On the other hand, Sheela Foam will benefit from Furlenco’s innovative business model and expertise in the furniture rental space.

India 104

India Acquisition Merger Curation 104

Austin Startup

FEBRUARY 13, 2019

Consider convertible debt Before diving into a seed round, you may want to consider convertible debt over equity financing. Our strategic investor had a major impact on the way we shaped our business model, and we owe a lot of our success to his advice. With that in mind, we were not shy about being picky.

Strategic Investors 49

Strategic Investors Austin Angel Investor Bootstrapping 49

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, or an existing business, and haven’t yet sized any of these opportunities, you may be already late to the game. One consequence of the new sharing business model is that goods become services. Access to assets in a community leads to a reduced need to own.

Cuba 246

Cuba Venture Capital Community Valuation 246

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

Whether it is credit or equity, funding is very, very tight. VCs ONLY want to invest in momentum deals, which means you already have serious customer validation and traction and you are looking to raise money to scale your business. I call it drip-financing. In 1M/1M, our preferred financing strategy is customers.

Cloud 115

Cloud Silicon Valley Incubator Finance 115

Version One Ventures

OCTOBER 15, 2020

Let’s now explore the major developments and ultimate use cases for the Lightning Network in two categories: A) payments/finance and B) Web3. . Use Case I: Payments and Finance . In this post, I outlined why the Lightning Network matters and recent developments around its two major use cases: payments/finance and Web3. .

Networking 168

Networking Global OTC Security 168

VC Cafe

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

While the answers are somewhat semantic, the pre-seed funding round is making a comeback in 2024 startup financing. In smaller funds, ticket sizes tend to be lower, so pre-seed is the only stage where micro funds are able to secure their minimum equity targets. Pre-seed tends to be about developing an MVP and generating early traction.

Valuation 186

Valuation Software Review Generative AI Technical Review 186

Austin Startup

AUGUST 20, 2017

They’re looking to be paid properly in the context of the overall salary structure, including cash, benefits, and equity, and to be paid commensurate with performance. Keep the valuations consistent with company progress. Messy cap tables can come back to haunt you when you do a financing or sell the company.

Technical Review 48

Technical Review Software Review Cap Table Securities and Exchange Commission 48

Duct Tape Marketing

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

So, you know, I, I have kids that are in their thirties and I'm envisioning a purple dinosaur that I did a a lot of watching with, but I guess there's also Smith Barney, which is certainly in the finance space, but I'm sure you have and Barney. Are they all SMBs small businesses or do you have enterprise really big clients?

Entrepreneur 79

Entrepreneur Technical Review Cofounder Valuation 79

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2014

Even a small investor in the early days will take a large equity percentage, due to that pesky valuation challenge. At least wait until later, when you ready to scale, and have some “leverage” based on a proven business model, some real customers, and real revenue.

Bootstrapping 276

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Burn Rate 276

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 27, 2011

And, oh by the way, we also really like the idea of the 1M/1M entrepreneurs building valuation and negotiating leverage through these business development efforts, instead of signing off large chunks of their company in form of equity early on. The business is already profitable with $2.9 million in revenue.

Dilution 114

Dilution Revenue Finance Entrepreneur 114

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2016

Too many entrepreneurs put their best creative thinking into the startup idea, and believe that the business implementation simply requires following tried and true business practices. To win, you need to think outside the box to deliver a better customer experience, business model, and new positioning.

Retention 120

Retention Valuation Equity Analytics 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2013

Even a small investor in the early days will take a large equity percentage, due to that pesky valuation challenge. At least wait until later, when you ready to scale, and have some “leverage” based on a proven business model, some real customers, and real revenue.

Startup 264

Startup Burn Rate Bootstrapping Valuation 264

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

3) invest in and take equity stakes in exchange for capital. 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.) times the last whole business and credit cycle. At best. ~

Silicon Valley 223

Silicon Valley IPO Technical Review Venture Capital 223

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2016

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, or an existing business, and haven’t yet sized any of these opportunities, you may be already late to the game. One consequence of the new sharing business model is that goods become services. Access to assets in a community leads to a reduced need to own.

Cuba 120

Cuba Marketing Venture Capital Community 120

Austin Startup

MARCH 23, 2017

Digital ink has been spilled across the interwebs these past two weeks on the issues with different types of venture financings. To briefly recap: 3/12 : Fred Wilson discussed why he dislikes convertible notes and SAFEs, and how priced equity rounds make more sense at the seed level. instrument (for a lack of a better name).

Dilution 54

Dilution Equity Warrant Distribution 54

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 18, 2016

Make no mistake, starting your own business is indeed gratifying that way, but not all startups are an escape from a regular job. The business model and investors play a critical role in shaping the independence and work-style of an entrepreneur. Investors are much more than just people putting up money in exchange for equity.

Startup 100

Startup Equity Bootstrapping Early Stage 100

Gust

DECEMBER 7, 2014

Even a small investor in the early days will take a large equity percentage, due to that pesky valuation challenge. At least wait until later, when you ready to scale, and have some “leverage” based on a proven business model, some real customers, and real revenue.

Bootstrapping 191

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Burn Rate 191

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2015

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, or an existing business, and haven’t yet sized any of these opportunities, you may be already late to the game. One consequence of the new sharing business model is that goods become services. Access to assets in a community leads to a reduced need to own.

Cuba 120

Cuba Entrepreneur Venture Capital Community 120

Transformify

JULY 23, 2018

It is a grant, not an equity funding. The startups are not selling equity or issuing new shares. Business valuation or investor background is among the expert evaluator’s selection criteria. Does your idea and business model have the potential to scale internationally? Why non-dilutive?

Intellectual Property 66

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Dilution Startup 66

Agile VC

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

So their revenue figures, pre IPO financing and ownership, and other info is all widely available. I thought I’d provide a little analysis of Twitter based on their S-1, but also strive to put it in a broader context of other consumer internet businesses and where we are in the current tech cycle. From Google Finance.

IPO 194

IPO Aggregator B2B Internet 194

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

Private equity and venture capital investors are copying our sisters in the hedge fund world: we’re trying to automate more of our job. . In the private equity universe, most Partners have primary training as deal-makers, not as managers. (To see the video above, please click the image, and then click on the Play button.).

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78