VC Adventure

AUGUST 15, 2018

Most boards did some level of work to determine the FMV of a company’s stock but generally options were priced between 10% and 15% of a company’s then preferred price (because common equity sits behind preferred equity there is typically a discount applied to the FMV of common stock to account for this “overhang”).

Valuation 48

Valuation Common Stock Cap Table Software Review 48

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

It’s such a tricky balance between being cost-focused & scrappy versus being impractical with how you spend your time. Great startups have budgets. A great finance leader is on top of your numbers with such precision that you don’t have to worry about it. But alas I must scale with businesses and make money.

Operations 150

Operations Metrics Early Stage Non-Compete 150

Up and Running

DECEMBER 1, 2015

If however you are giving a “normal employee” an incentive stock option plan (more on that later), that’s entirely different. Make sure you understand all of your options before making any decisions. When business owners decide to go down the route of equity compensation, there are two primary options to choose between.

Equity 60

Equity Employee Stock Options Vesting 60

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 1, 2023

By Daniel Sokolovksy, Co-Founder and CEO, WARP and Troy Lester, Co-Founder and CRO, WARP The dissolution of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was more than just a bank collapse, it was a reality check for both startups and the VCs that fund them. So what does an early-stage company do to avoid the doom and gloom plaguing the world of startups?

Early Stage 115

Early Stage Los Angeles Silicon Valley Cofounder 115

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 28, 2022

With the rise of startups and growing businesses , it has become more critical for investors to have a thorough understanding of equity to be aware of all of the advantages they are receiving from the companies they have invested in. Why do startups issue company equity? You have a financial stake in a startup if you have equity.

Valuation 108

Valuation Equity Warrant Common Stock 108

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

It’s like we need a finance 101 course for entrepreneurs. In finance they call it “terminal value” but the truth is the price is as arbitrary at your A round as it is at your seed round. Less than you’ll probably grant your most junior employees in stock options? Stock Option plans.

Venture Capital 417

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2010

Often when startups who have raised venture capital need another round of financing they will turn to their existing investors to give them money before raising from outsiders. a loan) that is later converted to equity at the time of the next financing. It starts as a debt instrument (e.g.

Startup 290

Startup Burn Rate Warrant Bankruptcy 290

Startup Company Lawyer

MAY 1, 2009

Data is analyzed by: founder/non-founder status, company revenue and headcount, geography, business segment, and number of financing rounds raised. CEOs or CFOs of startups in the US, China, India, Israel, or the UK in the technology or life science industry should consider taking the survey. Tags: Stock options.

Stock Options 31

Stock Options CTO Hire Equity 31

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

Startups and entrepreneurs will accumulate bitcoin and cash, hopefully. While investing in stocks, cryptocurrency, and companies can boost your wealth in less time, choosing the right path to take is essential to avoid missing out on growth opportunities. Stock Options. appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Common Stock 103

Common Stock Stock Stock Options Startup 103

Startup Company Lawyer

MARCH 12, 2009

Almost all technology startup companies that I work with are C corps. Any company that raises venture financing will need to be a C corp in order to issue preferred stock. In any event, the S corp election can be easily revoked at the time of a financing. citizen/resident stockholders. Governance/Structure.

LLC 61

LLC Stock Options Preferred Stock Stock 61

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Startups and angels: Along the way to success. For angel groups, the distinction between groups and VCs on this issue is dwindling, especially as angel groups do bigger rounds of financing.   Note that this applies only to earl stage Series A-type equity financings and assumes no cash dividends are paid to investors.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Finance | Tuesdays. Advisor. ); STARTUP. Financing a Small Business. Financing A Small Business. Personal Finance. Before Roving Software could receive its first round of financing from professional investors, in early 1999, he had to put all the stock arrangements in writing. Innovation | Fridays.

Fractional CTO 40

Fractional CTO Equity Iowa Technical Cofounder 40

Scott Edward Walker

APRIL 9, 2012

Introduction We are in the golden age of seed financing. Venture capital funds, seed funds, super angels, angel groups, incubators, and “friends and family” are all playing the seed financing game and investing early in startups in an attempt to land the next Facebook.

Preferred Stock 87

Preferred Stock Finance Common Stock Liquidation Preference 87

ithacaVC

JUNE 20, 2011

Cost is the overriding issue for startups when it comes to properly engaging a lawyer. My general retort on this point is this: expect to incur real lawyer costs and get over it. 4. You are raising money: raising funds requires documentation regardless of type of financing. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Stock Options 58

Stock Options Vesting Subscription Agreement Founder Vesting 58

Gust

DECEMBER 8, 2011

In Part I , I gave a quick summary of the who, when and why of forming and documenting a new startup company. This week we’ll delve into what , exactly, is necessary or desirable to lay a solid legal foundation for a startup to build upon. Pick a name for the new legal entity (e.g., Newco, Inc.”) Yes, it’s a mouthful.

Intellectual Property 139

Intellectual Property Non-disclosure Agreement Delaware Stock 139

Up and Running

JUNE 19, 2015

This week, we hear from Alex Blumberg from Gimlet Media and the Startup Podcast in our new Bcast Bytes segment. Click here to subscribe to the Startup Podcast on iTunes. Alex Blumberg at Internet Week in New York. Photo Credit: Insider Images/Andrew Kelly. Only have time for a Bcast Byte? Sabrina Parsons) – (:31).

Cloud 60

Cloud Small Business Silicon Valley Media 60

Agile VC

FEBRUARY 2, 2012

AGILEVC My idle thoughts on tech startups. I recently wrote a post noting that while the growth cycle of startups has clearly accelerated in the last 5 years, the number of truly monster new businesses (a company ultimately worth $75-100B) remains about the same … it’s a once in a decade sort of thing. February 2, 2012.

IPO 100

IPO South Korea Venezuela Revenue 100

www.copelandfirm.com

OCTOBER 21, 2010

Home About Fee Arrangements Location Referrals Testimonials Business Law HUB Certification Mergers & Acquisitions Startup Advice Intellectual Property Copyrights Trademarks Securities Law Debt and Bridge Financing Series A Startup Law Entity Formation Corporation LLC Series LLC RSS Founders Shares: How do you split them up?

Intellectual Property 40

Intellectual Property Founder Vesting Bridge Financing 40

www.payne.org

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Startup Equity For Employees. 2 Stock Classes: Common and Preferred. 5 Stock vs Options. 6 Founders / Restricted Stock. The re-heating of the venture funded tech market has pushed a heat up of the hiring market, and Im getting more calls from friends asking for help understanding startup stock (equity) offers.

Equity 56

Equity Employee Vesting Preferred Stock 56

Startup Company Lawyer

JULY 20, 2009

Founders of startup companies often wait to incorporate a company until they are confident that their concept is viable or fundable. Incorporating a company and issuing stock to the founders will help prevent misunderstandings among the founders about equity splits. Issuing stock options. Obtaining visas. If a non-U.S.

IP 67

IP Stock Options Preferred Stock Capital Gains 67

venturehacks.com

MARCH 21, 2008

Venture Hacks Good advice for startups. Advisor compensation Whether you’re hiring a normal advisor or super advisor: Advisory shares are usually issued as common stock options. The options typically vest monthly over 1-2 years with 100% single-trigger acceleration and no cliff. Disclaimer: This is not legal advice.

Advisory Board 44

Advisory Board Cap Table Vesting Equity 44

www.quora.com

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Type to Add and Search Questions; Search Topics and People Startups Startup Compensation Entrepreneurship Compensation Stock Options Major Internet Companies Silicon Valley Why is there such a large founder to early employee equity drop-off? Many startups these days are first-time entrepreneurs. is lowered.

Equity 40

Equity Employee Founder Cofounder 40

venturehacks.com

OCTOBER 21, 2010

Venture Hacks Good advice for startups. SUPPORTED BY Products Archives @venturehacks Books AngelList About RSS The Option Pool Shuffle by Nivi on April 10th, 2007 “Follow the money card!&# – The Inside Man, Three-Card Shuffle Summary: Don’t let your investors determine the size of the option pool for you.

Option Pool 68

Option Pool Pre-Money Valuation Dilution Warrant 68

thebarefootvc

MAY 13, 2015

After taking an economics class in college which sparked my interest in business, I changed my focus to a dual degree in finance and communications, with the goal of combining capitalism with media to make an impact on the world. The hidden cost of this (and employee burnout) is one that any investor is all too familiar with.

Silicon Valley 40

Silicon Valley Tanzania New Jersey United States 40

thebarefootvc

MAY 13, 2015

After taking an economics class in college which sparked my interest in business, I changed my focus to a dual degree in finance and communications, with the goal of combining capitalism with media to make an impact on the world. The hidden cost of this (and employee burnout) is one that any investor is all too familiar with.

Silicon Valley 40

Silicon Valley Tanzania New Jersey United States 40

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MARCH 11, 2014

You have your general management meeting and in your general management meeting you talk about product development, about marketing and about finance. That is always true for all startups until they get old, right? What I mean by that is startups nowadays that raise money have absolutely ludicrous metrics. Edwin: I know.

Technical Cofounder 220

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Software Review Management 220

Seeing Both Sides

JANUARY 13, 2015

Financing: holy crap - we are running out of money in 6 months! Financing: The "hopes and dreams" financing stage is over. Financing: Is our market big enough to support another round (which puts the exit bar even higher)? Financing: Do we have the metrics to support a growth or mezzanine round?

Mezzanine 20

Mezzanine IPO Finance Business Model 20

Duct Tape Marketing

MAY 23, 2019

John Jantsch: The term pivot is used quite often today in startups, in fact it’s sort of a joke that you’re expected to come out with your product, and then you realize nobody wants it, and so you now are this kind of company. Jenny Blake: At first, I started to ask, “How can people be as agile as startups?” So you pivot.

Programming 61

Programming Finance Turkey Stock Options 61