www.paulgraham.com

APRIL 28, 2010

Want to start a startup? A typical startup goes throughseveral rounds of funding, and at each round you want to take justenough money to reach the speed where you can shift into the nextgear. Few startups get it quite right. A lot of startups that end upgoing public didnt seem likely to at first.

Technical Review 76

Technical Review Startup Software Review Angel Investor 76

Hunter Walker

AUGUST 8, 2023

Our estimates were not out of line with new data from top firms like USV who, according to reports, “ marked down the value of seven of its funds by nearly 26%.” Restructures, Down Rounds, and Pay to Plays. And fascinating new advances (and needs) in AI, climate, biology, etc are driving tech-IP driven startups.

Portfolio 99

Portfolio Cap Table LP Valuation 99

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 30, 2018

I thought I’d write a post about how to talk about valuation at a startup and give you some sense of what might be on the mind of the person considering funding you. Of course, unlike cars there is no direct comparison across each startup so these are just some general guidelines to try and even the information field.

Valuation 324

Valuation Post-Money Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Cofounder 324

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

And now I have to explain to team that they’re taking more dilution than they expected if we do a down round. Me: More dilution? A down round? Startup Lessons' But people seem pretty focused on that number. Raising lower seems kind of like something is wrong. We never thought about it.

Venture Capital 417

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

” “Mark has a vested interest in talking down valuations of startups.” Most prefer not to say this publicly for two reasons: 1) they have an entire portfolio of startups, many of whom are raising capital and 2) they prefer not to be attacked publicly or seem “anti entrepreneur.” goes into a startup.

Valuation 150

Valuation Down Round Startup Later Stage 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

Anti-dilution protection. This clause attempts to protect the conversion price of stock of angel investors, prior to additional financing, from being reduced to a price equal to the price per share paid in a later “down” round. But some dilution is almost inevitable. Right of first refusal. Marty Zwilling.

Term Sheet 227

Term Sheet Pre-Money Valuation Due Diligence Post-Money Valuation 227

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2012

Anti-dilution protection. This clause attempts to protect the conversion price of stock of Angel investors, prior to additional financing, from being reduced to a price equal to the price per share paid in a later “down” round. But some dilution is almost inevitable. Right of first refusal.

Term Sheet 223

Term Sheet Pre-Money Valuation Due Diligence Post-Money Valuation 223

abovethecrowd.com

APRIL 20, 2016

In February of last year, Fortune magazine writers Erin Griffith and Dan Primack declared 2015 “ The Age of the Unicorns ” noting — “Fortune counts more than 80 startups that have been valued at $1 billion or more by venture capitalists.” Next came Rolfe Winkler’s deep dive “ Highly Valued Startup Zenefits Runs Into Turbulence. ”

IPO 40

IPO Term Sheet Silicon Valley Valuation 40

Startup Company Lawyer

MARCH 14, 2010

In addition, I think that a “peace treaty&# between early-stage investors and startup companies on standard terms (at least at a term sheet level) is a step in the right direction. If new investors get better rights in a future equity financings (such as registration rights, price-based anti-dilution, redemption rights, etc.),

Finance 70

Finance Software Review Term Sheet Liquidation Preference 70

ithacaVC

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

It is highly typical for a startup to have small investors on its cap table. The treatment of the friends, family and angels (FFA) as the startup matures and raises larger rounds of financing over time is interesting. In this situation, the FFAs are diluted from an ownership percentage, but enhanced economically.

Preemptive Right 45

Preemptive Right Cap Table Valuation Dilution 45

The Equity Kicker

MARCH 24, 2015

Everyone loves a high valuation and it’s natural for founders to want to minimise dilution. They will most probably go on to raise multiple rounds of venture capital after all. YC’s Sam Altman explained why in a post last year: Startups are usually a pass-fail course — either you succeed or you don’t.

Valuation 60

Valuation Down Round Dilution Venture Capital 60

The Equity Kicker

JULY 9, 2015

I’ve been here before too, when implementing anti-dilution clauses after down-rounds. And we still have to get all parties to understand and buy into our spreadsheet so it isn’t over yet. It shouldn’t be necessary.

Dilution 60

Dilution Down Round Finance Software 60

Ben's Blog

JULY 16, 2013

If you run a startup and are currently raising money, you probably planned for a somewhat different fundraising environment than the one you find yourself in today. When you go to fundraise, you will need to consider the possibility of a valuation lower than the valuation of your last round, i.e., the dreaded down round.

Down Round 78

Down Round Marketing Preferred Stock Post-Money Valuation 78

This is going to be BIG.

JANUARY 17, 2016

They might have to get another round in, and that round will most certainly be a down round. It's not that they're concerned that the world will implode and that startups won't still be a good bet over the long term. All that means less time for new deals. They're just. busy taking care of their wounded.

Dilution 60

Dilution Portfolio China Down Round 60

NZ Entrepreneur

JULY 8, 2019

I waited for the ‘casino-like’ world of startup investing until I was 28 years old, putting $10,000 into a friend’s software distribution company – a tidy sum for me at that age. There are numerous unforeseen and unknowable challenges when running a startup; one person’s experience is rarely sufficient to identify a great solution.

New Zealand 42

New Zealand Entrepreneur Valuation Dilution 42

Bryce Dot VC

APRIL 21, 2016

But, what about the customers who took the risk and started building, or running, their businesses on the tools and services offered by these fledgling startups? Or consumers who rely on these startups to do their work, plan their entertainment, order their meals, or solve a much needed problem for themselves? The takeaway?

Silicon Valley 40

Silicon Valley Dilution Term Sheet Down Round 40

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2016

Investors had grown too used to the idea that any deal you funded would get marked up to a higher valuation in the next round and that’s clearly not always true. We have a very experienced management team and can serve large, enterprise accounts, who will surely scrutinize balance sheets before committing important projects to other startups.

Balance Sheet 150

Balance Sheet Burn Rate Valuation Forecast 150

www.mattbartus.com

DECEMBER 9, 2012

Perspectives on issues affecting founders, startups and investors from a veteran startup lawyer in Silicon Valley. If you are a company that is fundraising, keep in mind that there are a few different levers you can pull to change the amount of dilution that the founders will experience. How to pump up your VC valuation.

Warrant 40

Warrant Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Term Sheet 40

A Crowded Space

MAY 31, 2016

We expect there to be an increase in down rounds, flat rounds, inside rounds and various pay-to-play scenarios. These inside rounds will lead to one of a few possibilities: 1) No insiders are supportive. These companies shut down. But, this year we’ve seen the greed of the last several years switch to fear.

Cram Down 60

Cram Down Pay to Play Angel Investor Warrant 60

Reid Hoffman

JUNE 8, 2021

As I’m sure most would agree, Airbnb is one of the most iconic startups to have been formed in the world. But I generally am not a fan of committees and things that get in the way of moving quickly in a startup. And I made a decision not to do an equity round, because I thought it would be a down round.

Silicon Valley 69

Silicon Valley Hosting Rhode Island Design 69

Ben's Blog

JULY 16, 2013

If you run a startup and are currently raising money, you probably planned for a somewhat different fundraising environment than the one you find yourself in today. When you go to fundraise, you will need to consider the possibility of a valuation lower than the valuation of your last round, i.e., the dreaded down round.

Marketing 46

Marketing Preferred Stock Post-Money Valuation Down Round 46

Reid Hoffman

JUNE 8, 2021

As I’m sure most would agree, Airbnb is one of the most iconic startups to have been formed in the world. But I generally am not a fan of committees and things that get in the way of moving quickly in a startup. And I made a decision not to do an equity round, because I thought it would be a down round.

Silicon Valley 36

Silicon Valley Hosting Rhode Island Design 36

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. After that various i.

Equity 40

Equity Employee Founder Cofounder 40