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What Does the Post Crash VC Market Look Like?

Both Sides of the Table

At our mid-year offsite our partnership at Upfront Ventures was discussing what the future of venture capital and the startup ecosystem looked like. Of these companies that become well financed we only need 15–25% of THOSE to pan out to return 2–3x the fund. This translates to about 12–15 investments.

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Revisiting Paul Graham’s “High Resolution” Financing

Both Sides of the Table

When I first read Paul Graham’s blog post on “High Resolution&# Financing I read it as a treatise arguing that convertible notes are better than equity. “A startup could also give better deals to investors they expected to help them most&# – That is a quote from Paul on the “high resolution financing&# post.

Finance 286
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Which Fundraising Round Should You Skip?

View from Seed

The reality is that if a founder raised every one of these rounds, and lead investors always got their “target” ownership, the level of dilution would be ridiculous. No good investor would want the founder/CEO of a company to have insufficient ownership by the series A, and every founder I know is sensitive to taking too much dilution.

Dilution 149
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Why LP’s Passed on Seed Funds 10 Years Ago (And What’s Happened Since)

View from Seed

And yes, a seed fund may have a tougher time holding on to their ownership down the road, and thus get diluted down. We’ve had multiple companies in our early funds that hit bumps and had to raise flat rounds, which hurts from a dilution standpoint but doesn’t wipe out our position. So yes, seed funds will own less. But guess what?

Dilution 399
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Bad Notes on Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

On the phone … Me: So, you raised venture capital? 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. Me: More dilution? We raised a seed round.

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Who Should be on Your Startup Board?

Both Sides of the Table

Others may not have the experience you want and they fill up a seat that makes retaining founder control more difficult if you ultimately raise large rounds of venture capital in the future. What happens at the A-round of venture capital? It is ultimately a negotiation but I don’t think founders should fear having boards.

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How Much Should You Raise in Your VC Round? And What is a VC Looking at in Your Model?

Both Sides of the Table

Of course there are times where 15% dilution is more appropriate and other times it can be 33% but in a first meeting we’re just trying to establish general ranges for reasonableness. Most VCs lead one round of financing in your company and are looking for other VCs to lead subsequent rounds.

Burn Rate 247