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Cram Down – A Test of Character for VCs and Founders

Steve Blank

Except, that is, for the bottom feeders of the Venture Capital business – investors who “ cram down ” their companies. For existing investors, sometimes it was a “pay-to-play” i.e. if you don’t participate in the new financing you lose. Other times it was simply a take-it-or-leave-it, here are the new terms. They’re Back.

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Flexible VC, a New Model for Companies Targeting Profitability

David Teten

Similar to the explosion of seed funds in the past decade, we (and some limited partners too ) believe these Flexible VCs are on the forefront of what will become a major segment of the venture ecosystem. We detail below the major categories of VC: VENTURE CAPITAL TYPOLOGY. FLEXIBLE VC VS. OTHER VENTURE CAPITAL MODELS.

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Stock Market Drops. Then It Rallies. What Happens Next for Funding?

Both Sides of the Table

Finance where needed. 2010 was the year of the “super angel&# and 2011 has to date been the year of unbelievably highly priced B,C & D rounds of venture capital. Venture capital is an industry best served up from 7-year aged casks. We need some visibility. Let’s make sure each has enough cash.

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Silicon Valley Frontlines: Two Tales of "Working For Equity"

philipsmith.typepad.com

While there have been times in the last dozen or so years, usually during times of venture capital excess, that cash to founders, early-stage executives and other key employees has matched regular market compensation (still with the upside of the equity), this is not true in the vast majority in the start-up game. Venture Capital.

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On the Road to Recap:

abovethecrowd.com

Why the Unicorn Financing Market Just Became Dangerous…For All Involved. 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.”

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The Silliness Of Recapping Seed Rounds

Feld Thoughts

Assuming equity is raised at or above that cap, the total dilution, before the new money, is 16.6% (equivalent to an equity financing of $1m at a $6m post money valuation. So they recapitalize the company. A company raises $1m of seed money from angels in a convertible note with a $6m cap.

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Startup Founder Agreements

blog.simeonov.com

However, founder agreements are not set in stone and it is common for them to be tweaked by a little or a lot during the first financing by professional investors. The only way to remove their equity holding in the cap table is by buying them out or through a recapitalization of the company. more details ].

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