Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2021

Every entrepreneur needs to understand the following basics, to be addressed at company formation, as they engage a qualified attorney to draw up the paperwork: Allocate founder’s stock commensurate with commitment. Key founder vesting should have no cliff. Retain the right to reclaim stock from anyone leaving the startup.

Vesting 298

Vesting Dilution Stock Founder Vesting 298

View from Seed

DECEMBER 4, 2014

Editor’s note: Understanding how to divide founder equity at a startup can be tricky, even to the point of reaching emotional riffs between founders. I like to say that “there are only co-founders” — it’s extraordinarily rare for a successful business to have just a sole founder.

Equity 315

Equity Founder Sweat Equity Cofounder 315

Agile VC

DECEMBER 4, 2014

I like to say that “there are only co-founders” — it’s extraordinarily rare for a successful business to have just a sole founder. But not all co-founders are equal in terms of title, ownership, responsibilities, and so forth. Sometimes co-founders put off the equity split question for some time.

Cofounder 255

Cofounder Equity Founder Sweat Equity 255

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2022

Experienced entrepreneurs understand investor expectations of Board representation, preferred stock, and payments based on interim milestones. Founder insistence on non-dilute clauses, arms-length relationships, and quick closure without due diligence will short-circuit active interest. Ask only for the money you can justify.

Due Diligence 271

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Preferred Stock 271

Early Growth Financial Services

FEBRUARY 3, 2015

This post by Ian Engstrand first appeared on Founders Workbench. From time to time on Founders Workbench we give a brief primer on common terms and issues in venture financings. management). management). Participating versus non-participating: what’s the difference?

Preferred Stock 28

Preferred Stock Stock Finance Participating Preferred 28

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2015

A popular approach these days seems to be for founders to regale investors early with a pitch touting the newest “million-dollar idea.” A C-corporation is more complex and expensive, and is recommended only if you expect to pitch to professional investors who demand preferred stock, or to more than 100 potential shareholders.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Preferred Stock Stealth 120

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 6, 2020

There are some business people who think this is ethically wrong for a VC-backed business with a highly-educated founder and there are also likely to be some populist outcries that the money should have been reserved for Main Street workers and not tech workers. In this instance they would need to give up the right entirely.

Programming 279

Programming Affiliate SBA Government 279

Gust

MAY 24, 2012

Some commentators have suggested this is the wave of the future, signifying a shift in the balance of power from investors to founders of the relatively small, elite group of growth companies that make it to public markets. Options and warrants, when issued, are also typically exercisable for shares of Common Stock.

IPO 159

IPO Equity Common Stock Stock 159

Agile VC

DECEMBER 4, 2014

I like to say that “there are only co-founders” — it’s extraordinarily rare for a successful business to have just a sole founder. But not all co-founders are equal in terms of title, ownership, responsibilities, and so forth. Sometimes co-founders put off the equity split question for some time.

Cofounder 173

Cofounder Equity Founder Sweat Equity 173

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

Can you imagine investing in the stock market where your price was determined at a future date and the better that company performed the HIGHER the price you paid for that investment. In fact, most early investor work hard to help their startups get to the next level so it makes no sense for the angel investor and founders to be at odds.

Ratchet 354

Ratchet Liquidation Preference Equity Stock 354

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2020

Experienced entrepreneurs understand investor expectations of Board representation, preferred stock, and payments based on interim milestones. Founder insistence on non-dilute clauses, arms-length relationships, and quick closure without due diligence will short-circuit active interest. Ask only for the money you can justify.

Due Diligence 308

Due Diligence Intellectual Property Preferred Stock Startup 308

Startup Company Lawyer

AUGUST 31, 2012

” As a result, Ted introduced the Series Seed preferred stock documents as an alternative to convertible debt for early stage investments. ” However, I believe that YC realizes that having debt outstanding that may need to be repaid is not a good situation for founders. The problem.

Convertible Security 73

Convertible Security Equity Security Preferred Stock 73

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

The shares given out can either be common stocks or preferred stocks. ? Debt investment. I have interacted with a lot of founders who funded their initial business expenses through credit cards. Point number 1: You must understand that funding is a business transaction between the investors and the startup founders.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

David Teten

MARCH 14, 2018

Managers of VC funds typically want to grow their business aggressively, just like the founders we back. Among the sites we have found most helpful with practical guides for founders: Biztree , First Search , Foundersuite , Goodwin Founders Workbench , Guides.co , Inc.com , and StartupRocket. .

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Venture Capital Equity Cofounder 60

K9 Ventures

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

Let’s say you’re the founder (I use a solo-founder in my example to keep things simple, but this could just as well apply to a founding team) of a startup called Blood, Sweat and Tears, Inc. The objective is really to be able to get some risk off the table for the founders and not leave all their eggs in one basket.

Founder 87

Founder Common Stock Preferred Stock Stock 87

Austin Startup

OCTOBER 27, 2017

TL;DR : “Founder friendliness” should mean not being hostile, but also not being submissive, to founders. Out of State VCs When you’re not CEO Material Preferred Stock v. The truth is, I’ve put my fair share of founders in their place, when appropriate. Good entrepreneurs and advisors know that.

Founder 48

Founder Cap Table Preferred Stock Common Stock 48

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2018

Of course, initially these founder’s shares were worth essentially nothing, but it doesn’t take much of an imagination to grasp the possibilities. Now is the time to talk to a qualified attorney, and get some discipline in place for the following strategies: Manage founder’s shares like gold with partners.

Stock 129

Stock Vesting Preferred Stock Cofounder 129

K9 Ventures

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

Let’s say you’re the founder (I use a solo-founder in my example to keep things simple, but this could just as well apply to a founding team) of a startup called Blood, Sweat and Tears, Inc. The objective is really to be able to get some risk off the table for the founders and not leave all their eggs in one basket.

Founder 84

Founder Common Stock Preferred Stock Stock 84

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 25, 2015

Stocks are issued at the time the company is formed, and more can be issued over time. You can control the power of your company’s stock by issuing different classes. You should research the investors you may want to work with in the future to see if they have a preference. The ownership structure of an LLC is a blank slate.

LLC 100

LLC Technical Review Software Review Limited Liability Company 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

File founder stock election so no taxes are due until exit. Even though the initial stock has no value or market, it is imperative that you document the division of ownership immediately between co-founders commensurate with their investment, contribution, and role. Set up a separate records system for your new business.

LLC 210

LLC Limited Liability Company Cofounder Preferred Stock 210

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Furthermore, there are various forms of equity, such as preferred stock, common stock, and convertible notes, which influence the present and potential future investors. Founders can apply the information to instantly ascertain what percentage of the startup they have to propose a new investor. Preference shares.

Cap Table 112

Cap Table Pre-Money Valuation Stock Options Option Pool 112

Lightspeed Venture Partners

OCTOBER 7, 2012

Week three’s breakdown covered topics like how hard momentum is to turn around, and how participating preferred stock works. The founders were very sympathetic; a man, laid off from his job, and his very pregnant wife, who sold their house and investing $150k into the business and are working hard to make a go of it.

Technical Review 110

Technical Review Technical Cofounder Valuation Pre-Money Valuation 110

Scott Edward Walker

APRIL 22, 2012

ii) why are convertible notes issued instead of shares of common or preferred stock? As discussed in part 1 , in the context of a seed financing, a convertible note is a loan that typically automatically converts into shares of preferred stock upon the closing of a Series A round of financing.

Pre-Money Valuation 72

Pre-Money Valuation Finance Liquidation Preference Founder 72

techcrunch.com

SEPTEMBER 2, 2012

Today, TheFunded.com and the Founder Institute is announcing in conjunction with law firm Wilson Sonsini, Convertible Equity, a startup-friendly seed-financing vehicle intended to replace Convertible Debt notes. FOUNDER INSTITUTE. Company: Founder Institute. Since 2009 the Founder Institute has helped. Crunchbase.

Equity 87

Equity San Francisco Technical Review Angel Investor 87

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

I talked also about 409a valuations and why common stock purchases cost less than preferred stock purchases. But most importantly I lectured founders that you can’t avoid the admin of setting up your ESOP. But if you do this early (pre VC) then the price points are pretty low. Do it early.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Term Sheet Valuation Stock Options 282

Scott Edward Walker

MAY 15, 2012

Part 2, entitled “ Convertible Note Seed Financings: Econ 101 for Founders ,” addressed the economics. What Happens If a Startup is Acquired Prior to the Note’s Conversion to Shares of Preferred Stock? There are generally three different approaches: 1) Money Back, Plus Interest (Founder-Friendly).

Finance 64

Finance Founder Accredited Investor Preferred Stock 64

ithacaVC

DECEMBER 22, 2012

I recently engaged in a conversation (over a few days) about the need for a seed stage company to have a board member other than the founder. For clarity, a company with one founder can have a one member board (assuming a corporation). The decision to have an investor on the board is really one for the founder.

Seed Stage 82

Seed Stage Preferred Stock Founder Angel Investor 82

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Here is a summary of the key terms to expect on the term sheet, or the contract between the founder and investor: Consideration given for the money invested. For later investments, the price is equity, with a percentage of the owner stock to be assigned to the investor. Type of stock assigned to the investor.

Term Sheet 120

Term Sheet Demand Preferred Stock Liquidation Preference 120

Agile VC

APRIL 17, 2011

Kayak was started here in my backyard of Boston… co-founder & CTO Paul English and the product/engineering team is based here in Concord MA. Co-founder & CEO Steve Hafner and the business team are based in Norwalk, CT. Series A Preferred. liquidation preference, 6% accumulated dividend (1). as of 12/31/09).

Pre-Money Valuation 113

Pre-Money Valuation Liquidation Preference Dividend Common Stock 113

Scott Edward Walker

JUNE 9, 2019

Accordingly, I thought it would be helpful for founders to discuss these rights and to point out the problems they create for startups. This is a huge red flag and founders should push back very hard. In short, super pro rata rights are another example of investors trying to take advantage of inexperienced founders.

Preferred Stock 56

Preferred Stock Term Sheet Dilution Stock 56

Gust

JUNE 7, 2014

5) Senior Preferred Stock and warrants. 6) Any preference multiple on (5). 7) Junior Preferred Stock and warrants. 8) Any preference multiple on (7). 9) Common Stock (including any Preferred that converted to Common, any exercised options, and all Founders stock) and Common stock warrants.

Warrant 157

Warrant Preferred Stock Early Stage Common Stock 157

Hunter Walker

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

As more growth and crossover investors came into the startup ecosystem they were often eager to put capital to work and happy to consolidate their positions with common or preferred shares from early employees, founders and previous investors. We’re aligned with the founders and the rest of the cap table until we aren’t.

Venture Capital 122

Venture Capital Cap Table LP Equity 122

Scott Edward Walker

APRIL 9, 2012

As a result, the pendulum has swung dramatically in the founders’ favor, and the issuance of convertible notes for seed financing has never been more prolific. ii) why are convertible notes issued instead of shares of common or preferred stock? Why Can’t a Startup Issue Shares of Common Stock to Investors?

Preferred Stock 87

Preferred Stock Finance Common Stock Liquidation Preference 87

Scott Edward Walker

NOVEMBER 26, 2017

Accordingly, I thought it would be helpful to provide some basic fundraising advice to first-time founders based upon my 20+ years of legal experience. Instead, you typically need a “warm referral” (or introduction) from someone they respect and trust — preferably a successful founder whom they have backed. Cheers, Scott.

Term Sheet 63

Term Sheet San Francisco Founder Investment Bankers 63

Scott Edward Walker

MAY 30, 2013

Many founders do not realize that officers of a corporation have the same fiduciary obligations as directors. It means every founder must be very careful whom he or she chooses as a co-founder or an investor. So How Can Founders Protect Themselves? Introduction. What Are the Fiduciary Obligations of Directors?

Delaware 68

Delaware Founder Cofounder Due Diligence 68

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

There are clauses in preferred stock investment agreements allowing the investor in many cases to “put” the shares back to you at the purchase price plus dividends or more after a period, usually five years, if no effort is made to find a buyer or begin the IPO process. The post What if you and your investors don’t agree on an exit?

Liquidity Event 62

Liquidity Event Preferred Stock Dividend Equity 62

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2015

Every entrepreneur needs to understand the following basics, to be addressed at company formation, as they engage a qualified attorney to draw up the paperwork: Allocate founder’s stock commensurate with commitment. Key founder vesting should have no cliff. Retain the right to reclaim stock from anyone leaving the startup.

Stock 120

Stock Vesting Common Stock Founder Vesting 120