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In defence of liquidation preferences

The Equity Kicker

It turns out that ‘time bomb’ is the much maligned and, I suspect, little understood, liquidation preference. To be clear, liquidation preferences are sometimes used badly and founders should generally turn away from investors who ask for multiple liquidation preferences.

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Praying to the God of Valuation

Both Sides of the Table

If they are private we still have fig leaves that cover us because some rounds might raise debt vs. equity or might fund with terms like multiple liquidation preferences or full-ratchets or convertible notes with caps. The tide has gone out. But this is still all about valuations and none of it is any fun anymore.

Valuation 466
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Equity for Early Employees in Early Stage Startups

SoCal CTO

Memo to CEOs And Founders: Share The Love Consider the proceeds of a $50-million acquisition for a 100-person company that has raised $14 million with a typical liquidation preference: Because of the liquidation preference, the investors get $14 million right off the top. Manager or Junior Engineer 0.2 – 0.33

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6 Obligations That Come With Startup External Funding

Startup Professionals Musings

Angel and venture capital money always comes with ownership and management implications, starting with the obvious ones outlined in the term sheet for the deal. Progress milestones become management objectives. Investors will expect at least one seat on the board, and expect a board report from you each month on key items.

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What Founders Need to Know: You Were Funded for a Liquidity Event – Start Looking

Steve Blank

As the company goes from searching for a business model to growth , only then will they bring in a new “professional” management team to scale the company (along with a business development executive to search for an acquirer) or prepare for an IPO. Typically, a VC can force a sale, or even block one. You may just be along for the ride. .

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Some Career Advice for Aspiring Tech CEOs

Both Sides of the Table

This is because this “liquidation preference” gets returned to investors before you see any money – restricting the executive outcomes in mid-sized exits. In Ian’s post he rightly points out that stepping into a role with $15 million in paid-in capital that has already been spent can be a problem.

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One Book Every Entrepreneur and VC Should Own

Both Sides of the Table

But know that every term in your term sheet is there as a result of some dispute of the past between shareholders or between shareholders & management. To this day I’m still surprised how few CEOs really understand the differences between 2x liquidation preference and a liquidation preference with a 2x cap.