Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

Finding your strategic partner, investor or business buyer is not something you do haphazardly. You and your advisors, board or partners should start by completing what you can of the matrix shown on this page. “What would the candidate want from your company in a transaction?” Start with the “matrix method.”. Think carefully.

Partner 62

Partner Intellectual Property .Net Distribution 62

Hearpreneur

OCTOBER 29, 2017

I loved what I did (sales) but I didn’t love doing it for somebody else. By screening hundreds of SMB acquisition opportunities as managing partner at my private equity firm, I saw first-hand that the vast majority of small business owners run their firms without the benefit of good financial or operating metrics.

Entrepreneur 73

Entrepreneur Social Media Liquidity Event Private Equity 73

Berkonomics

AUGUST 3, 2023

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). It is most often a win-win for both you and the strategic partner. For those of you who fit that description, nice work.

Private Equity 118

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 118

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2019

Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. If you take investor money, expect a push for hockey-stick growth and a liquidity event, like going public (IPO) or sale (M&A), to get the payback. The founder’s title and role dilemma. The control and growth dilemma.

Hockey Stick 243

Hockey Stick Cofounder Liquidity Event Startup 243

Steve Blank

JUNE 11, 2013

These are great, but they are not repeatable by a sales organization. The test is: If you add one more sales person or spend more marketing dollars, does your sales revenue go up by more than your expenses? • Business model : A business model answers the basic questions about your entire business: Who are the customers?

Venture Capital 333

Venture Capital IRR Liquidity Event Business Model 333

Berkonomics

AUGUST 27, 2020

The question is whether to start this exhausting process early in the life of a corporation, or rush to complete it when a deal is identified or the run to a sale is imminent. [Email readers, continue here…] But maintaining such an electronic or physical facility is time-consuming and costly. The payoff.

Software Review 62

Software Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property IPO 62

Women Entrepreneurs Can

NOVEMBER 19, 2022

They can also help you develop your product and sales channels. Investors receive a healthy return on investment when the company reaches a liquidity event. Xfund, Patrick Chung is a managing general partner in a venture capital firm that supports lateral thinkers. They may also provide a mentorship network.

Venture Capital 52

Venture Capital Early Stage Liquidity Event SEC 52

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2014

Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. If you take investor money, expect a push for hockey-stick growth and a liquidity event, like going public (IPO) or sale (M&A), to get the payback. The Founder’s title and role dilemma. The control and growth dilemma.

Hockey Stick 268

Hockey Stick Cofounder Entrepreneur Liquidity Event 268

Berkonomics

JUNE 15, 2017

From the moment such an investor looks seriously at your company, the investor or VC partner is thinking of the end game, the ultimate sale of the company or even of an eventual initial public offering. So be aware that professional investors are in your company for the eventual large profits at the liquidity event.

Liquidity Event 97

Liquidity Event Initial Public Offering Dividend Valuation 97

Steve Blank

JUNE 11, 2013

These are great, but they are not repeatable by a sales organization. The test is: If you add one more sales person or spend more marketing dollars, does your sales revenue go up by more than your expenses? • Business model : A business model answers the basic questions about your entire business: Who are the customers?

Venture Capital 225

Venture Capital IRR Liquidity Event Business Model 225

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Convince investors that you have lined up sales channels, strategic partners, and a viable marketing strategy. Here is also a good place for a rollout timeline with key milestones.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

I’ve been offered $15 million for my company and my partner is suing me for all I am worth. And yes, his partner had a valid suit, having been locked out of the web-design business and denied access to decisions and accounting information. What can I do?”. The fabulous contradiction – and opportunity. My immediate reaction and offer.

Pre-Money Valuation 48

Pre-Money Valuation Sales Liquidity Event Valuation 48

Steve Blank

JULY 15, 2010

VC’s invested their limited partners’ “risk capital” in a portfolio of startups in exchange for illiquid stock. Number of Venture Backed Liquidity Events 1991-2000. Number of Venture Backed Liquidity Events 2000-2010. If you’re starting a software company, your exit is most likely a sale to a larger company.

Venture Capital 297

Venture Capital IPO Liquidity Event Entrepreneur 297

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2017

Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. If you take investor money, expect a push for hockey-stick growth and a liquidity event, like going public (IPO) or sale (M&A), to get the payback. The founder’s title and role dilemma. The control and growth dilemma.

Hockey Stick 144

Hockey Stick Cofounder Entrepreneur Liquidity Event 144

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2015

It’s disconcerting for most to realize that these shares are initially worth nothing, and the challenge is to get that value up as quickly as possible, without losing it just as quickly to investors, lazy partners and taxation. Make sure the government waits for a stock sale to collect taxes. In the U.S.,

Stock 120

Stock Vesting Common Stock Founder Vesting 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

What are your specific marketing and sales plans? You need to identify pricing details, sales channels, strategic partners and a customized marketing plan consistent with your industry and target segment. If you don’t plan a liquidity event, you won’t find many investors interested.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Advisory Board Liquidity Event Startup 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Convince investors that you have lined up sales channels, strategic partners, and a viable marketing strategy. Here is also a good place for a rollout timeline with key milestones.

Business Plan 290

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 290

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2013

Old co-workers or new friends with complementary skills usually make the best partners. If you take investor money, expect a push for hockey-stick growth and a liquidity event, like going public (IPO) or sale (M&A), to get the payback. The Founder’s title and role dilemma. The control and growth dilemma.

Founder 245

Founder Hockey Stick Cofounder Liquidity Event 245

Seeing Both Sides

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

We selected this benchmark because it reflects the phase in which companies have proven product viability, achieved initial product/market fit, and are now expanding sales and growing more complex operations. In the old model of Israeli startups, many Israeli executive teams would hire a vice president of sales in the U.S.

Cofounder 20

Cofounder Technical Review United States 20

Gust

AUGUST 5, 2012

Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Convince investors that you have lined up sales channels, strategic partners, and a viable marketing strategy. Here is also a good place for a rollout timeline with key milestones.

Business Plan 182

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 182

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

I’ve been offered $15 million for my company and my partner is suing me for all I am worth. And yes, the partner had a valid suit, having been locked out of the business and denied access to decisions and accounting information. What can I do?” I promised to come see him at his office the very next week.

Liquidity Event 59

Liquidity Event Pre-Money Valuation Sales Valuation 59

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). Strategic partner” investors: If you can find a strategic partner willing to invest in your enterprise, consider it a blessing.

Private Equity 106

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 106

The Next Web

MARCH 2, 2014

This will have a significant impact on the amount business owners could realize on the sale or other liquidity event for the company. In addition, beyond financial control, many investors will require some input into the operation of your business and even the right to approve certain significant transactions and events.

Liquidity Event 139

Liquidity Event Equity Finance Stock Options 139

Gust

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

VantagePoint Venture Partners came to the rescue in late 2003 with an infusion of $15 million in capital, adding Andrew Sheehan (now at Sutter Hill Ventures ) and David Carlick (now at Rho Ventures ) to the Board. Intermix was in a turnaround situation when I arrived in mid-2004, having been delisted from Nasdaq and nearly bankrupt.

Valuation 98

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Merger Vesting 98

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Marketing, sales, and partners. Describe your market penetration strategy, sales channels, pricing, and strategic partnerships. Convince investors that you have lined up sales channels, strategic partners, and a viable marketing strategy. Here is also a good place for a rollout timeline with key milestones.

Business Plan 186

Business Plan Exit Strategy Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 186

www.vccafe.com

MARCH 11, 2013

turn customer feedback into sales and relationships. Mark Suster GRP Partners Advice. SaaS Sales Team Compensation â?? Philippe Botteri, Bessemer Venture Partners. Their Partners all come from industry, where each has held senior level executive positions delivering industry-leading products. SnapEngage â??

Software Review 53

Software Review Technical Review Startup 53

Startup Company Lawyer

MARCH 14, 2010

I was actually somewhat surprised that the following investors have agreed to use the Series Seed documents in certain of the their deals: Baseline, Charles River Ventures, SV Angel (Ron Conway), First Round Capital, Harrison Metal Capital, Mike Maples, Polaris Venture Partners, SoftTech VC and True Ventures. Co-sale rights.

Finance 70

Finance Software Review Term Sheet Liquidation Preference 70

Berkonomics

JANUARY 27, 2010

From the moment such an investor looks seriously at your company, the investor or VC partner is thinking of the end game, the ultimate sale of the company or even of an eventual initial public offering. So be aware that professional investors are in your company for the eventual large profits at the liquidity event.

Liquidity Event 67

Liquidity Event Initial Public Offering Dividend Valuation 67

Gust

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

” Yet in my little corner of Wonksville, Founder Institute CEO Adeo Ressi and Yoichiro “Yokum” Taku , a partner at my “alma mater” law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati , created quite a stir this past week by announcing a new set of template deal documents dubbed “ Convertible Equity.”

Finance 134

Finance Convertible Security Equity Seed Stage 134

Berkonomics

JANUARY 20, 2010

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder is able to self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). For you who fit that description, nice work. There is a lot to say about retaining control.

Private Equity 69

Private Equity Valuation Cap Table Accredited Investor 69

www.quora.com

JANUARY 16, 2011

If you are a creative guy with a good head for business looking for an engineering partner, send me a summary of your idea and business plan, and I'll do the implementation!" There are no self-appointed rockstar developers which you want to partner with. Each partner brings a certain amount of credibility to the table.

Developer 42

Developer Technical Review Cofounder Technical Cofounder 42

abovethecrowd.com

APRIL 20, 2016

All Unicorn participants — founders, company employees, venture investors and their limited partners (LPs) — are seeing their fortunes put at risk from the very nature of the Unicorn phenomenon itself. LIMITED PARTNERS (LPS). Do you feel the need to raise more capital quickly before the prices erode further and bring down your IRR?

IPO 40

IPO Term Sheet Silicon Valley Valuation 40