Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

This era was dominated by a ZIRP (zero interest rate policy) of the federal reserve and easy money in search of high yields and encouraging growth at all costs. In the past 7 years we built cultures of quick money, instant wealth and valuations for valuations sake. But this is still all about valuations and none of it is any fun anymore.

Valuation 466

Valuation San Francisco Ratchet Liquidation Preference 466

Duct Tape Marketing

JULY 7, 2016

After all, SEO was all about gaming the search engine algorithms to push your websites higher than they deserved to go. Or you used strange language constructs that didn’t flow, but more closely matched what people were likely to type into a search engine. photo credit flickr. You did this by finding loopholes in the system.

PR 41

PR SEO Algorithm Ratchet 41

Duct Tape Marketing

OCTOBER 10, 2018

A lot of that involves ratcheting down how stimulated we are by default because I think you got it right. It’s a simple tactic but it’s a way of ratcheting down how often you check. It seems so luxurious but it really allows us to accomplish more and get more meaning out of our lives. John Jantsch: I have not.

Ratchet 73

Ratchet Restful Email Product 73

Rob Go

NOVEMBER 30, 2015

Both late stage VCs as well as non-traditional investors are searching for growth anywhere they can find it in the capital markets. The ratchet protection put in place by the last round of investors in Square is just the tip of the iceberg, and is relatively benign relative to other structures that I suspect are out there.

Later Stage 28

Later Stage Marketing Early Stage Ratchet 28

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

  A full ratchet anti-dilution clause is very unfriendly to entrepreneurs; it requires them to make up the entire difference in price from their own holdings.   A full ratchet anti-dilution clause is very unfriendly to entrepreneurs; it requires them to make up the entire difference in price from their own holdings.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Startup Lessons Learned

MAY 7, 2009

As the product matured, they were able to ratchet up the quality to prevent regression on features that had been truly embraced by their customers. Starting instead from a position where feedback cycle time is the priority and allowing quality to ratchet up as the product matures provides a more natural lead in to continuous deployment.

Continuous Deployment 131

Continuous Deployment San Francisco Software Review Lean 131

The Startup Toolkit

JANUARY 10, 2017

Unlike the much maligned case of a clueless business guy searching for indentured servants, he delivered real value and had secured a shocking number of customer commitments before the thing was built. Investors can delay until you’re desperate and then ratchet the terms. A solution at the end. It’s not just cofounders.

Cofounder 20

Cofounder Technical Review Vesting Ratchet 20