Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2013

I reinforced this view by referring to a very interesting article I had read by Andy Grove (co-founder & former CEO of Intel) on car batteries, china manufacturing and the problem of US outsourcing. We had a brief chat on his views of “Freemium.” Neither does Clayton.

Bankruptcy 403

Bankruptcy Offshore Liquidation Preference Balance Sheet 403

Up and Running

AUGUST 17, 2015

Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship: While the exact title and contents of this class may vary depending on the business school you attend, as a first time founder, it’s incredibly important to understand all of the legal considerations around starting your own company (e.g., See Also How to Find a Business Partner.

Entrepreneur 60

Entrepreneur Cofounder Angel Investor eCommerce 60

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

For starters let me use “CEO” as a proxy to include her “inner circle” which might mean co-founders or might just mean senior execs of the business. The Mind of the Founder. The mind of a founder is wired differently than most people. The startup CEO was not the original founder.

Startup 417

Startup Dilution San Diego Stock Options 417

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? Indeed, as a corporate lawyer for 18+ years, I have seen this development first-hand. (ii)

Preferred Stock 87

Preferred Stock Finance Common Stock Liquidation Preference 87

Scott Edward Walker

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

It is important for founders to understand that VC term sheets are usually deemed to be “non-binding” (other than perhaps a few provisions, such as the “no-shop” provision and legal fees and expenses). What Are the Key Issues for Founders? Fourth, founders should button-down all of the key issues in the term sheet.

Term Sheet 76

Term Sheet Due Diligence Liquidation Preference Redemption 76

thestartuplawyer.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

He obviously never launched a startup and got shafted by a co-founder. He obviously never launched a startup and got shafted by a co-founder. You can start by examining every aspect of the co-founder relationship. Don’t leave anything out just because you and your co-founders already talked about it.

Cofounder 40

Cofounder Founder Preferred Stock Startup 40

Feld Thoughts

JULY 14, 2015

The new money comes in at a pre-money valuation of $100, but includes a complete refresh of founder equity to 40% of the company. So the new investment gets 60%, the founders get 39.9%, and the $1m of seed money gets 0.1%. and the investors, who put up $1m in a convertible note, get 0.1%. Sure – it happens.

Recapitalization 70

Recapitalization Pre-Money Valuation Post-Money Valuation Angel Investor 70

David Teten

AUGUST 21, 2019

Most founders who are raising capital look first to traditional equity VCs. Revenue-Based Investing (“RBI”) is a new form of VC financing, distinct from the preferred equity structure most VCs use. For more background, see Revenue-Based Investing: A New Option for Founders who Care About Control. But should they? Optionality.

Revenue 60

Revenue Liquidation Preference Equity Cofounder 60

Pascal's View

DECEMBER 30, 2012

While every company founder makes trade-offs in building a company, few entrepreneurs appreciate the far-reaching implications of several critical decisions they will are required to make at the outset of a startup’s evolution. Most founders tend to make decisions with no process, based on their gut instincts.

Cofounder 34

Cofounder Liquidation Preference Vesting Equity 34

Spencer Fry

APRIL 17, 2017

As a bootstrapped startup, the only accountability you have is to yourself and to your co-founder if you have one. Now as a bootstrapped business, you’re still giving away equity, but instead of for money, you’re giving it away for time, to your co-founders and others you may work with. Having great accountability.

Bootstrapping 63

Bootstrapping Cap Table Liquidation Preference Cofounder 63

ithacaVC

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Negotiate a $20 million pre-money with a 19-year-old founder CEO. Somebody who’d bale a portfolio together with the soft strong bonds of liquidation preferences, who’d laugh and then sigh… and then respond with a soft-whisper “NFW”, when his portfolio CEO says he wants to spend his life “doing what a VC does”. So, God made a VC!

Liquidation Preference 55

Liquidation Preference IRR Due Diligence LP 55

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Many founders don’t understand why inside rounds are so difficult. Also, new investors will be worried that the down round will cause founders or senior management to depart and no VC wants to replace management. Because we know in tough times we have to count on our co-investors to be good actors.

Valuation 150

Valuation Down Round Startup Later Stage 150