Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

At an accelerator … Me: Raising convertible notes as a seed round is one of the biggest disservices our industry has done to entrepreneurs since 2001-2003 when there were “full ratchets” and “multiple liquidation preferences” – the most hostile terms anybody found in term sheets 10 years ago.

Venture Capital 417

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 15, 2016

How much your company should burn should also have a direct correlation with whom your existing investors are and I strongly advise that you have open conversations with them about their comfort levels and also the level of support you are likely to receive going forward. They may push you to cut costs.

Burn Rate 150

Burn Rate Cap Table Valuation Software Review 150

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

.   At the financial level , and assuming a harvest of the investment in the company without the need for further financing, two terms stand out as driving economics: the dividend and the liquidation preference. Second a liquidation preference and a participation.   First , dividends.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Up and Running

AUGUST 17, 2015

C Corp versus LLC, non-competes, liquidation preferences, preferred versus common stock, and so on). By the time of their restaurant’s grand opening, they were able to build a brand around their restaurant, perfect their menu, and develop a clear understanding of their operating costs.

Entrepreneur 60

Entrepreneur Cofounder Angel Investor eCommerce 60

abovethecrowd.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Lost in this conversation are the dramatic differences between a high priced private round and an IPO. Conversely, these late stage private rounds have no such pageantry or process. Many companies embed costs that are truly variable (for instance customer support, marketing, credit card processing) below the gross margin line.

IPO 40

IPO Liquidation Preference Valuation Technical Review 40

Gust

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Me: Raising convertible notes as a seed round is one of the biggest disservices our industry has done to entrepreneurs since 2001-2003 when there were “full ratchets” and “multiple liquidation preferences” – the most hostile terms anybody found in term sheets 10 years ago. These are all real conversations. And so forth.

Liquidation Preference 153

Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet Stock 153

K9 Ventures

MARCH 23, 2011

The typical fix for this problem is to put in a cap in the note for the pre-money price for conversion. Before the era of capped notes, entrepreneurs preferred to do notes because the note essentially deferred the valuation of the company. What percent of the company should the note holder get on conversion?

Pre-Money Valuation 132

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Equity Liquidation Preference 132

Feld Thoughts

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Much of it is very short term focused and, like a giant tractor beam, draws the conversation into a very short time horizon (as in days or weeks). One of my favorite lines in buried in the middle: “I’ve heard enough companies say “we simply can’t cut costs or it will hurt the long-term potential of the business” to get a wry smile.

Cap Table 70

Cap Table Down Round Liquidation Preference Founder 70

Scott Edward Walker

APRIL 9, 2012

Part 3 will cover certain special issues, such as (i) what happens if the startup is acquired prior to the note’s conversion to equity? (ii) ii) what happens if the maturity date is reached prior to the note’s conversion to equity? Speed, simplicity and cost. What are Some of the Other Advantages of Issuing Convertible Notes?

Preferred Stock 87

Preferred Stock Finance Common Stock Liquidation Preference 87

VC Adventure

AUGUST 30, 2010

The most common forms of investment in early stage business are convertible debt and preferred equity. Typically this conversion is at a discount to the next equity round (to compensate the debt investors for their risk) and sometimes carries warrants (same rational) or a cap on the equity price that the debt converts into.

Angel Investor 103

Angel Investor Early Stage Equity Valuation 103

ithacaVC

NOVEMBER 12, 2011

And, typically, the note holder is given a discount on the conversion price. So, the debt holder ends up with Series A stock with a $1 value (and usually a 1X liquidation preference, in this hypo $1) for $.85. Conversion Discount vs Warrant Coverage. 85 a share (just divide the debt amount plus interest by $.85).

Warrant 49

Warrant Liquidation Preference Equity Stock 49

David Teten

AUGUST 21, 2019

This includes the application process, phone calls with us, conversations with co-founders, investors and counsel, etc. Lower processing cost. Much lower cost of capital, if company is highly successful. The cost of VC funding to a unicorn CEO can easily be the equivalent of paying well over 100% annual interest.

Revenue 60

Revenue Liquidation Preference Equity Cofounder 60

Life Beyond Code

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

When we were looking to talk to investors, Sramana introduced us to multiple investors and acted as an advisor helping us to navigate complex term sheet clauses like tranche financing and liquidation preferences. At 1/12th the cost, 1M/1M provides far more value. Of 1M/1M he says, “The value of your program is amazing.

Programming 116

Programming Silicon Valley Bootstrapping Technical Review 116

Austin Startup

APRIL 1, 2017

They’ll focus on high-level issues like valuation, liquidation preference, and board composition (# of seats), and then prematurely check out once a term sheet is signed. And, broadly speaking, that is correct. But the devil is in the details, and too many teams overlook extremely important details.

Term Sheet 48

Term Sheet Institutional Investors Lead Investor Technical Review 48