Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

There is an inherent value that any company has. On a public stock market that is the value that investors place on future free cash flows of the business discounted to today’s date to account for the time value of money. The more mature the company and industry, the easier it is to predict its future.

Pre-Money Valuation 336

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation Silicon Valley Stock 336

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

I took an advanced computer course in high school where I learned to build databases in Ashton Tate’s dBase III+ and to compile my designs using a product called Clipper. Do you really think Porter’s Five Forces is going to help you figure out what feature set to launch or how to price your product? What about strategy?

NPV 337

NPV Chicago Balance Sheet Database 337

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Once you have a potential investor excited about your team, your product, and your company, the investor will inevitably ask “What is your company’s valuation?” Early customers and contracts in progress add value. Assign probabilities to active customer sales efforts, just as sales managers do in quantifying a salesman’s forecast.

Valuation 270

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation NPV Intellectual Property 270

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Once you have a potential investor excited about your team, your product, and your company, the investor will inevitably ask “What is your company’s valuation?” Early customers and contracts in progress add value. Assign probabilities to active customer sales efforts, just as sales managers do in quantifying a salesman’s forecast.

Pre-Money Valuation 246

Pre-Money Valuation Valuation NPV Intellectual Property 246

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

Once you have a potential investor excited about your team, your product, and your company, the investor will inevitably ask “What is your company’s valuation?” Early customers and contracts in progress add value. Assign probabilities to active customer sales efforts, just as sales managers do in quantifying a salesman’s forecast.

Valuation 234

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation NPV Startup 234

Feld Thoughts

JUNE 4, 2014

On Monday we had a Foundry Group portfolio company sales summit. We are fortunate in that we’ve got a bunch of amazing sales execs in our portfolio, including several CEOs like Howard Diamond of MobileDay and Matthew Bellows of Yesware who have long histories selling and building sales organizations.

Software 140

Software Portfolio Sales Cofounder 140

Gust

NOVEMBER 18, 2012

Once you have a potential investor excited about your team, your product, and your company, the investor will inevitably ask “What is your company’s valuation?” Early customers and contracts in progress add value. Assign probabilities to active customer sales efforts, just as sales managers do in quantifying a salesman’s forecast.

Valuation 187

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation NPV Intellectual Property 187