The Dangers of Pretend VCs: How Founders Can Protect Themselves
In the dynamic world of startups, venture capitalists (VCs) are vital. They provide the necessary funding, mentorship, and network connections that help startups thrive. However, not everyone who claims to be a VC genuinely fits the bill. Some individuals adopt the title for the cachet, to enhance their resumes, or [...]
Funding Resources for Underrepresented Founders
tl;dr As awareness of the VC funding gap has grown, initiatives designed specifically to invest in companies led by folks from underrepresented backgrounds (e.g., Black, Latinx) have emerged. Underrepresented founders seeking capital for their ventures can tap into these growing opportunities to make it to their next growth milestone. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [...]
SAFEs v Convertible Notes – What are the Differences?
tl;dr – Convertible Notes and true debt instruments with interest and maturity dates while SAFEs are generally more founder friendly with the exception of Pro Rata rights. It’s important to understand what market in your area is when deciding which to use in fundraising. You learned of the standard way [...]
How to Properly Raise Seed Capital from Family & Friends
In my last post we ran through a scenario where a founder excitedly decided to sell equity to her uncle, an unsophisticated investor. That decision led to the unintended consequences of inflating the value of the company’s stock at an early stage as well as creating a giant tax liability [...]
The dangers of selling equity to friends and family for early stage startups
You just received an email from your rich uncle who normally invests in real estate. He is excited about your company and wants to put in $25k for 0.1% of your company, your first outside capital. That gives you a pre-money valuation of $25M! So everything is great, right? Cue [...]
Your Startup’s Initial Investors – Up to Series Seed
tl;dr - A high-growth startup will likely eventually need outside capital. Family and friends invest in companies when they are little more than an idea. Angels invest when the startup starts to gain traction. Traditional accelerators invest cash as well as resources for a piece of equity. Seed funds write [...]
The Dangers of Pretend VCs: How Founders Can Protect Themselves
In the dynamic world of startups, venture capitalists (VCs) are vital. They provide the necessary funding, mentorship, and network connections that help startups thrive. However, not everyone who claims to be a VC genuinely fits the bill. Some individuals adopt the title for the cachet, to enhance their resumes, or [...]
Funding Resources for Underrepresented Founders
tl;dr As awareness of the VC funding gap has grown, initiatives designed specifically to invest in companies led by folks from underrepresented backgrounds (e.g., Black, Latinx) have emerged. Underrepresented founders seeking capital for their ventures can tap into these growing opportunities to make it to their next growth milestone. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [...]
SAFEs v Convertible Notes – What are the Differences?
tl;dr – Convertible Notes and true debt instruments with interest and maturity dates while SAFEs are generally more founder friendly with the exception of Pro Rata rights. It’s important to understand what market in your area is when deciding which to use in fundraising. You learned of the standard way [...]
How to Properly Raise Seed Capital from Family & Friends
In my last post we ran through a scenario where a founder excitedly decided to sell equity to her uncle, an unsophisticated investor. That decision led to the unintended consequences of inflating the value of the company’s stock at an early stage as well as creating a giant tax liability [...]
The dangers of selling equity to friends and family for early stage startups
You just received an email from your rich uncle who normally invests in real estate. He is excited about your company and wants to put in $25k for 0.1% of your company, your first outside capital. That gives you a pre-money valuation of $25M! So everything is great, right? Cue [...]
Your Startup’s Initial Investors – Up to Series Seed
tl;dr - A high-growth startup will likely eventually need outside capital. Family and friends invest in companies when they are little more than an idea. Angels invest when the startup starts to gain traction. Traditional accelerators invest cash as well as resources for a piece of equity. Seed funds write [...]