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C. Worrall




When you seek venture capital, depending on the size of the round and the appetite for risk of the investor, you may end up with an investment group rather than a single VC.

During the course of your talks with various VC firms, ask if they would consider being part of an investor group. The conversation that follows will give you a variety of information. They will probably tell you if they always, sometimes or never co-invest with other groups. If they do, ask them who else they normally invest with. If they are interested enough to have you in for a presentation, they may be willing to make an introduction to another firm.

Also, let’s say you get a ‘no’ from the VC you are talking to, but you get the feeling it’s a soft no. If you find another company that is willing to lead your round of financing, you may come back to firms that normally co-invest with others, even if they have already turned you down. Upon occasion, once an investment is blessed by another firm, the first firm may reconsider their position.

The VC should have let you know ahead of time that his firm is interested in being part of an investor group. Finding out on the term sheet that the firm only intends to invest in part of the round indicates either that the VC is a rookie or that there were some last minute qualms about the investment that caused the partners to back-peddle at the last minute.

A rookie VC may or may not be a bad thing, but if one or more of the partners is skiddish about the deal, there could be trouble through the term-sheet negotiations. Try to pinpoint what is making the partners take a lower risk position, so you can reassure them.

In general, having several well-known firms as part of your investor group is a positive. For one, you get twice the resources for the same investment, including twice the industry and future investment contacts. Additionally, if you need a second round, the investors may not be able to continue investing, but if you have two firms, your chances of receiving additional investment double.

Michael J. Malik




When we purchased Rockford Ball Bearing Corporation out of bankruptcy in 2006, the venture capital market was flush with cash. This spring we sought an additional round of funding for our expansion. Venture Capital is never easy to find, but especially during these difficult economic times it is getting harder. New strategies need to be implemented to find capital.

There are several ways to prepare for VC interviews for funding. Three steps should be implemented out of the gate. These are verifiable and true options:

First, explore your accounting records, tighten up the ship. Cut as many overhead items that are reasonable without gutting your research and development budget.

Next talk with your employees, make sure that their advice is being heard by management. VC firms will start by talking with your employees at all levels. They will rely more on this feedback than your managers may be.

Last, review your business plans, take an objective look. See it through your worst critic’s eyes. What would they change?

The founder of our company Joseph Malik sold Malik Bearing Company to The Harvey Family in 1975. Malik Bearing was renamed Rockford Ball Bearing in 1982 when The Harvey Family had to reorganize the company during the protracted recession of the 1980’s. The due diligence was dinner and a hand shake. Today’s VC firms spend much more investigative time talking with suppliers and customers, reading industry reports and analyzing your firm against industry benchmarks.

The ball bearing industry is a tough business, as tough as the balls we mill. The margins are tight. Venture Capitalists seek the highest and best return for their investment dollars, and it matters not which industry they deploy their currency into. Leverage is a friend to returns of rising businesses but the enemy of gamblers who treat a manufacturing company as a casino. The Harvey Family over leveraged Malik Bearing Company and had to lower debts to get back on a positive stable business path again.

The Venture Capitalists knew this history and we worked hard to offer a better road forward for our business, they agreed and funded us $42 million for our expansion plans.

Dennis Robertson




Venture Capital is a specific term that refers to funding obtained from a venture capitalist. These are professional serial investors and may be individuals or part of a firm. Often venture capitalists have a niche based on business type and or size and or stage of growth. They are likely to see a lot of proposals in front of them (sometimes hundreds a month), be interested in a few, and invest in even fewer. Around 1-3% of all deals put to a venture capitalist get funded. So, with the numbers that low, you need to be clearly impressive.

Growth is usually associated with access to, and conservation of cash while maximising profitable business. People often see venture capital as the magic bullet to fix everything, but it isn’t. Owners need to have a huge desire to grow and a willingness to give up some ownership or control. For many, not wanting to lose control will make them a poor fit for venture capital. (If you work this out early on you might save a lot of headaches).

Remember, it’s not just about the money. From the perspective of a business owner, there is money and smart money. Smart money means it comes with expertise, advice and often contacts and new sales opportunities. This helps the owner, and the investors grow the business.

Venture Capital is just one way to fund a business and in fact it is one of the least common, yet most often discussed. It may or may not be the right option for you (a discussion with a corporate advisor might help you decide what is the right path for you).

Here’s a few other options to consider.

Your Own Money – many business are funded from the owner’s own savings, or from money drawn from equity in property. This is often the simplest money to access. Often an investor would like to see some of the owner’s fund in the company (“skin in the game”) before they’d consider investing.

Private Equity – Private Equity and Venture Capital are almost the same, but with a slightly different flavour. Venture Capital tends to be the term used for an early stage company and Private Equity for a later stage funding for further growth. There are specialists in each area and you’ll find different companies with their own criteria.

FF & F - Family, Friends and Fools. Those closer to the business and often not sophisticated investors. This type of money can come with more emotional baggage and interference (as opposed to help) from its providers, but may be the fastest way to access smaller amounts of capital. Often multiple investors will make up the overall amount needed.

Angel Investors – The main business angels vary from venture capitalists in their motives and level of involvement. Often angels are more involved in the business, providing ongoing mentorship and advice based on experience in a particular industry. For that reason, matching angels and owners is critical. There are substantial easily locatable networks of angels. Pitching to them is no less demanding than to a venture capitalist as they still review hundreds of proposals and accept only a handful. Often the demands around exit strategies are different for an angel and they are satisfied with a slightly longer term investment (say 5-7 years compared to 3-4 for a venture capitalist).

Bootstrapping – growing organically through reinvesting profits. No external capital injected.

Banks – banks will lend money, but are more concerned about your assets than your business. Expect to personally guarantee everything.

Leases – this may be a way to fund particular purchases that allow for expansion. They will normally be leases over assets, and secured by those assets. Often it is possible to lease specialist equipment that a bank would not lend on.

Merger / Acquisition Strategy – you may seek to acquire or be acquired. Generally even a merger has a stronger and a weaker partner. Combining the resources of two or more companies can be a path to growth – and when it is done with a company in the same business, can make a lot of sense – on paper at least. Many mergers suffer from differences in culture and unforeseen resentments that can kill the benefits.

Inventory Financing – specialist lenders will lend money against inventory you own. This may be more expensive than a bank, but might allow you to access funds you could not have otherwise.

Accounts Receivable Financing / Factoring – again a specialist area of lending that may allow you to tap into a source of funds you didn’t know you had.

IPO – this is normally a strategy after some initial capital raising and having proven a business is viable through the development of a track record. In Australia there are various ways to “list”. They are useful for raising larger amounts of money ($50m and up) as the costs can be quite high ($1m plus).

MBO (Management Buy Out) – This tends to be a later stage strategy, rather than a startup funding strategy. In essence debt is raised to buy out the owners and investors. It is often a strategy to gain back control from outside investors, or when investors seek to divest themselves from the business.

One of the most important things to remember across all these strategies is that they all require a significant amount of work in order to make them work – from the way the business is structured, to dealings with staff, suppliers and customers – need to be examined and groomed so that they make the company attractive as an investment proposition. This process of grooming and derisking can take anywhere from three months to a year. It is often costly both in actual expenses (consultants, legal advice, accounting advice) as well as changing the focus of the owners from “sticking to the knitting” and making money within the business to a focus on how the business presents itself.

Jennifer J Lin




Venture capital is an important source of funding for start-up and other companies that have a limited operating history and don’t have access to capital markets. A venture capital firm (VC) typically looks for new and small businesses with a perceived long-term growth potential that will result in a large payout for investors.

Who is a Venture Capitalist?

A venture capitalist is not necessarily just one wealthy financier. Most VCs are limited partnerships that have a fund of pooled investment capital with which to invest in a number of companies. They vary in size from firms that manage just a few million dollars worth of investments to much larger VCs that may have billions of dollars invested in companies all over the world. VCs may be a small group of investors or an affiliate or subsidiary of a large commercial bank, investment bank, or insurance company that makes investments on behalf clients of the parent company or outside investors. In any case, the VC aims to use its business knowledge, experience and expertise to fund and nurture companies that will yield a substantial return on the VC’s investment, generally within three to seven years.

Returns for Investors:

Not all VC investments pay off. The failure rate can be quite high, and in fact, anywhere from 20 percent to 90 percent of portfolio companies may fail to return on the VC’s investment. On the other hand, if a VC does well, a fund can offer returns of 300 to 1,000 percent.

Partnership:

In additional to a portion of the equity, a VC expects to have a say in how its portfolio company operates. Ideally, the VC fosters growth at the company through its involvement in managerial, strategic, and planning decisions. To do this, the VC relies on the expertise of its general partners who may be former CEOs, bankers, or experts in a particular industry. In most cases, one or more general partners of the VC take Board of Director positions at a portfolio company. They may also help recruit key executives to the portfolio company.

Size of Funding:

It’s important to do your homework before approaching a VC for funding, to make sure you’re targeting the right potential partner for your business needs. Not all VCs invest in ’start-ups.’ While some may invest small amounts of “seed” capital for very early ventures, many focus on early or expansion funding, while still others may invest at the end of the business cycle, specializing in buyouts, turnarounds, or recapitalizations.

Investment Preferences:

VCs may be generalists that invest in a variety of industries and locations. More typically, they specialize in a particular industry. Make sure your company falls within the VC’s target industry before you make your pitch – a VC that’s focused on biotechnology start-ups will not consider your request for later-stage funding for expansion of your semiconductor firm. You can often gain insight into a VC’s investment preferences by reviewing its website.

In addition to industry preferences, VCs also typically have a geographic preference. Being in the same general location as a portfolio company allows the VC to better assist with business operations such as marketing, personnel, and financing.

Keep in mind that venture capital is not an option for all new businesses. In fact, VCs are very selective in choosing new companies to invest in, so your company may not qualify. They’re most interested in businesses with high growth potential that will allow them to successfully exit with a higher than average return in a time frame of roughly three to 10 years, depending on the type of investment. Given the rigorous expectations, most venture funding goes to companies in rapidly expanding industries such as technology, biotechnology, and life sciences.

This article is part of a complete Venture Capital 101 guide. To view a complete Venture Capital 101, please visit homepage of www.MyCapital.com.

Helen Cox




Venture Capital is a type of private equity that works on the basis of cash being invested into businesses in exchange for a share of a business. Venture Capitalists don’t however just offer their skills to a business; they also provide managerial and technical expertise.

Venture Capital is popular among new companies and new ventures. Many of these Venture Capitalists who invest in your business have a background in being chief executives at firms and investment bankers as well as connections with other firms in corporate investment and finance spaces.

Venture Capital is a viable source of financing for a business. Venture Capitalists have the option of investing at any stage of business, whether it is business start up or investing in an established business; however more typically than not a Venture Capitalist will invest in a more established and on going business.

When is comes to the type of businesses that Venture Capitalists invest in they are free to invest in which ever business sector they please, even though if you look at the trend of Venture Capitalists you will see that the main businesses that Venture Capitalists invest in are high tech such as research and development, electronics and gaming industries. Venture Capitalists also deal in large sums of money, which often run into millions of dollars.

Most Venture Capital arrangements have a fixed life of ten years and it should be noted that a Venture Capitalist isn’t suitable for all entrepreneurs; same as not all businesses get the opportunity to use the help of a Venture Capitalist. The Venture Capital market is very selective; a Venture Capitalist may only invest in one in 400 hundred opportunities that are presented to them, so if you want to attract a Venture Capitalist you need to have a well documented business plan and you need to be able to demonstrate how your business will be able to bring in enough capital after the help of a Venture Capitalist has been invested in your business.

If a business does posses the qualities that a Venture Capitalist is looking for, such as a solid business plan, a good management team, investment and passion from the founders, a good potential to exit the investment before the end of their funding cycle and target minimum returns in excess of 40% per year, you will find it easier to get a Venture Capitalist to invest in your business.

A Venture Capitalist will also consider aspects such as:

o Is your product or service commercially viable?

o Does your business have potential for sustained growth?

o Does your management team have the ability to use this potential and control the business through growth phases?

o Does the possible reward justify the risk involved in the investment?

o Does the potential financial return meet the investment criteria of the Venture Capitalist?

Almost three million people in the UK are employed by companies backed by venture capital, according to the British Venture Capital Association. Many of these companies might not be in existence without the injection of cash and guidance venture capitalists provide.

Low Jeremy




Everyone has a good idea. The hard part is turning that dream in the head or on paper into a reality. One of the biggest stumbling blocks is money because without the much-needed capital, it is impossible to make it happen.

The entrepreneur can get a loan from the bank to help with this endeavor. But if the interest rates are to high or the person does not have collateral, then this is not such a good idea after all.

The best thing to do will be seek out a venture capitalist. The money this person will infuse into the business will go a long way in starting it or keep it going.

The first thing the entrepreneur needs to do is to write a business proposal. Research has shown that more than 80% of those who decided to start something fail in the end because no studies were conducted.

The document must have a clear idea as to direction of the business, how much will be needed as well as how long before the return of investment starts coming in.

It is not that difficult to find a venture capitalist. The hard part is selling the idea because there are also others who will be sending a proposal, which has similar contents in the texts.

Apart from reading the proposal, the entrepreneur will also have to explain this in person why this should be accepted over the others. An ocular inspection of the place will also need to be since such as decision will not be made overnight.

Once hooked and the money is approved, both the entrepreneur and the capitalist investor have made a partnership which will hopefully last for the long term.

The capitalist investor does not only give money. There may be times that the entrepreneur is stuck in a crossroad and this may also offer good advice. After all, the money of the person is in here and will surely do everything possible to get it back with a profit.

In the end, the venture capital investment is similar to a loan but does not have high interest rates compared to a bank. It is also like launching an IPO but without the need to release a certain number of shares to the people.

Will it be beneficial to talk with a venture capitalist? The answer is definitely yes because it becomes a win-win situation for everyone without one side ever getting the better of the other.

Dave Lavinsky




When companies enter into negotiations with venture capital firms, there are several issues which need to be defined and agreed upon. This article describes the key issues.

Valuation. Valuation is the most prominent negotiating issues. Valuation is the price of the company in which the venture capitalist invests. Valuation determines what percent of the company the investor is buying for their capital.

Timing of the Investment. Many investors will commit a large amount of capital, but will contribute that capital to the companies in installments. Often, these installments are only made when pre-designated milestones are met.

Vesting of Founders’ Stock. Like capital, investors often prefer that stock is given to company founders and key employees in installments. This is known as vesting.

Modifying the Management Team. Some investors insist that additional or substitute management employees be hired subsequent to their investment. This gives investors additional security that the company will execute on its business model. An important issue to negotiate with regards to modifying the management team is the amount of stock or options that will be issued to new management team members, as this will dilute the holdings of the founders.

Employment Agreements with Key Founders. Venture capitalists typically do not want companies to have employment agreements that limit the circumstances under which employees can be fired and/or set compensation and benefits levels that are too high. Other key employment agreement issues to be negotiated with venture capitalists include restrictions on post-employment activities and employee severance payments on termination.

Company Proprietary Rights. If the company has an important product with intellectual property (IP), investors will want to ensure that the company, and not a company employee, owns the IP. In addition, investors will want to ensure that new inventions be assigned to the company. To this end, investors may negotiate that all employees must sign Confidentiality and Inventions Assignment Agreements.

Exit Strategy. Investors are very focused on how they will “cash out” of their investment. In this regard, they will negotiate regarding registration rights (both demand and piggyback); rights to participate in any sale of stock by the founders (co-sale rights); and possibly a right to force the company to redeem their stock under certain conditions.

Lock-Up Rights. Venture capitalists may require a lock-up period at the term sheet stage. The “lock-up period” is typically a 30-60 day period where the investors have the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to make the investment. Investors typically conduct due diligence during this time without fear that other investors will pre-empt their opportunity to invest in the company.

Each of these issues are critical when raising venture capital, since the outcome can significantly impact the success of the venture and the wealth potential of the company founders and management team. Because venture capitalists are very knowledgeable regarding these issues, and have great skill in negotiating on them, companies who are raising venture capital should seek advisors who also have this experience and expertise.

Low Jeremy




Venture capitalism is one of the things that keep business booming in the country. It is one of the ways that helps new businesses thrive and flourish. This is because, venture capitalists are forever looking for new and innovative ventures that can potentially yield big return on the long term. They are not much into businesses that are already flourishing but those that are just starting or those that are in need of restructuring.

What is venture capital?

This refers to the money that a venture capitalist gives to a business or venture in exchange for a stake in the company. Instead of loaning the money, venture capitalists invest in the business hoping that it will yield a great deal of money in the future. This means that whatever the future earnings and profits of the company, the venture capitalist has a share on it. The same goes with the loss.

Risky business

Venture capitalism is indeed a risky business but it has become the lifeblood of the industry as most start-up companies rely on these kinds of investments to keep their business going and to make their ideas come to life. Typically, people with great ideas and the know how to execute them go to venture capitalists for their capital. Because they are not yet bigwigs in the industry, these people do not have access to traditional capital resources such as banks and other financial institutions.

Venture capitalists on the other hand look for companies that are small and new but have a really promising future. This way, they bring in little cash and get millions in return when the company becomes a success. Usually, venture capitalists have a team of people that keep tabs on the goings on in the business community. Like a hawk, they look for companies that are vulnerable but have great potential for growth.

A venture capitalist can be a person or an organization. A individual venture capitalist will often select just a few prized investments that he or she will watch like a hawk. Venture capitalist firms, on the other hand, can command billions of dollars in earnings and investments, depending on their size and their area of influence. Some venture capitalists have investments all over the world. Some VCs, especially the big ones, also have affiliate banks that provide the cash flow. Some even have subsidiaries that use the money in other investments to keep it rolling.

Aazdak Alisimo




What is venture capital and how does it differ from other forms of equity procurement? The answer lies in an understanding of the relationship of risk and return in investing.

One of the key principles of investment is that the greater the risk, the greater the potential for high rate of return. This might be called the “no guts, no glory” theory. If you are looking for a very safe and secure investment, there are plenty to be found, but you can be reasonably sure that your rate of return will be low. These low return, but safe investments are designed for long term investment. Even a small rate of return will have some accumulated value far into the future. If you are looking to really make money on your investment, you must be willing to take risks. What is venture capital? It is capital that is invested in high risk, but potentially high return ventures.

Venture capital is considered a private equity source. This means that it is not made available by normal lending institutions such as banks. Rather it is equity, most often in the form of cash, that is made available to finance the start up of companies that have an innovative idea, but lack the capital and do not qualify for debt type of financing. In most cases, the venture capital is exchanged for an ownership interest in the new company. This is most commonly in the form of stock ownership.

The disadvantages of using venture capital as opposed to normal debt financing for start up costs include the fact that some ownership rights are given up and the cost of repayment is very high. The advantage of venture capital is that it is often the only way to launch the business. It is pretty much a safe assumption that if the people starting the high risk business were able to secure financing through normal channels at lower cost and without surrendering any ownership control, they would do so.

This explains why venture capital is used so often in companies introducing new technology. Software companies and the now infamous “dot com” companies were good examples of firms that sought venture capital. Their main assets were ideas rather than tangible and solid items that were more likely to act as collateral in the eyes of a banker. Yet, it is in emerging technology that the opportunities for tremendous profit lie and this is what attracts the private investor to venture capital.

In some cases, groups of individuals join together to create venture capital funds. The idea remains the same. The venture capital fund acts only as an entity to handle the investments of the group. Some venture capital funds make investments on behalf of third party investors, but the definition of venture capital remains unchanged. Venture capital is not restricted to start up either. In some cases, it is used for research projects or expansion of an existing company. Once again, these alternative uses do not alter the basic definition of venture capital. It is a private source of funding for high risk companies offering potentially large returns if successful.

Debra Trotter




Venture capital is a type of capital that goes to startups and new companies that are expected and hoped to break through and generate large profit. Venture capitals are made by exchanging cash for shares of the company’s stocks.

If you are planning to engage in venture capital, make sure that you are aware of the hard work that you would have to do, as much as the worth that you can get from it. Shelling out cash is not enough. You have to be oriented about how this type of investment works, and how you can get the most out of it. It does not work like a bank wherein you would surely get your money plus interest.

Companies in the technology and biotechnology industries are deemed safe to invest in, since they are booming areas of business nowadays. These companies, though they may be small, are usually made up of highly qualified experts in their areas, and are expected to create items and products that would surely make a hit in their respective target markets.

Thus, you have to be able to know which among the firms existing now would create huge impact in their respective industries. You have to be updated about the latest in the business world, and invest according to what the current market dictates. Along with this, you have to keep in mind the future and what things are soon to happen, especially in the business realm.

There are great rewards in going for venture capital. Since very few would normally risk their money on new and unstable companies, you would share the company’s profits with only a number of people. If the company becomes highly successful, the return of your investment would be greatly more than how much you initially put in.

New companies rely on venture capital, since they would normally lack enough money to jumpstart their company. Some venture capitalists even include the provision of administration, human resources and managerial personnel, to aid the companies in realizing their goals. With the right knowledge and attitude, you can grow your money by placing them in venture companies.