Stan Podolski’s Post

They sold their company for $558M, but wound up with $0 😱 FanDuel’s sale might seem like a success, until you learn its founders and employees walked away with nothing. WHY? Investor-friendly terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights prioritized late-stage investors, leaving little for common shareholders. What founders can learn: 1. Read the fine print: Terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights can strip you of profits and control. 2. Raise responsibly: Over-raising inflates valuations and may create unsustainable pressure for returns. 3. Pick the right investors: Not all capital is equal—align with those who share your long-term vision. 💡 FanDuel’s story is a stark reminder: building a great company is one thing, protecting your stake is another. VC funding isn’t always the success it seems; it often brings intense pressure for rapid growth. Ask yourself: is VC the right path for our growth, or should we consider alternatives like organic growth to profitability? Thank you to Hugh Mooney for posting this.

They sold their company for $558M, but wound up with $0 😱 FanDuel’s sale might seem like a success, until you learn its founders and employees walked away with nothing. WHY? Investor-friendly terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights prioritized late-stage investors, leaving little for common shareholders. What founders can learn: 1. Read the fine print: Terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights can strip you of profits and control. 2. Raise responsibly: Over-raising inflates valuations and may create unsustainable pressure for returns. 3. Pick the right investors: Not all capital is equal—align with those who share your long-term vision. 💡 FanDuel’s story is a stark reminder: building a great company is one thing, protecting your stake is another. VC funding isn’t always the success it seems; it often brings intense pressure for rapid growth. Ask yourself: is VC the right path for our growth, or should we consider alternatives like organic growth to profitability? Thank you to Hugh Mooney for posting this.

They sold their company for $558M, but wound up with $0 😱 FanDuel’s sale might seem like a success, until you learn its founders and employees walked away with nothing. WHY? Investor-friendly terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights prioritized late-stage investors, leaving little for common shareholders. What founders can learn: 1. Read the fine print: Terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights can strip you of profits and control. 2. Raise responsibly: Over-raising inflates valuations and may create unsustainable pressure for returns. 3. Pick the right investors: Not all capital is equal—align with those who share your long-term vision. 💡 FanDuel’s story is a stark reminder: building a great company is one thing, protecting your stake is another. VC funding isn’t always the success it seems; it often brings intense pressure for rapid growth. Ask yourself: is VC the right path for our growth, or should we consider alternatives like organic growth to profitability? Thank you to Hugh Mooney for posting this.

They sold their company for $558M, but wound up with $0 😱 FanDuel’s sale might seem like a success, until you learn its founders and employees walked away with nothing. WHY? Investor-friendly terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights prioritized late-stage investors, leaving little for common shareholders. What founders can learn: 1. Read the fine print: Terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights can strip you of profits and control. 2. Raise responsibly: Over-raising inflates valuations and may create unsustainable pressure for returns. 3. Pick the right investors: Not all capital is equal—align with those who share your long-term vision. 💡 FanDuel’s story is a stark reminder: building a great company is one thing, protecting your stake is another. VC funding isn’t always the success it seems; it often brings intense pressure for rapid growth. Ask yourself: is VC the right path for our growth, or should we consider alternatives like organic growth to profitability? Thank you to Hugh Mooney for posting this.

They sold their company for $558M, but wound up with $0 😱 FanDuel’s sale might seem like a success, until you learn its founders and employees walked away with nothing. WHY? Investor-friendly terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights prioritized late-stage investors, leaving little for common shareholders. What founders can learn: 1. Read the fine print: Terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights can strip you of profits and control. 2. Raise responsibly: Over-raising inflates valuations and may create unsustainable pressure for returns. 3. Pick the right investors: Not all capital is equal—align with those who share your long-term vision. 💡 FanDuel’s story is a stark reminder: building a great company is one thing, protecting your stake is another. VC funding isn’t always the success it seems; it often brings intense pressure for rapid growth. Ask yourself: is VC the right path for our growth, or should we consider alternatives like organic growth to profitability? Thank you to Hugh Mooney for posting this.

They sold their company for $558M, but wound up with $0 😱 FanDuel’s sale might seem like a success, until you learn its founders and employees walked away with nothing. WHY? Investor-friendly terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights prioritized late-stage investors, leaving little for common shareholders. What founders can learn: 1. Read the fine print: Terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights can strip you of profits and control. 2. Raise responsibly: Over-raising inflates valuations and may create unsustainable pressure for returns. 3. Pick the right investors: Not all capital is equal—align with those who share your long-term vision. 💡 FanDuel’s story is a stark reminder: building a great company is one thing, protecting your stake is another. VC funding isn’t always the success it seems; it often brings intense pressure for rapid growth. Ask yourself: is VC the right path for our growth, or should we consider alternatives like organic growth to profitability? Thank you to Hugh Mooney for posting this.

They sold their company for $558M, but wound up with $0 😱 FanDuel’s sale might seem like a success, until you learn its founders and employees walked away with nothing. WHY? Investor-friendly terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights prioritized late-stage investors, leaving little for common shareholders. What founders can learn: 1. Read the fine print: Terms like liquidation preferences and drag-along rights can strip you of profits and control. 2. Raise responsibly: Over-raising inflates valuations and may create unsustainable pressure for returns. 3. Pick the right investors: Not all capital is equal—align with those who share your long-term vision. 💡 FanDuel’s story is a stark reminder: building a great company is one thing, protecting your stake is another. VC funding isn’t always the success it seems; it often brings intense pressure for rapid growth. Ask yourself: is VC the right path for our growth, or should we consider alternatives like organic growth to profitability? Thank you to Hugh Mooney for posting this.