Zack Ellison, CFA, CAIA’s Post

4 Proven Strategies To Create The Best Cap Table For Your Venture This is an excerpt from Dr. Rao’s blog on Forbes. https://lnkd.in/gXHe4x8r In the world of venture capital, capitalization (cap) tables are essential. Simply, they show the level of funding raised and ownership offered by round of fundraising along with the instrument used. It offers a snapshot of a venture’s ownership, structure, and price paid. But here’s another way to look at cap-tables – every share given to investors is dilution to you. Some dilution can benefit you and your venture. Conversely, some dilution can be detrimental. 4 questions to separate good dilution from bad? Here are 4 questions to ask before you dilute your interest? #1. What is the cost of capital? #2. Can you grow more with less? #3. Can you maintain control – if you want to? #4. Can you reduce the cost of financing by leveraging smarter financing? 4 strategies to optimize your cap table. To develop an optimum cap table that maximizes your potential, retains control, and minimizes dilution, consider these strategies: #1. Prioritize revenues. #2. Develop a finance-smart strategy. #3. Delay VC: What 18% of billion-dollar entrepreneurs did. #4. Avoid VC: What 76% of billion-dollar entrepreneurs did. The optimum cap table enables you to create wealth and retain more of it by keeping control of your venture. To achieve this, delay or avoid VC. The best capital helps you do this.  #VC #venturecapital #captable #unicorn #unicornentrepreneur #dileeprao #dileepraophd

🔑 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 🚀 As entrepreneurs, gaining the attention and support of investors is a must to secure the needed capital for their startup's growth. To navigate this crucial stage successfully, consider these five essential practices: 🤝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 Beyond simply being concise, your pitch should effectively communicate the essence of your idea or business in a memorable way. In casual settings, aim for brevity with a 1-3 minute pitch, while for formal presentations, provide a more detailed overview ranging from 3 to 15 minutes. 🌟 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭’𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 Investors are constantly seeking ideas that address unmet needs or untapped market opportunities. Clearly outline how your startup addresses market gaps, identifies your target audience, and showcases your competitive advantage. 📖 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 While metrics and data are important, they may not resonate emotionally with investors. To truly captivate them, weave a compelling narrative around your business. Craft a narrative that blends data with emotion, enabling them to relate and invest personally in your product's journey. 💰 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 Clearly outlining how you intend to utilize the investment funds is crucial for instilling confidence in potential investors. Provide a breakdown of your funding needs and explain how the investment will accelerate your company's growth trajectory. 🎯 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 Researching the investor's industry focus, investment stage preferences, and previous successful investments allows you to customize your pitch accordingly. Highlighting synergies between your venture and the investor's expertise or portfolio can significantly enhance your appeal. ✨ By meticulously addressing these five keys to captivating investors, startups can significantly and increase their chances of securing investment in 2024! -------------------------------------------------------- 🔎 Seeking more fundraising advice for your startup? Contact Capital JDI today! 🏆 At Capital JDI, we provide ventures with investor access, invaluable fundraising advice, and support through our vast network and expertise. 🔥 Reach out to us today to boost your startup's journey: https://lnkd.in/gEDd-maK #JDI #CapitalJDI #2024 #startup #investor #pitching

Do you know how to determine the right amount of capital to raise for your startup? This article offers a comprehensive guide on how to accurately estimate the capital your startup needs to thrive. LTV Partners emphasises the importance of setting clear, achievable milestones when pitching to investors. These milestones, also known as “accretive milestones," are crucial in determining the amount to raise as they give investors a target where and when their investment will increase in value. It’s not just about raising funds; it's about raising the right amount of funds. LTV Partners ‘Investor Ready’ solution ensures organisations are ready to achieve exactly this. We ensure there is a concise investor story, one that links to your strategy and commercial model, has forecasts that align with this and optimised governance to protect stakeholders. As part of this we assess the optimal capital stack to determine the right funding mix including external capital. So, are you ready to set clear milestones, determine your burn rate, and strategically plan your funding round to make your startup appealing to investors? Read on to learn more. #StartupFunding #InvestorReady #CapitalEstimation

Due Diligence: Why It Matters for Entrepreneurs Fundraising is a journey, and understanding its steps is crucial for success. One of the most critical steps in this process is due diligence, which prepares you for productive discussions with angel investors and venture capital funds. Having worked with thousands of startups, I've found that many founders are often unprepared for due diligence. They rely on a polished pitch deck, add some information, and hope to capture investors' interest. However, this approach often falls short. As a startup founder, you must understand what due diligence involves and how investors think. Due diligence is an in-depth analysis performed by investors to evaluate a startup's potential, focusing on the product, team, and financials. The objective is to determine if the startup aligns with the investor's criteria and investment thesis. For early-stage companies, especially those in the pre-revenue or early revenue stage, showcasing team capability and product potential is crucial. Since demonstrating traction or significant revenue might be challenging, thorough due diligence preparation signals to investors that you are serious and seek a genuine partnership rather than just financial backing. How to Prepare for Due Diligence: 1. Organize Documentation:    - Ensure all company documents are well-organised and categorised. Create folders such as Bylaws, Financials, and Business-related (value proposition, business model, product, team). Keep all files up to date. 2. Set Up Access Levels:   - Create different stages of access for potential investors. For example, Level One could include basic information like the pitch deck or one-pager and team description. Level Two could provide more detailed information, such as the business model, go-to-market strategy, and financials. Ensure all files are current. 3. Prepare Your Team:   - Go through a due diligence checklist with your product team and address any potential issues before granting access to investors. Conduct a "murder board" session, where you anticipate tough questions investors might ask and prepare thorough answers. 4. Provide Evidence of Traction and Product-Market Fit:   - This step is crucial and often overlooked. Understand your customers deeply to deliver a product that meets their needs. Show evidence of traction and how your product fits the market. The same thorough preparation applies when working with consultants. Ensure your company has a proper data room ready. More on this will be covered in an upcoming post. By meticulously preparing for due diligence, you demonstrate professionalism and commitment, increasing your chances of securing investment and building a successful partnership. #startup #fundraising #strategy #duediligence #entrepreneurship

🔑 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 🚀 As entrepreneurs, gaining the attention and support of investors is a must to secure the needed capital for their startup's growth. To navigate this crucial stage successfully, consider these five essential practices: 🤝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 Beyond simply being concise, your pitch should effectively communicate the essence of your idea or business in a memorable way. In casual settings, aim for brevity with a 1-3 minute pitch, while for formal presentations, provide a more detailed overview ranging from 3 to 15 minutes. 🌟 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭’𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 Investors are constantly seeking ideas that address unmet needs or untapped market opportunities. Clearly outline how your startup addresses market gaps, identifies your target audience, and showcases your competitive advantage. 📖 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 While metrics and data are important, they may not resonate emotionally with investors. To truly captivate them, weave a compelling narrative around your business. Craft a narrative that blends data with emotion, enabling them to relate and invest personally in your product's journey. 💰 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 Clearly outlining how you intend to utilize the investment funds is crucial for instilling confidence in potential investors. Provide a breakdown of your funding needs and explain how the investment will accelerate your company's growth trajectory. 🎯 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 Researching the investor's industry focus, investment stage preferences, and previous successful investments allows you to customize your pitch accordingly. Highlighting synergies between your venture and the investor's expertise or portfolio can significantly enhance your appeal. ✨ By meticulously addressing these five keys to captivating investors, startups can significantly and increase their chances of securing investment in 2024! -------------------------------------------------------- 🔎 Seeking more fundraising advices for your startup? Contact Capital JDI today! 🏆 At Capital JDI, we provide ventures with investor access, invaluable fundraising advice, and support through our vast network and expertise. 🔥 Reach out to us today to boost your startup's journey: https://lnkd.in/gEDd-maK #JDI #CapitalJDI #2024 #startup #investor #pitching

🔑 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 🚀 As entrepreneurs, gaining the attention and support of investors is a must to secure the needed capital for their startup's growth. To navigate this crucial stage successfully, consider these five essential practices: 🤝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 Beyond simply being concise, your pitch should effectively communicate the essence of your idea or business in a memorable way. In casual settings, aim for brevity with a 1-3 minute pitch, while for formal presentations, provide a more detailed overview ranging from 3 to 15 minutes. 🌟 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭’𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 Investors are constantly seeking ideas that address unmet needs or untapped market opportunities. Clearly outline how your startup addresses market gaps, identifies your target audience, and showcases your competitive advantage. 📖 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 While metrics and data are important, they may not resonate emotionally with investors. To truly captivate them, weave a compelling narrative around your business. Craft a narrative that blends data with emotion, enabling them to relate and invest personally in your product's journey. 💰 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 Clearly outlining how you intend to utilize the investment funds is crucial for instilling confidence in potential investors. Provide a breakdown of your funding needs and explain how the investment will accelerate your company's growth trajectory. 🎯 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 Researching the investor's industry focus, investment stage preferences, and previous successful investments allows you to customize your pitch accordingly. Highlighting synergies between your venture and the investor's expertise or portfolio can significantly enhance your appeal. ✨ By meticulously addressing these five keys to captivating investors, startups can significantly and increase their chances of securing investment in 2024! -------------------------------------------------------- 🔎 Seeking more fundraising advices for your startup? Contact Capital JDI today! 🏆 At Capital JDI, we provide ventures with investor access, invaluable fundraising advice, and support through our vast network and expertise. 🔥 Reach out to us today to boost your startup's journey: https://lnkd.in/gEDd-maK #JDI #CapitalJDI #2024 #startup #investor #pitching

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Starting a new business is exciting and full of challenges and successes. While getting investors early is tempting, it's crucial for startups to carefully consider the timing. Here’s why it's often better to wait before seeking investor funding. ⁣⁣ 𝟏. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬⁣⁣ If you bring in investors too early, you might have to give up a large portion of your company. This can lead to losing control over your business and its direction. This can cause conflicts in goals and priorities between you and your investors, possibly taking your startup in a different direction than you planned.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟐. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭⁣⁣ Before seeking external funding, it’s important to build a solid foundation for your startup. Doing this shows potential investors that your startup is strong and ready for growth. A strong foundation can help you get better terms when you eventually seek funding.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟑. 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭⁣⁣ Investors want to see proof that people want your product or service. By using your own money in the early stages, you can focus on proving that your business idea works without the pressure to deliver quick returns. Showing that you have loyal customers makes your startup more attractive to investors later.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟒. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞⁣⁣ Early-stage startups need the freedom to experiment, fail, and change direction without outside pressure. By avoiding early investment, you keep the freedom to try different strategies, improve your product, and plan for sustainable growth at your own pace.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟓. 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫⁣⁣ When you approach investors with a more developed business, you’re in a better position to negotiate. You can provide clear data on your product’s performance, market acceptance, and growth potential. This makes investors more confident and allows you to negotiate better terms, protecting your equity and long-term interests.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟔. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲⁣⁣ Using your own resources to achieve milestones shows resilience, resourcefulness, and commitment. Growth without external funding proves you can make smart financial decisions and drive your startup forward, appealing to investors. While investor funding can boost growth, seeking it too early can be harmful. Waiting ensures you attract investment on favorable terms, keeping your startup true to its vision and ready for sustainable growth. For more tips on managing your startup’s finances and planning strategically, visit TheAccountingTouch.com. Our AI-powered tools and expert guidance help startups navigate their financial journey with confidence. ⁣⁣ #Startups #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #InvestorTips #StartupFunding #Founders #BusinessStrategy #TheAccountingTouch #FinancialPlanning

🔑 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 🚀 As entrepreneurs, gaining the attention and support of investors is a must to secure the needed capital for their startup's growth. To navigate this crucial stage successfully, consider these five essential practices: 🤝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 Beyond simply being concise, your pitch should effectively communicate the essence of your idea or business in a memorable way. In casual settings, aim for brevity with a 1-3 minute pitch, while for formal presentations, provide a more detailed overview ranging from 3 to 15 minutes. 🌟 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭’𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 Investors are constantly seeking ideas that address unmet needs or untapped market opportunities. Clearly outline how your startup addresses market gaps, identifies your target audience, and showcases your competitive advantage. 📖 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 While metrics and data are important, they may not resonate emotionally with investors. To truly captivate them, weave a compelling narrative around your business. Craft a narrative that blends data with emotion, enabling them to relate and invest personally in your product's journey. 💰 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 Clearly outlining how you intend to utilize the investment funds is crucial for instilling confidence in potential investors. Provide a breakdown of your funding needs and explain how the investment will accelerate your company's growth trajectory. 🎯 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 Researching the investor's industry focus, investment stage preferences, and previous successful investments allows you to customize your pitch accordingly. Highlighting synergies between your venture and the investor's expertise or portfolio can significantly enhance your appeal. ✨ By meticulously addressing these five keys to captivating investors, startups can significantly and increase their chances of securing investment in 2024! -------------------------------------------------------- 🔎 Seeking more fundraising advice for your startup? Contact Capital JDI today! 🏆 At Capital JDI, we provide ventures with investor access, invaluable fundraising advice, and support through our vast network and expertise. 🔥 Reach out to us today to boost your startup's journey: https://lnkd.in/gEDd-maK #JDI #CapitalJDI #2024 #startup #investor #pitching

Let's talk funding! As an entrepreneur, you know that securing investment is the most important aspect of growing your business. But finding the right type of funding and the right investors, especially as an early-stage company, can be daunting. To understand how to effectively fundraise in the current economy we went to David W. Wright, ICD.D, an Expert Advisor at Innovation Factory, who breaks down three valuable strategies that entrepreneurs like you can use to navigate funding. Here's a snippet of the advice given from an investor to entrepreneurs: ➡️Follow the staircase model ➡️Understand the interest rates ➡️Develop a thorough market strategy 👉Continue reading: https://loom.ly/b_ubxGg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #Funding #Investment #Fundraising #Startups #Innovation #Investors #Economy #Entrepreneurship #CDNtech #Canada

👼 Unlike traditional investors, angels not only provide capital but also offer personalized guidance and expertise to innovative startups. Learn more in our latest blog post about their criteria for investment, typical investment range, and the invaluable resources they bring to the table. With their support, startups can navigate challenges, access funding, and accelerate growth. https://lnkd.in/dGtXW6uc #Entrepreneurship #AngelInvestor #AngelInvesting #StartupGrowth #StartupSuccess