What to Know about Venture Capital

What to Know about Venture Capital from The Startup Garage
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What to Know about Venture Capital

Venture Capital (VC) firms collect money from a collection of wealthy individuals, insurance companies, educational endowments and pension funds.1 These assets are allocated over a portfolio of stocks, bonds, real estate, etc. Typically between 5% — 10% are assigned to “Alternative Investments.”

The alternative investments are the high-risk/high-reward class of assets and are what is available to fund startups.

VC firms are typically set up as limited partnerships with two types; limited and general partners. Limited partners provide the funding in the form of a Capital Commitment, or obligation to pay when called upon. It is the responsibility of the general partners to put together deals that are attractive to their counterpart, in exchange for a percentage of profit.

VC firms knowingly make high-risk investments. The funding they provide is in exchange for equity in the company, and like all things when dealing in risk — the higher the risk, the more expensive it is. Your risk as a startup will be determined by the information and confidence you present. Ownership required by the VC firm can range between 15% — 25%.

The funds raised in a VC round for a tech startup serve one major purpose — scaling.

VC firms evaluate businesses that have a proven track record and product. Candidates must be able to present evidence to the market and sales potential and are interested in either growing up or out (geographically or for enterprise). This limits who this applies to primarily, but not exclusively, to tech businesses.

In order to be accepted by a firm, the numbers must work. VC firms work in the millions and billions, and will expect a model that has the capacity provide a large exit. While most VC recipients do not reach the numbers required for acceptance, confidence in the company’s potential is expected.

Of the millions of companies created every year, just a few thousand get VC funding. Nearly every tech company you recognize has been funded by VCs, including: Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, eBay and PayPal.


1 The Nuts and Bolts of Business Plans – MIT Course 15.S21. By Joe Hadzima (nutsandbolts.mit.edu)
 

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About Tyler Jensen

I work with entrepreneurs who are looking to attract investment and get out of the "Garage". I am passionate about helping entrepreneurs start companies that matter. I helped launch over 100 Companies, Non-Profits and Social Enterprises. I consider myself a serial entrepreneur, startup coach & trusted advisor. * Launching New Companies (For Profit, Non-Profit and Social Enterprise) * Expert Business Plan Writer * Extensive Network of Business Relationships focused on Launch & Rapid Growth of New Companies * Startup, Growth, Marketing, Technology, Web, Business Systems * Trusted Advisor to CEO’s & Entrepreneurs * Capital Raising Strategy Development * Startup Team Development The first company I started and sold is VAVi Sport & Social Club which grew to over 25,000 members in six years, was recognized as San Diego’s 30th fastest growing private company in 2006 by the San Diego Business Journal and 32nd fastest in 2007, and sold for over 25X the capital investment.