On Start Up Finanancing

A panel discussion at MIT on the topic of raising funding for an early stage startup.

Also on the panel was Michael Greeley from IDG Ventures. Michael was representing the VC perspective .Here are some of the questions that came up in the panel. Please note that this is not legal advice and if you are raising funding, you should consult counsel on all legal matters.

1. If I raise capital from friends and family, do they have to be accredited investors?

Generally, yes. Though there are ways for pool together interests from non-accredited investors, it's usually not advisable as it can get tricky and complicated.

2. To raise VC funding, do I need to have a complete management team assembled?

Not necessarily. Many VCs do not mind considering startups that have an incomplete management team. Some will actually see gaps in the management team as a positive as that is an area that they can help with and bring value to the startup.

3. How do I negotiate the highest pre-money value for my startup?

Entrepreneurs are often overly obsesssed with the pre-money valuation of their startups. Though this is an important factor in the negotiations, it is by no means the only one. Often, non-valuation factors like corporate governance, control and preference issues end up being much more important than the valuation. Entrepreneurs should look at the deal as a whole and understand the details.

4. Do investors read business plans?

For the most part, no. A great business plan will not guarantee funding (or for that matter, even a meeting). If you find the crafting of the business plan helpful, then you should do it. But, investors do not generally require a detailed, written business plan.

5. Do I need to have formed a legal entity before approaching investors?

It's not required for investors prior to approaching them for funding, but is often a good idea because it is relatively simple and inexpensive to do.

6. How do VCs value companies?

This is an imperfect science. A common approach is that VCs will determine what the company could be worth at the time of an exit (IPO or acquisition). They then work backwards from there, determining what percentage of equity they need to own to generate the desired returns for their limited partners. Of course, they apply this approach across a portfolio of investments expecting that a small percentage will generate significant returns.

7. How do I find angel investors for my startup?

There's no single answer to this. In major markets like Boston and San Francisco, many angel investors are members of angel groups. These groups pool together expertise and resources in order to make better investment decisions. Of course, there are also private investors acting independently. Generally, you'll want to find investors that have a background in the particular idea you are pursuing -- or, an affinity for it. Angel investors often invest for reasons beyond just pure financial return. One common reason is to stay involved in the entrepreneurial process and help entrepreneurs build great companies.

8. How do I pick the "right" VC?

There are a number of considerations. First, you should verify that the VC makes investment in the stage and type of company you are building. Also, it is important to remember that you are not just picking a firm, you are picking a partner within that firm. Ideally, you'll find a partner that has made similar investments in the past and has knowledge of your market.

If you have any other questions, leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer. Please remember that I'm not a VC, and don't play one on TV. For content that is much better than this, I strongly recommend Ask The VC by Brad Feld. It's a great source for information on the VC industry and the process of raising money