Category Archives: The liquidity event and beyond
Where is your personal finish line?
Here is one very personal question. “Have you figured out what you want to have, or to be, when you reach the end of your personal run in this business life?” It is a fair question to ask. Most of … Continue reading
Sell at the top? Avoid the race to zero!
When do you sell your company? Obviously, we all want to sell at the top. And there is the problem. How do you know when you are at or near that right point to sell for maximum value? Those of … Continue reading
Looking to be acquired? Think the 10/40 or 20/20 rules.
Public companies looking to acquire your growing enterprise usually have a few financial measures that help them weed out those candidates that will be too expensive in terms of effort or of too little financial attractiveness. The first rule: 10/40: … Continue reading
Finding a strategic partner, investor or buyer
Get organized. Finding your strategic partner, investor or business buyer is not something you do haphazardly. There are many steps to take, each closer to assuring a success. Research is paramount, and sources are everywhere, especially for public companies and … Continue reading
If you’re lucky enough: Celebrate your exit!
How might you view your successful exit from the company you have spent so much effort to build? You’ve worked hard for years to reach the payoff, and the money sure looks good as you contemplate the wire transfer to … Continue reading
VC investors: Don’t be greedy even if you can.
First, the marginal exit event: Sometimes the end game or sale of the company is not a happy event for the early investors, including the entrepreneur or the founders. Especially when outside investors, venture capitalists or angels have put in … Continue reading
My hard-earned lessons from negative exits.
In my life as an early-stage investor, I’ve been closely involved with so many businesses, there were bound to be numerous stories of actual and near failures, hopefully from which to learn lessons for all of us as we go … Continue reading
Shareholders and founders: The muted thrill of the deal closing.
Now you have worked for months to get this deal to the closing, anticipating the wire transfers to the shareholders that will come any minute. This could change your lifestyle and give you that much needed pause in your life … Continue reading
What use is an investment banker?
Many CEOs have asked me if I felt an investment banker adds value if the buyer has already been identified. How investment bankers behave Investment bankers sometimes slow the process by requiring a cloud-based “data room” and “deal book” to … Continue reading
What’s a “data room” and how do you use it?
First, what’s a “deal book?” Maybe you have not heard the term, “deal book.” That’s a comprehensive piece on a company for use by a buyer in determining fit. A “deal room” is a cloud-based or physical space dedicated to … Continue reading