Raising Venture Capital

Get the Funding You Need From Venture Capitalists and Turn Your New Business Proposal into Reality Authoritative and comprehensive, Raising Venture Capital for the Serious Entrepreneur is an all-in-one sourcebook for entrepreneurs seeking venture capital from investors. This expert resource contains an unsurpassed analysis of the venture capital process, together with the guidance and strategies you need to make the best possible deal_and ensure the success of your business. Written by a leading international venture capitalist, this business-building resource explores the basics of the venture capital method, strategies for raising capital, methods of valuing the early-stage venture, and techniques for negotiating the deal. Filled with case studies, charts, and exercises, Raising Venture Capital for the Serious Entrepreneur explains: How to develop a financing map How to determine the amount of capital to raise and what to spend it on How to create a winning business plan How to agree on a term sheet with a venture capitalist How to split the rewards How to allocate control between founders/management and investors

Explanations to the inner workings of one of the least understood, but arguably most important, areas of business finance is offered to readers in this engaging volume: venture capital. Venture capitalists provide necessary investment to seed (or startup) companies, but the startup is only the beginning, there is much more to be explored. These savvy investors help guide young entrepreneurs, who likely have little experience, to turn their businesses into the Googles, Facebooks, and Groupons of the world. This book explains the often-complex methods venture capitalists use to value companies and to get the most return on their investments, or ROI. This book is a must-have for any reader interested in the business world.

Despite all of the writing on venture capital, there is a missing part of the literature. There has been no book written about raising a venture capital fund. It remains a secret to a few privileged venture capitalists who have gone through this fundraising process. Until now . . . This book serves as a guide. It dives into the process of raising a venture capital fund, the how-tos, the unique language of the limited partner (LP) world, secrets of how LPs think about fund diligence and alignment, the best practices in fundraising, what works, and how you can best prepare for success. I've written this book after spending a decade investing into venture capital funds at a $30B wealth management firm and a $160B technology company. I've been on both sides of the table, the VC and the LP side. I've been behind the scenes managing every aspect of the fundraising process, investing into 80 funds, and reviewing thousands of fund investments. I also co-founded a company that specifically focuses on co-building venture capital businesses, which includes helping VCs understand the intricate dynamics of raising a venture capital fund. After reading my book, you will gain the knowledge and insights gained from these experiences.

The new edition of the definitive guide for venture capital practitioners—covers the entire process of venture firm formation & management, fund-raising, portfolio construction, value creation, and exit strategies Since its initial publication, The Business of Venture Capital has been hailed as the definitive, most comprehensive book on the subject. Now in its third edition, this market-leading text explains the multiple facets of the business of venture capital, from raising venture funds, to structuring investments, to generating consistent returns, to evaluating exit strategies. Author and VC Mahendra Ramsinghani who has invested in startups and venture funds for over a decade, offers best practices from experts on the front lines of this business. This fully-updated edition includes fresh perspectives on the Softbank effect, career paths for young professionals, case studies and cultural disasters, investment models, epic failures, and more. Readers are guided through each stage of the VC process, supported by a companion website containing tools such as the LP-GP Fund Due Diligence Checklist, the Investment Due Diligence Checklist, an Investment Summary format, and links to white papers and other industry guidelines. Designed for experienced practitioners, angels, devils, and novices alike, this valuable resource: Identifies the key attributes of a VC professional and the arc of an investor’s career Covers the art of raising a venture fund, identifying anchor investors, fund due diligence, negotiating fund investment terms with limited partners, and more Examines the distinct aspects of portfolio construction and value creation Balances technical analyses and real-world insights Features interviews, personal stories, anecdotes, and wisdom from leading venture capitalists The Business of Venture Capital, Third Edition is a must-read book for anyone seeking to raise a venture fund or pursue a career in venture capital, as well as practicing venture capitalists, angel investors or devils alike, limited partners, attorneys, start-up entrepreneurs, and MBA students.

A helpful resource that helps business professionals navigate the murky waters of capital formation--offering actionable strategies to overcome challenges at every phase of the growth cycle. Leveraging his years of experience as a strategic and legal entrepreneurial advisor, author Andrew Sherman provides useful advice for entrepreneurial leaders looking to grow their funds and expand their business. Raising Capital does this by providing the tools for building business plans, preparing loan proposals, drafting offering materials, and more. Entrepreneurial leaders in any industry will learn how to: identify their best sources of financing, treat their investors with respect and integrity, decipher legal documents, and gain the skills and patience to see their way successfully through the long haul of raising capital. Including updated checklists, charts, and sample forms, this book gives insights on the latest trends in the domestic and global capital markets, an overview of recent developments in federal and state securities laws, and strategies for borrowing money from commercial banks in today’s credit-tightened markets. Whether your business is a fledgling start-up, a rapid growth company, or a more established organization, Raising Capital will help you stay the course and take it to the next level.

Everyone wants to become like Mark Zuckerberg. Put in a sweet business proposal, get a venture capital fund to breathe life into it, and then start rolling in the billions. The only problem is that less than one per cent will become “Zuckers” while the rest remain “Suckers”. How do you avoid making the mistakes made by the ninety-nine percent that have failed? Is there any hope for a beginner? What are some secret tips and tricks to making it to the top? Apart from showing you how to succeed, this book will also reveal true stories of how entrepreneurs have failed. Follow the correct strategies and avoid the pitfalls. The book delves straight to the point and brings you into the mindset of a successful venture capitalist, while shaping your experience with notes from real industry insiders.

A current and comprehensive resource for entrepreneurs, with technical detail, practical knowledge, real-world scenarios, and pitfalls to avoid.

Raising Entrepreneurial Capital begins where entrepreneurship books leave off. This book provides a broad, high-level discussion of the financing decisions that companies must make to achieve success. With a focus on classic capital raising, the text covers the debt vs. equity decision, as well as the options available to smaller businesses. It also describes the factors that lead to rapid growth, including venture capital, IPOs, angels, incubators, and much more. Combining solid theory with practitioner's experience and insights, this book should increase student understanding of how to raise entrepreneurial capital. It explains how your company should position itself to attract private equity investment, and what steps you can take to improve your company's marketability. It includes several chapters on worldwide regional variations on forms and availability of pre-seed capital, incubators, and the business plans they create, with case-studies from Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim. It also effectively differentiates between venture capital and entrepreneurial capital. This book will appeal to entrepreneurs and to students in Entrepreneurship programs, particularly entrepreneurial finance courses. * Combines solid theory with practitioner's experience and insights * Case studies illustrate theory throughout the book * Describes worldwide and regional variations in capital raising strategies