Venture Deals

Quotes

“Negotiation is an art, not a science.”

“Finding the right VC is as important as finding the right spouse.”

“A bad deal with good people is better than a good deal with bad people.”

“A well-prepared entrepreneur will always have the upper hand.”

“A well-crafted term sheet can set the stage for a successful partnership.”

Expert Reviews

“Every venture capitalist believes they know how to do venture deals. Jason and Brad, however, actually have deep knowledge and insight and are willing to share the details of how to get deals done right. While this book may not actually make you smarter than your lawyer, it is an essential read for entrepreneurs, lawyers, and venture capitalists who want to be successful in a critical part of building a great company: raising money”

~ Eric Jensen, Partner, Cooley LLP

“One of the greatest lessons for entrepreneurs is to learn from others and take advice from trusted partners and experts. In Venture Deals, Jason and Brad offer entrepreneurs the gift of their experience and expertise over many years and hundreds of deals. Take it and run with it. What you will learn in the book will serve you well in every investment, legal, and banking conversation throughout your life as an entrepreneur. Your ideas and your passion will get you far, and having an insider’s understanding of how to fund your ambitious goals will get you even that much faster.”

~ Greg Becker, CEO, Silicon Valley Bank

” Feld and Mendelson pack a graduate-level course into this energetic and accessible book. The authors’ frank style and intelligent advice make this a required read for high-growth company leaders and their investors. This is a book for all students I back. Venture Deals is an essential resource for both entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.”

~ Brad Bernthal, Associate Professor of Law, Technology Policy, Entrepreneurial Law, University of Colorado

Who should read this book

• Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Individuals looking to start their own companies and need a comprehensive guide to understand venture capital financing.
• Seasoned Founders: Experienced entrepreneurs who want to deepen their knowledge of venture capital and enhance their negotiation strategies.
• Venture Capitalists and Investors: Professionals in the investment industry seeking insights into the motivations and tactics of their peers and partners.
• Legal and Financial Advisors: Lawyers, accountants, and advisors who assist startups and need to stay informed about the latest practices in venture capital deals.

Publisher’s Note

How do venture capital deals come together? This is one of the most frequent questions asked by each generation of new entrepreneurs. Surprisingly, there is little reliable information on the subject. No one understands this better than Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson. The founders and driving force behind the Foundry Group―a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage information technology companies―Brad and Jason have been involved in hundreds of venture capital financings. Their investments range from small startups to large Series A venture financing rounds. The new edition of Venture Deals continues to show fledgling entrepreneurs the inner-workings of the VC process, from the venture capital term sheet and effective negotiating strategies to the initial seed and the later stages of development.

Fully updated to reflect the intricacies of startups and entrepreneurship in today’s dynamic economic environment, this new edition includes revisions and updates to coverage on negotiating, gender issues, ICO’s, and economic terms. New chapters examine legal and procedural considerations relevant to fundraising, bank debt, equity and convertible debt, how to hire an investment banker to sell a company, and more.

• Provides valuable, real-world insights into venture capital structure and strategy
• Explains and clarifies the VC term sheet and other misunderstood aspects of capital funding
• Helps to build collaborative and supportive relationships between entrepreneurs and investors
• Draws from the author’s years of practical experience in the VC arena
• Includes extensively revised and updated content throughout to increase readability and currency

Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist is a must-have resource for Any aspiring entrepreneur, venture capitalist, or lawyer involved in VC deals as well as students and instructors in related areas of study.