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Be careful about equity and options!

Berkonomics

Here is the warning: The execution of equity allocations and of a good incentive program using equity is often mismanaged, damaging the corporate capitalization structure and even affecting the outcome of subsequent investment into the company. … Equity is divided between the founders and the business begun.

Equity 156
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How do you pay an early-stage board?

Berkonomics

Give one percent equity to each outside board member vesting over two to four years of service. Pay early-stage board members of companies that are not lifestyle businesses one percent of the fully diluted equity in the form of an option that vests over two to four years of service. How do you set the option price?

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When should you go for equity financing?

Berkonomics

Let’s take a few minutes to examine the kind of equity financing available to small or early stage businesses. In most cases, these applicants for equity funding must be rooted in technology to apply to this limited discussion. Angel investment groups or funds. Friends and family investors. How many angel groups are there?

Equity 156
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Need money? Read this!

Berkonomics

Bootstrapping: This term describes your ability to start a business with little investment and grow it using internally generated funds. Friends, family and fools: [Email readers, continue here…] This term, although pejorative, describes the typical mix of early investors in a small, young growing business.

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Careful about equity and options in early stage businesses

Berkonomics

For those negotiating equity allocations it covers some of the most complex issues to address in the process. Equity is divided between the founders and the business begun. If there is only one class of stock, the same as the founders, and the appraisal of the single class of shares yields, say $2.00

Equity 256
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Have you heard the rule of the thirds?

Berkonomics

How many of them, particularly in technology, were able to start a company, supply all the funding, and share no management tasks or equity with others, and still grow the company to any significant size, worthy of a multi-million-dollar opportunity to cash out at exit? Dividing equity among those that fill the management gap.

Startup 240
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Equity financing: great for rapid growth startups

Berkonomics

We’ve spoken of financing a young company through friends and family, known as “inside angels.” There are three classes of equity investors for early stage businesses that we have not yet considered. First, angel investment groups come in all sizes from a few organized angels to large groups of three hundred or more.

Equity 232