Do's & dont's of funding - Kiran Bettadapur Kiran Bettadapur - entrepreneur, engineer, lawyer and...

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“Do's & Dont's of Funding” was last Saturday's session. It was a run-down of case study briefs to demonstrate the realities of funding. Here is the Lounge47 Summary: 1) Do not be in a hurry to get funded. Bootstrap as much as you can 2) Understand the “funding” paradigm. VC initial agreement to fund (term sheet) do not automatically translate into success; it just signifies the beginning of even harder work. 3) Research, seek professional advice, pick a VC carefully, and keep your pitch understandable and credible. 4) Your VC pitch is about selling you, your company and your product. Let passion tell your story 5) Prepare for your ask. And, be able to communicate a detailed plan of your spend 6) Think through profit, scalability, predictability, sustainability and de-risking your Startup upfront 7) Consider other funding sources like ex-entrepreneurs or executives 8) Getting the attention of the funding community is difficult; get resilient 9) If your Startup is generating receipts, you will gain leverage on funding, and in some cases, it may lead to self-sustenance without funding. 10) Do's: Focus on the business model, have self-belief, be detailed and thorough, drill down on use cases, be disruptive, focus on cash flows, be realistic. Dont's: don't rush things, don’t screw up after funding.

Transcript of Do's & dont's of funding - Kiran Bettadapur Kiran Bettadapur - entrepreneur, engineer, lawyer and...

11/23/2014 1

DoDo’’s + Donts + Dont’’s of Fundings of Funding

| Kiran Bettadapur || Kiran Bettadapur |

Part Part -- 11

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GambleGamble

�� OverOver--Rated:Rated:

�� Not ClairvoyantNot Clairvoyant

�� Not TechNot Tech--

Savvy...OftenSavvy...Often

�� Picks = GuessworkPicks = Guesswork

�� 1:100 1:100

�� Ideas : Execution : Ideas : Execution :

SerendipitySerendipity

MODELMODEL

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PerseverancePerseverance

�� 20 Attempts 20 Attempts

�� DFJDFJ�� US$ 300KUS$ 300K

�� Exit: US$ 400 Mil.Exit: US$ 400 Mil.

�� 00--12 Mil. in 1.5 yrs.12 Mil. in 1.5 yrs.

�� 70 Mil. Internet 70 Mil. Internet

UsersUsers

�� Rejection= Rejection=

ConvictionConviction

SELFSELF--BELIEFBELIEF

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AstrologyAstrology

�� No Method 2 MadnessNo Method 2 Madness

�� Divine Help OKDivine Help OK

�� AllAll--iziz--FairFair

�� Do What Do What You ThinkYou Think It It

TakesTakes

THOROUGHTHOROUGH

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UtilityUtility

�� Pain PointsPain Points

�� Use Case ScenariosUse Case Scenarios

�� 3WH: Who? When? 3WH: Who? When?

Why? How?Why? How?

�� Market... Not Market... Not

TechnologyTechnology

�� 3030--sec. Elevator Pitchsec. Elevator Pitch

DETAILEDDETAILED

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TimingTiming

�� Never Too LateNever Too Late

�� Mover v. ShakerMover v. Shaker

�� Seduction... SlowSeduction... Slow

�� Innovation: Innovation: TrojanTrojan

....Better Execution!....Better Execution!

HURRYHURRY

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SuperioritySuperiority

�� DisruptionDisruption

�� Compelling Compelling

...Value Proposition...Value Proposition

�� IPR...IPR...Fence/FortressFence/Fortress

�� EvergreeningEvergreening

IMPACTIMPACT

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RevenueRevenue

�� Broken Laser PointerBroken Laser Pointer

...Pez Candy Dispensers...Pez Candy Dispensers

�� Revenue Model?Revenue Model?

�� Easily Understood?Easily Understood?

�� Planning FailsPlanning Fails

�� Newsworthy Story...Newsworthy Story...

MONETISEMONETISE

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TechnologyTechnology

�� Murphy: Murphy:

Things Happen...Things Happen...

World Changes...World Changes...

�� Risks... Bets go wrong!Risks... Bets go wrong!

�� WhatWhat--IfIf

�� Course CorrectionCourse Correction

�� Contingency PlanContingency Plan AA--BB--CC

AGILEAGILE

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ProjectionsProjections

�� Simple, Logical MathSimple, Logical Math

�� Use ThumbUse Thumb--rulesrules

�� $1 L = $8 C$1 L = $8 C

�� Formula 100Formula 100--100100

�� Believable, yet... Believable, yet...

Aggressive, AchievableAggressive, Achievable

�� Not ConservativeNot Conservative

REALISTICREALISTIC

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ManagementManagement

�� Whose Money?Whose Money?

�� Rev = $0.6 mil.Rev = $0.6 mil.

�� Ad Spend = $12 mil.Ad Spend = $12 mil.

�� IPOIPO--Ch. XI = 250 Ch. XI = 250

days days

�� Blown: $300 Mil.Blown: $300 Mil.

�� Biz Fundamentals?Biz Fundamentals?

�� PP--SS--PP--S & DS & D

FUMBLEFUMBLE

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ValuationValuation

FINEPRINTFINEPRINT�� Vulture... Funding TrapVulture... Funding Trap

�� Cash + Sweat + Assets Cash + Sweat + Assets

+ Relationships+ Relationships

�� Tangible & IntangibleTangible & Intangible

�� Client, Supplier & Client, Supplier &

ChannelsChannels

�� Multiple (Rev. or Profit)Multiple (Rev. or Profit)

�� Good LawyerGood Lawyer

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CommandmentsCommandments

�� Focus on Business ModelFocus on Business Model

�� Have SelfHave Self--BeliefBelief

�� Be ThoroughBe Thorough

�� Drill Down on Use CasesDrill Down on Use Cases

�� Be DisruptiveBe Disruptive

�� Focus on CashflowsFocus on Cashflows

�� Change, if Needed, with Change, if Needed, with

AgilityAgility

�� Be RealisticBe Realistic

�� Tread CarefullyTread Carefully

DO’sDO’s

�� Don’t Rush ThingsDon’t Rush Things

�� Don’t ScrewDon’t Screw--up After up After

FundingFunding

DONT’sDONT’s

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Thank You!Thank You!

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| Kiran Bettadapur || Kiran Bettadapur |

DoDo’’s + Donts + Dont’’s of Fundings of Funding

Part Part -- 22

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InvestorInvestor

�� 33--FF

�� FamilyFamily

�� FriendsFriends

�� F_ _ L _F_ _ L _

�� 33--EE

�� ExEx--trepreneur... trepreneur... Walked the TalkWalked the Talk

�� ExEx--Executive... Executive... Talked the WalkTalked the Walk

�� Excelutive... Excelutive... No Walk or TalkNo Walk or Talk

�� A.D.D.SA.D.D.S

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Shun the Shun the ‘‘--Shuns'Shuns'

DifferentiationDifferentiation

CompetitionCompetition

ValidationValidation

ConvictionConviction

MissionMission

TractionTraction

AttractionAttraction

ExecutionExecution

DevotionDevotion

VisionVision CohesionCohesion

AmbitionAmbition

INTUITIONINTUITION

COGNITIONCOGNITION

PASSIONPASSION

AGGRESSIONAGGRESSION

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MarketMarket--CentricCentric

�� Understand:Understand:

�� UserUser

�� Use CasesUse Cases

�� CustomerCustomer

�� MarketMarket

�� CompetitionCompetition

�� PositioningPositioning

�� DifferentiationDifferentiation

�� SegmentationSegmentation

�� Avoid:Avoid:

�� Functionality Functionality

TrapTrap

�� TriageTriage--like like

PrioritisationPrioritisation

�� Product Product

ManagementManagement

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Getting VC AttentionGetting VC Attention

�� PostPost--HOMAXHOMAX

�� Make them Make them

RedundantRedundant

�� Cheap Money = Cheap Money =

Available Fast Available Fast

�� Reality Shock:Reality Shock:

�� 95% Funding... 95% Funding...

Thro’Thro’ OSB or EC OSB or EC

NetworksNetworks

�� No ColdNo Cold--CallingCalling

�� Cherry Pick VCCherry Pick VC

�� Intro... Intro...

�� LinkedInLinkedIn

�� DO HOMEWORKDO HOMEWORK

�� PortfolioPortfolio

�� InterestsInterests

�� AmountAmount

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Most ImportantMost Important

�� YOU...YOU...

�� Tangibles:Tangibles:

�� ExperienceExperience

�� KnowledgeKnowledge

�� SkillsSkills

�� EducationEducation

�� Leadership RolesLeadership Roles

�� IntangiblesIntangibles

�� PassionPassion

�� IntegrityIntegrity

�� VisionVision

�� RealisticRealistic

�� Team PlayerTeam Player

�� RESILIENTRESILIENT

�� COMMITTEDCOMMITTED

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The PitchThe Pitch

�� IntroIntro

�� TeamTeam

�� Short Biz OverviewShort Biz Overview

�� MarketMarket

�� OpportunityOpportunity

�� CompetitionCompetition

�� Product (HighProduct (High--

level)level)

�� Business ModelBusiness Model

�� Biz RelationshipsBiz Relationships

�� ValidationValidation: :

�� Beta? Clients? Beta? Clients?

Paying? Press?Paying? Press?

�� Cashflows & Cashflows &

ProjectionsProjections

�� Entry BarriersEntry Barriers

�� How Much? Why?How Much? Why?

11/23/2014 22

RememberRemember

You Are Not Working, IfYou Are Not Working, If

...You Are NOT Networking!...You Are NOT Networking!

Network Is Network Is

Your Your

True NetTrue Net--Worth!Worth!

Journey Matters... Journey Matters...

Destination Just Happens!!Destination Just Happens!!

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Thank You!Thank You!