Venture Capital Financing: Is It a Good Idea for Your Business?
If you are running a startup business, you may be interested in securing venture capital financing to get up and running. While banks and other lenders are often hesitant to loan money to new businesses, some startups are prime candidates for venture capital.
High-risk, fast-growing businesses tend to be most attractive to venture capitalists, who either invest individually or as part of a private equity firm. Venture capitalists typically look for companies that can provide a quick and substantial return on an investment. If your startup business fits, we’ll dig into if venture capital financing is the right funding choice for your business.
What is venture capital financing?
Venture capital is a form of business financing in which funding is obtained in exchange for ownership in the company. Rather than borrowing from a bank or alternative business lender and paying back your debt, you could receive money from an investor who would help expand your business while earning a share of the profits.
Venture capital funding is typically for early-stage companies with potential for high growth. Venture capitalists, or VCs, invest in these startups with the expectation that the risk will result in significant returns as the businesses become successful.
How venture capital works
VCs invest on their own or on behalf of equity firms that make major investments in new businesses. A traditional VC would typically make an investment of $5 million or more, while an investment from a micro VC usually ranges between $500,000 and $2 million.
Businesses that operate as C corporations are most likely to be candidates for venture capital financing since many VCs do not invest in LLCs or S corporations for tax purposes. A C-corp structure allows investors to avoid pass-through taxation on business income and buy and sell stock more easily.
Venture capital is typically invested during five stages of the business’s life:
Five stages of VC
- Seed stage: Seed-stage VCs invest in businesses that are still just an idea for a product or service. If the idea has growth potential, the VC would finance early product or business plan development or market research. They may also help set up a management team for the company.
- Startup stage: Once a startup has a business plan and product prototype to show investors, VCs would supply cash to cover startup costs, such as advertising and marketing. The business could obtain money from the same VCs that financed the seed stage, or the business could bring on new investors.
- First stage: VCs would provide capital for manufacturing and sales as the company becomes operational.
- Expansion stage: After the business starts selling products and services, VCs could help grow the business by investing in marketing expansion or a new product line.
- Bridge stage: The business could transition to a public company after reaching maturity. At this stage, VCs could provide financing to support a merger, acquisition or initial public offering (IPO), then sell off shares to exit the company and earn a return.
When a VC makes an investment, the business owner receives the funds in a lump sum. VC is milestone-driven and during each stage, you would determine how much funding is necessary to bring your business idea to fruition. You would receive the money upfront and then seek additional funding as the business moves into different stages. More will be raised later in different rounds based upon hitting milestones.
Venture capital financing can be a risky arrangement for both business owners and investors. VCs typically invest in quite a few businesses with the expectation that several will fail. They look for companies that could have a big payoff to offset the anticipated loss.
How to secure venture capital financing for your business
From your first VC meeting to payday, here’s a look at what you can expect when seeking venture capital financing.
Introduce your business
Instead of cold-calling or emailing an investor or venture capital firm, it’s best if you can find someone to make an introduction. You could search online for other business owners in your industry who have received investments from the VC you’re eyeing.
You might consider hiring an advisor or consultant who could help you find a VC. Venture capital firms often rely on advisors to provide information about business owners who have already been researched and vetted.
Make your case
Before a venture capital firm decides to invest in your company, they’ll review the details of your operation. You can expect a VC to look for an experienced team, a large addressable market and an engaging product and vision.
Be prepared to explain how your business model is scalable and repeatable, and that you understand what your customers want and need. Investors want to make sure you understand how your business can drive revenue, cover costs and expenses and deliver value to the customer.
You should also present a pro forma statement to show how much money you’re trying to raise and why. A pro forma statement outlines how the company’s performance and results would change if investors put a certain amount of money into the business.
Review the term sheet and close the deal
If you’re trying to obtain financing from a venture capital firm, you may meet with several people before the deal is done. You could first meet with an associate, who may then set up a meeting with a partner of the firm, who could then ask you to make your pitch in front of a larger group of partners.
The process could be similar to dating — after the first few dates, you would be invited to meet the family; then, eventually, you may start planning a wedding. With VC financing, the financing deal would be the wedding and the term sheet would function somewhat like the prenuptial agreement.
Although the term sheet usually is not a legally binding document, it would outline the basic terms of the investment and what is expected of both parties. The term sheet would likely include the amount of money being offered, the percentage of the company being exchanged and any conditions or investor demands. The expected date of the investment would also be included.
After reviewing the term sheet, you’d sign a number of legal forms to close the deal, including:
- Stock purchase agreement: Describes the terms of the purchase and sale of preferred stock, including purchase price, closing date and closing conditions.
- Right of first refusal and co-sale agreement: Outlines the circumstances in which investors could purchase the business founder’s stock if they choose to sell.
- Investor rights agreement: Protects various rights of the investor.
- Indemnification agreement: Describes which party would be responsible for potential losses and damages.
Keep in mind that the process of closing the deal would be indicative of how the relationship with the VC would be going forward. If there are issues, either party can walk away before the final documents are signed.
Pros and cons of venture capital financing
Before bringing in investors, consider both the benefits and disadvantages of obtaining venture capital financing.
Pros
Money to get the business off the ground: You could secure financing to fund your startup phase and compete in the market. Many lenders do not typically finance startups.
Access to experts: Investors would act as strategic advisors, guiding your business toward high growth. They may have additional connections in your industry that could be useful.
No debt to repay: You do not have to repay money that is invested in your company. If the company doesn’t succeed, VCs would simply lose their investment.
Cons
Loss of control:
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- Accepting VC financing means you would no longer have full control of the company. The amount of equity granted to investors would determine their involvement in the business.
Misaligned goals:
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- VCs prioritize making a return on their investment, and they could disregard any of your goals that hinder profit or growth.
Difficulty ending the relationship:
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- If it’s not working out with your investors, you may be able to buy them out and cease the relationship. However, it’s more likely that you would end up selling the company or shutting the business to part ways with investors.
Is venture capital financing a good choice?
Once you accept VC financing, those investors then have a say in business decisions. Investors also own a stake of the company — most VCs require at least 20% ownership of the business. They become strategic advisors to the business and will likely challenge your decisions.
Besides taking ownership of the business, VCs may include a vesting clause in your agreement. A vesting clause would require you to stay with the business for a certain number of years before you become eligible to receive the full value of your share.
Unfortunately, many small businesses don’t demonstrate the potential sought by VCs. Rather than seeking venture capital financing right away, most startups should seek other business financing, like a working capital loan, and focus on building positive cash flow.