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Index
Series
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Foreword
Preface
VENTURE CAPITAL IS A SMALL ASSET CLASS WITH A LOT OF PIZZAZZ
ONLY A SMALL SUBSET ARE CONSISTENT PERFORMERS; THE REST IS NOISE
ACCESS TO THE BEST-IN-CLASS IS LIMITED
CAPITAL SUPPLY AND DEMAND
THE CHALLENGES OF FUND PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
COMPETITION FROM WITHIN IS HIGH
A BUSINESS OF HOME RUNS
DON'T BOTHER PRETENDING THAT THE BUSINESS IS SCALABLE
FRONTIER CHALLENGES OF EMERGING MARKETS
WHAT THIS BOOK COVERS, AND WHAT IT DRAWS ON
Acknowledgments
Part One: Raising the Venture Fund
Chapter 1: The Universe of Limited Partners
AN OVERVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE ASSETS
SOURCES OF CAPITAL
COMPARISON OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
SUMMARY
Chapter 2: Fund Due Diligence
SOURCING AND FIRST SCREENS
FUND DUE DILIGENCE: HOW LPS EVALUATE VENTURE FIRMS
EVALUATING THE FUND MANAGERS
EMERGING MANAGERS: A PROMISE OF THE FUTURE
THE QUEST FOR THE ELUSIVE TOP QUARTILE MANAGERS
FUND INVESTMENT STRATEGY
MARKET TIMING
FUND SIZE AND PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION VIS-à-VIS FUND STRATEGY
FIT WITHIN THE LP'S CURRENT PORTFOLIO
WHY LPS TERMINATE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS
SUMMARY
Chapter 3: Terms of Investment: The Limited Partnership Agreement
SAMPLE TERMS IN A FUND'S PPM
OTHER LP-GP TERMS
WHAT MATTERS MOST
SUMMARY
Chapter 4: Fund Structure, Governance, and Operations
KEY CONSTITUENTS OF THE GP TEAM
FINDING SUITABLE PARTNERS
FUND GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMICS
GOVERNANCE OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES GP LLC
SUMMARY
Chapter 5: Getting to the First Close
BUILD YOUR TARGET LIST OF INVESTORS
FUND MARKETING MATERIALS
PRESENTATION SLIDES
MAKING THE PRESENTATION PITCH: DRINK YOUR OWN KOOL-AID
ATTRACTING THE LEAD INVESTOR: YOUR “NUT”
COMMUNICATE, CREATE, AND MAINTAIN MOMENTUM
OFFERING SWEETENERS TO ATTRACT LPS: A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
THE ROLE OF PLACEMENT AGENTS IN FUND-RAISING
CAVEAT EMPTOR
SUMMARY
Part Two: The Investment Process
Chapter 6: The Art of Sourcing Investment Opportunities
THE BEST SOURCE: THE NETWORK
THE FOUNTAINHEADS OF ACADEMIA AND RESEARCH
CORPORATE RESEARCH
VENTURE EVENTS AND TRADE CONFERENCES
VENTURE FARMING
ANGELS AND PLEDGE FUNDS
BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITIONS
COLD CALLING
YOU WIN SOME, YOU MISS SOME
SUMMARY
Chapter 7: The Art of Conducting Due Diligence
WHAT IS IMPORTANT: JOCKEY, HORSE, OR MARKETS?
ATTRIBUTES OF THE JOCKEY
SERIAL ENTREPRENEURS VERSUS FIRST-TIME ENTREPRENEURS
WHAT ABOUT CHARISMA?
MANAGEMENT TEAM DUE DILIGENCE: HOW TO ASSESS THE JOCKEY
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONDUCTING BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS
ASSESSING THE MARKET
EVALUATING THE IDEA OR PRODUCT
REVIEWING THE BUSINESS MODEL
CONSIDERING THE FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS
WEIGHING THE IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS PLANS
THE DUE DILIGENCE CHECKLIST
SUMMARY
Chapter 8: The Basics of Corporations, Ownership, and Control
AUTHORIZED SHARES AND ISSUED SHARES
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
ROLE OF THE BOARD
SUMMARY
Chapter 9: Valuation Methods and Other Voodoo Arts
THE DRIVERS OF VALUATION
THE SIMPLIFIED FORM OF THE VC METHOD OF VALUATION
COMPARABLE VALUATIONS OF SIMILAR INVESTMENTS (COMPS)
DISCOUNTED CASH FLOW METHOD
SUMMARY
Chapter 10: Structuring Investment Transactions
THE SPIRIT OF THE TERM SHEET
NEGOTIATION STRESS POINTS
MILESTONE-BASED FINANCING: RISK MITIGATION OR DISTRACTION
STRUCTURING TERMS TO GENERATE TARGET RETURNS
GOVERNANCE AND CONTROL: PROTECTING YOUR SECURITIES
EXIT-RELATED PROVISIONS
OTHER TERMS
TOWARD A SIMPLER TERM SHEET FOR SMALLER INVESTMENTS
SYNDICATING INVESTMENTS
THE CLOSING PROCESS: AFTER THE TERM SHEET
SUMMARY
Chapter 11: Behind Every Successful CEO Stand a Few Good Board VCs
THE NEED FOR DIRECTOR EDUCATION
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BOARD MEMBER
BOARD COMPOSITION AND ORIENTATION
BOARD PRACTICES
GET THAT GAVEL: OVERVIEW OF ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER
VALUE CREATION: HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR PORTFOLIO COMPANY'S CEO
THE CEO'S PERSPECTIVE ON VENTURE CAPITALIST VALUE ADD
SETTING THE TONE THROUGH BOARD CULTURE
IMPROVING THE BOARD GAME
SUMMARY
Chapter 12: Exit Strategies
PRECONDITIONS FOR AN EXIT
ACQUISITIONS: THE PRIMARY PATH TO AN EXIT
THE SELL PROCESS
WHEN AN ACQUIRER COMES KNOCKING
THE BUY-SIDE ACQUISITION PROCESS
DEAL KILLERS
ACQUISITION CASE STUDY: MINT.COM GENERATES 5X CASH-ON-CASH RETURN IN TWO YEARS
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
PRIVATE EXCHANGES: NECESSITY DRIVES LIQUIDITY SOLUTIONS
SUMMARY
Chapter 13: Summing Up
APTITUDES AND ATTITUDES OF SUCCESSFUL PRACTITIONERS
DRAWBACKS
WHAT ABOUT LUCK?
KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR PRACTITIONERS
AS YOU GO FORWARD
About the Companion Web Site
Notes
Suggested Reading
BOOKS
BLOGS
WEB SITES
VIDEOS
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS AND DATA SOURCES
JOURNALS
About the Author
Index
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