The Graveyard of Dead Deals

The “Graveyard of Dead Deals”

It’s near Halloween so we thought it might be appropriate to visit

the “Graveyard of Dead Deals”: the final resting place for early stage

deals that expired prior to investment.

Please take a walk and view the gravestones of deals gone bad and explore

some possible modifications that may have “revived” the deal.

We hope the information included helps entrepreneurs avoid “deal killers”

and keeps your deal out of the “Graveyard of Dead Deals”!

R.I.P.

“Graveyard of Dead Deals”©2010 Tech Coast Angels

R.I.P.

“Product Issues”



BE UNIQUE: have a unique product or service. Have strong IP or proprietary technology. BUILD MOAT: have a barrier to competition. Ideally: be a disruptive force in your market.

R.I.P.

“Product Issues”

R.I.P.

“Management Issues”



BE “COACHABLE”: consider investor feedback. Vary team strengths: startup and growth stage. Value success of company over personal goals. BE COMMITTED: have “skin in the game”.

R.I.P.

“Management Issues”

R.I.P.

“Valuation too High”



Have “reasonable” valuation: later rounds build on it. Use “comps” or “comparables”: company or industry. Investors see lots of deals, value their input.

R.I.P.

“Valuation too High”

R.I.P.

“No Market

Validation”



Investors want high growth, will market support it? Potential customer reference(s), what is their pain? Ideally: prototype, test market and show data.

R.I.P.

“No Market

Validation”

R.I.P.

“No Exit”



Be explicit about plan for future investor exit. Set expectations about timeframe and value. IPOs: highly unlikely without HUGE growth.M&A: more likely exit in a reasonable timeframe.

R.I.P.

“No Exit”

Who are the Tech Coast Angels?

Tech Coast Angels, www.techcoastangels.com, the largest angel investor network in the United States, provides funding and guidance to more early‐stage, high‐growth companies in Southern California than any other investment group. Since its inception in 1997, TCA members have focused on building valuable companies, personally invested more than $100M, and helped portfolio companies attract more than $1B in additional capital, mostly from venture capital firms.

TCA members give companies more than just capital; they also provide counsel, mentoring and access to an extensive network of potential investors, customers, strategic partners and management talent.

TCA has more than 300 members, including its venture capital affiliates, in five networks in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Westlake/Santa Barbara and the Inland Empire.


http://www.techcoastangels.com/

The Graveyard of Dead Deals

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