ASSEMBLING THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP--SILICON VALLEY STYLE
A unique one-day seminar for
entrepreneurs, their advisors and investors.
How to Form and Structure a High-Tech Startup, Raise Funds from
Investors, Build a Global Business and Cash Out.
The way that high-technology startup companies have been structured in Silicon Valley might be considered somewhat unusual to those involved in regular, traditional businesses. However, the Silicon Valley model as it relates to corporate organization, preferred stock financing, intellectual property, valuation and management is being adopted by high-tech investors all over the world. This seminar provides valuable insights into how the system works, with a focus on how entrepreneurs can navigate the system to raise finance, build successful businesses and cash out via a profitable exit transaction.
Copies of the slides and presentation materials
are made available online to attendees following each session.
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| 8.30-9.00am
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Registration & Coffee. |
| 9.00-10.30am |
Entrepreneurship, the formation and organization of startup ventures.
Objectives, challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. The Silicon Valley business environment. Corporate structures adopted by U.S.
venture capital investors. The capitalization table, and distinction between
common and preferred stock. Relative powers of officers, managers, board of
directors and shareholders. |
|
10.30-10.45am |
Coffee. |
| 10.45-12noon |
Raising finance from investors.
10 steps in preparing the Company for financing. Navigating SEC regulations
regarding the sale of shares and securities. Winning an audience with a venture
investor. The investor presentation. Preferred stock vs. debt, notes & startup
bonds. |
| 12-2pm |
Lunch.
Guest speakers share their perspectives and experiences. |
| 2.00-3.30pm |
Patents and intellectual
property for high-tech startups.
Introduction to U.S. patents, the patenting process and intellectual
property strategy. The patent wars--understanding the value of patents
and the strategies adopted in corporate patent warfare. Patent
valuation and alternative routes to monetization. |
| 3.30-4.00pm
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Coffee. |
| 4.00-5.00pm
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Exits -- IPO, M&A, asset sale.
Alternative routes and destinations for the startup journey. Company
valuation and techniques adopted in various exit transactions. Current U.S.
trends in I.P.O., mergers and acquisitions, the divestment of product lines,
patent portfolios and other forms of assets. |
In explaining how the nuts and bolts of startup ventures are assembled, this seminar explains legal as well as business and technology issues, and explores how these
issue inter-relate and effect the startup and its founders through the various
stages of growth. This is a sample of the questions answered at the
seminar:
- Why should entrepreneurs consider their exit strategies when forming a new startup?
- Which startups are suitable candidates for venture investment and which ones are not?
- What common mistake made by lawyers and entrepreneurs derails discussions with investors before they even get started?
- How does the nature of the company's technology drive its business model and exit strategy?
- How does the venture capital business model work, and why should entrepreneurs care?
- What is the only corporate structure that's acceptable to most venture investors?
- What is the role of lawyers in the entrepreneur/investor negotiations?
- What are the common features of preferred stock financing, and why should the entrepreneur take an interest?
- What effects do the following provisions have on the company and its founders: liquidation preference, anti-dilution rights, drag-along rights, redemption rights, co-sale rights, etc?
- Where does the decision-making power lie in a startup company?
- What is the role and powers of the common stockholders, preferred stockholders, the board of directors, officers and management
in a startup venture?
- How does a startup protect its intellectual property rights via patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets?
- Why is it so easy for startup entrepreneurs to violate U.S. federal regulations when raising capital?
- How do entrepreneurs avoid violating regulations when raising finance from U.S. investors?
- How is a startup company valued at the seed stage, early stage, for mergers/acquisitions and in other scenarios?