Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist

• Fully updated to reflect the intricacies of startups and entrepreneurship in today's dynamic economic environment
• Offers valuable insights into venture capital deal structure and strategies
• Brings a level of transparency to a process that is rarely well understood

Although it hasn't been very long since the first edition of Venture Deals was published, the need for information in this evolving field continues to grow. That's why Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson have returned with the Second Editionof Venture Deals. While staying true to the original edition of this Wall Street Journal bestseller, the Second Edition contains timely updates—as well as new material on topics such as convertible debt financing—that will help you excel at this difficult endeavor.

Some of today's fastest-growing entrepreneurial companies have financed themselves by raising venture capital. Yet few people have a firm grasp of how venture capital deals really come together. Nobody understands this situation better than Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson. For over twenty years, they've been involved in hundreds of venture capital financings, and now, with this practical guide, they continue to share their experiences in this field with you.

Venture Deals, Second Edition opens with an informative overview of the venture capital term sheet and takes the time to discuss the different parties who participate in venture capital transactions as well as how entrepreneurs should go about raising money from a venture capitalist. From here, the book skillfully outlines the essential elements of the venture capital term sheet—from terms related to economics to those related to control. Feld and Mendelson strive to give a balanced view of the particular terms along with the strategies to getting to a fair deal.

In addition to examining the nuts and bolts of the term sheet, this reliable resource also reveals how VC firms operate, describes how to apply different negotiating tactics to your deals, and introduces you to issues you may face at different stages of financing. You'll also gain valuable insights into several common legal issues most startups face and, as a bonus, discover what a typical letter of intent to acquire your company looks like.

Whether you're an experienced or aspiring entrepreneur, venture capitalist, or lawyer who partakes in these particular types of deals, you will benefit from the insights found throughout the Second Edition of Venture Deals.

For additional information that includes term sheets as well as all of the documents that are generated from the term sheet as part of venturing financing, visit the authors' website www.askthevc.com.

Praise for the First Edition of Venture Deals

"My biggest nightmare is taking advantage of an entrepreneur without even realizing it. It happens because VCs are experts in financings and most entrepreneurs are not. Brad and Jason are out to fix that problem with Venture Deals. This book is long overdue and badly needed."
—Fred Wilson, Managing Partner, Union Square Ventures

"Feld and Mendelson pack a graduate-level course into this energetic and accessible book. The authors' frank style and incisive insight make this a must-read for high-growth company entrepreneurs, early-stage investors, and graduate students. Start here if you want to understand venture capital deal structure and strategies. I enthusiastically recommend."
—Brad Bernthal, CU Boulder, Associate Clinical Professor of Law, Technology Policy, Entrepreneurial Law

"A must-read book for entrepreneurs. Brad and Jason demystify the overly complex world of term sheets and M&A, cutting through the legalese and focusing on what really matters. That's a good thing not just for entrepreneurs, but also for venture capitalists, angels, and lawyers. Having an educated entrepreneur on the other side of the table means you spend your time negotiating the important issues and ultimately get to the right deal faster."
—Greg Gottesman, Managing Director, Madrona Venture Group

"Venture Deals is a must-read for any entrepreneur contemplating or currently leading a venture-backed company. Brad and Jason are highly respected investors who shoot straight from the hip and tell it like it is, bringing a level of transparency to a process that is rarely well understood. It's like having a venture capitalist as a best friend who is looking out for your best interests and happy to answer all of your questions."
—Emily Mendell, Vice President of Communications, National Venture Capital Association

"The adventure of starting and growing a company can be exhilarating or excruciating—or both. Feld and Mendelson have done a masterful job of shedding light on what can either become one of the most helpful or dreadful experiences for entrepreneurs—accepting venture capital into their firm. This book takes the lid off the black box and helps entrepreneurs understand the economics and control provisions of working with a venture partner."
—Lesa Mitchell, Vice President, Advancing Innovation, Kauffman Foundation