VENTURE CAPITAL



Venture Capital 594
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Venture capital refers to money that is invested in companies during the early stages of their development. Such funds may come from wealthy individuals, government-backed Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), or professionally managed venture capital firms. Since investing in an unproven business venture is highly speculative, venture capitalists generally target companies that they believe offer significant potential for growth, and therefore an opportunity to earn a high rate of return in a relatively short period of time. In exchange for providing capital, as well as a source of management assistance and industry contacts for growing firms, the investors usually require a percentage of equity ownership in the company, some measure of control over its strategic direction, and payment of assorted fees. "Private equity provides capital and access to a network that can transform a company into an industry player," Karen E. Klein noted in Business Week. "But the price is high: a chunk of your business."

Like other sources of equity financing, venture capital offers both advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that the business is not obligated to repay the money. For a start-up company, this frees up important cash flow that might otherwise be needed to service debt. The involvement of high-profile investors may also help increase the credibility of a new business. The main disadvantage to venture capital financing is that the investors become part owners of the business, and thus gain a say in business decisions. The company's founders face a dilution of their ownership positions and a possible loss of autonomy or control.

Even for business owners willing to make the tradeoff, venture capital is scarce and often difficult to obtain. Venture capitalists tend to be highly selective in choosing investments. Some will only consider investments in specific technologies, industries, or geographic areas. In fact, the larger venture capital firms typically reject more than 90 percent of the requests for funding that they receive. They evaluate the remaining requests thoroughly, and at considerable expense, before selecting a few that closely match the investors' areas of expertise and offer the best earnings potential. As a result, private equity financing is more likely to be an option for existing businesses with a solid track record and good prospects for future growth than for start-up companies. It is a particularly good choice for fast-growing companies that have few tangible assets to use as collateral for loans.

For a business owner, the process of obtaining venture capital begins with a formal proposal. The most important element of this proposal is a detailed business plan describing the company's goals and strategies. The proposal should also include recent financial statements, projections of future growth, a brief history of the company, biographies of key managers, the amount of money requested, and a description of how the funds will be used. Experts recommend that companies seeking equity financing evaluate several venture capital firms before entering into a deal. Managers should also hire professionals to help them understand the terms of the agreement to avoid giving away too much control.

On receiving a proposal of interest, a venture capital firm usually follows up with a thorough investigation of the company's investment potential. This process might include analyzing financial statements, interviewing customers and suppliers, and meeting with the management team. If the venture capital firm remains interested following the evaluation phase, it usually responds with a proposal of its own, known as a term sheet. The term sheet acts as a blueprint for the investment deal, with provisions covering such issues as the valuation of the investment, voting rights, and liquidation options.

The final terms are decided through negotiations between the business managers and the venture capital firm. One of the most important factors in the negotiation process is agreeing upon the valuation of the business, which determines the amount of equity that is required in exchange for the venture capital (a business with a low valuation must provide a high percentage of equity, and vice versa). As a general rule, venture capital firms seek to control between 30 and 40 percent of equity in the companies in which they invest. This amount allows the venture capital firm to exercise influence without assuming control or eliminating the management team's incentive to grow the business. The venture capital firm usually hopes to achieve a return of three to five times the original investment within five years, by selling its equity either to the company's management or on the public stock markets.

Overall, venture capital can provide a valuable source of financing for growing businesses. Because of its associated risks, however, experts generally suggest that it be viewed as one of a number of potential sources of financing and be used in combination with debt financing whenever possible. "Private equity isn't for the faint of heart," Klein acknowledged. "But then again, entrepreneurs aren't known for being timid."

SEE ALSO: Due Diligence ; Entrepreneurship ; Financial Issues for Managers ; Financial Ratios

Laurie Collier Hillstrom

FURTHER READING:

Bartlett, Joseph W. Fundamentals of Venture Capital. Lanham, MD: Madison Books, 1999.

Cardis, Joe, et al. Venture Capital: The Definitive Guide for Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Practitioners. New York: Wiley & Sons, 2001.

Klein, Karen E. "A Private Equity Affair: Getting the Most from Venture Capital." Business Week, 1 November 2004, 47.

McKimmie, Kathy. "Funding Fundamentals: Where to Turn for Startup and Expansion Capital." Indiana Business Magazine, January 2004, 24–27.

Stancill, James McNeill. Entrepreneurial Finance: For New and Emerging Businesses. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western, 2004.

Weiss, Jeffrey M. "Venture Capital Tips." Detroiter, May 2002, 19.

Worrell, David. "Raising Money: All in the Delivery." Entrepreneur, May 2004.



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