Mentoring Presentation

Pros of Cons of Accessing Venture Capital too Early

& Some of the Pitfalls to Avoid

Agenda

• Meet & Greet• Introductions• 90 Second Company Elevator Pitch• Pros and Cons of Accessing Venture Capital• Some Pitfalls to Avoid• Q & A• Future Topics

Superhero of the Modern World

Equity Capital Life Cycle

Cash flow

Sale

s a

nd

p

rofi

t

I ntroduction Growth Maturity Decline

Time

R & D Pre-Seed & Seed

Start-Up

Sales

Round 1 Round 2

Grants / Love Money

$

Angel $

VC $ VC $

Exit

Angel $

Concept and product

development

Profit

Financing Alternatives

• Personal Financing• Business Loans• Government Grants• Accelerators• Angel Investors• Asset Backed or Receivables Lending• Venture Capital• Bank Debt

Venture Capital Investment

• Cdn VC’s invested $438 mm in Q2 ‘12 up 17% from ‘11• Disbursements to 135 companies up 6% due to a slower

Q1 2012• Domestic market activity 725mm as of June 30 is down

3% 2012 vs. 2011• These #’s are substantially down from the high water

mark of almost 4billion in the late 1990’s and 2.1b in ’07• VC invested has dropped from a high of 5.9b in ‘00 to

1.1b in ‘10.

Venture Capital Investment

• For entrepreneurs, choosing the best financing model for their start-up isn’t a luxury – it is a necessity

• The terms you will be offered will be commensurate with the value you have created. Sales = Higher Valuation

• VC’s money comes from LP’s which is mostly institutional

Venture Capital Pros

• Small piece of a big company is better than a large piece of a small company

• Industry expertise• Their goal is to grow the company quickly and

exit.• Deep pockets for follow on financing• Allows you to focus on the business rather

than constantly raising $

Venture Capital Cons

• You have to qualify• Often looking for exit in short time frame• Negotiations tend to be one sided• Legal costs of documentation are high• Equity has a higher cost than debt +30%• Staff & time commitment for due-diligence• Reduced control or determination of business

Venture Capital Cons

• Your business is exposed to the VC’s funding cycle and market uncertainties

• One author referred to VC’s as a last resort• May control board decisions• Follow on Financing requires higher valuations

to support VC’s valuation• Funding is down and VC’s are taking less risk.

Pitfall’s

• Complex covenants based on performance metrics

• Inordinately thick documents• May replace management• Liquidation preference• Anti-dilution clauses • Loose control of the direction of your

company

Do it Your Way - Parting Thoughts

• Over 90% of all businesses are started and grown with no equity financing

• VC is the OPM drug of Start-ups• Oct’11 Profit Hot 50 - Seed Financing – 96%

Founders own capital, Growth Capital – 64% Founders own Capital

• Control your destiny until you create sales• Eyes Wide Open and be well researched

Future Topics

1. Bootstrapping a Company & Exec Summary2. Forming an Advisory Board3. Preparing a Pitch for Investors4. Accessing Capital from a Angel Network5. Terms to expect from an Investors Term

Sheet6. Pros of Cons of accessing Venture Capital too

early & some of the pitfalls to avoid

Gerard Buckley, BBA, FICB, ICD.DPresident and CEO Jaguar Capital Inc.(C) 416-884-9522(W) 416-646-6789g.buckley@jaguarcapital.ca

www.jaguarcapital.ca

@jaguarcapital @gerardbuckley