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Key Criteria for Investing in Ventures



Upon selling your company, or as a profiled investor, you will often be approached by entrepreneurs seeking capital for new ventures. While being able to put capital to work in such endeavors, is highly rewarding (especially when they succeed!), investing in ventures also entails a large degree of risk.

Typically, one will be asked to invest relatively early, i.e. when someone has a “good idea” only, but without its own cash flow from operations yet, or, in other cases, to invest at a later stage, when the venture is a "going concern", with its own cash flow. The valuation is obviously typically lower in the former case, versus higher in the latter. But, the risk of failure is probably higher at the earlier stages than later on. My own preference is to invest in a “going concern”, not in a “good idea”. (One reason for mentioning this perhaps obvious distinction is that entrepreneurs will often approach you with a "good idea", but present it and frame it as a "going concern". Big difference!)

The following 8 considerations need to be in place in order for me to invest in a given venture:

  • Is the “technology” relatively unique? Or, would it be relatively easy to copy the venture? Technology is broadly defined here, also to include market position.

  • Is the revenue stream relatively robust, showing steady growth?

  • Is the organization OK, and, above all, the person in charge? Does he/she have a good track record? Is he/she honest?

  • Is the valuation reasonable? Are there other serious investors? Or, are the founders too eager to cash in, i.e. to “leave the ship”?

  • Is there an active co-investor, i.e. someone with a unique understanding, and with his/her own money committed and with deep enough pockets? Examples: • Ingvar Kamprad: Christiania Eiendomsselskap • Henry Nilert,(Helsinki): Midealab oy • Dr. Alex Steinberg (Boston): RCG Real Estate

  • Is there a clear exit strategy or possibility for exit, i.e. a trade sale or stock listing or to have it merged into another? Is there a possibility to be on the Board?

  • Dividend strategy versus growth. Since the company is a venture, the preferred strategy is growth, and corresponding high valuation. Dividends are a matter for later.

  • Honesty issue. Are the people behind a given venture honest and reputable, versus attempting to “milk” the venture? Are their salaries/fees reasonable?

I believe that these eight criteria can be of help when evaluating venture and early stage investments, and that evaluating start-ups along these dimensions can increase the over-all probabilities for success. I have certainly learned several of these lessons the hard way!

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