Domain: tiger-web1.srvr.media3.us Investing in a startup? | Money Talk
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Investing in a startup?

Posted on 6/12/12 at 5:57 pm
Posted by lighter345
Member since Jan 2009
11893 posts
Posted on 6/12/12 at 5:57 pm
What are some key questions you would want to ask?
This post was edited on 6/12/12 at 5:58 pm
Posted by Golfer
Member since Nov 2005
75052 posts
Posted on 6/12/12 at 6:05 pm to
Business Plan
Valuation
Exit Strategy
Posted by reb13
Member since May 2010
10905 posts
Posted on 6/12/12 at 7:15 pm to
quote:

What are some key questions you would want to ask?


How do you get your money back?
Posted by ForeLSU
The Corner of Sanity and Madness
Member since Sep 2003
41525 posts
Posted on 6/12/12 at 8:18 pm to
The first thing you should ask is "how much do you need?", followed by "can I do a direct deposit?"

Post your email and I'll send you the answers!
Posted by lighter345
Member since Jan 2009
11893 posts
Posted on 6/12/12 at 8:50 pm to
Thanks golfer.

And yea I'm sorry for trying to invest some money. I get small start ups fail a lot. This Wouldnt be a big deal if it didn't work out.
Posted by LSUGUMBO
Shreveport, LA
Member since Sep 2005
9608 posts
Posted on 6/12/12 at 8:57 pm to
I have an opportunity to invest in a startup, and I got the chance to review the business plan, projected expenses, sales and profits over a 10 year period, a plan to reimburse investors, and several sit down meetings with the starters.
Posted by foshizzle
Washington DC metro
Member since Mar 2008
40599 posts
Posted on 6/12/12 at 8:59 pm to
quote:

What are some key questions you would want to ask?


The FICO and history of whoever is making the proposal.
Posted by lighter345
Member since Jan 2009
11893 posts
Posted on 6/12/12 at 9:14 pm to
Perfect thanks y'all.
Posted by tangi225
Member since Nov 2011
5 posts
Posted on 6/12/12 at 9:41 pm to
Agree with Golfer. 10 years of projections is nice to look at but will be wrong by year 3 more than likely. Focus heavily on the early years in your analysis. If you are a minority investor, do your diligence on the shareholder/partnership agreement. How will distributions be determined? If pass-through entity, will there be minimum distributions for taxes? Restrictions on transfers and concentration of control are other areas to consider. Also, what clauses are written to protect other investors if anything happens to key persons (death, divorce, bankruptcy, etc.).

Consulting with an attorney and CPA is also a good idea.
Posted by Poodlebrain
Way Right of Rex
Member since Jan 2004
19860 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 8:14 am to
Obviously you will want to review a business plan. You will also want to know how the business will be organized, who will be managing the company, rights of investors to change management, compensation for managers and exit strategies are some issues you must consider.
Posted by LSUlunatic
Member since Dec 2006
6833 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 10:10 am to
What industry is the startup in?
Posted by lighter345
Member since Jan 2009
11893 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 11:22 am to
Umm i would give it away pretty fast if I said. But they are an online based company.
Posted by LSUAfro
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2005
12775 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 11:26 am to
quote:

industry
quote:

online based company.
Posted by lighter345
Member since Jan 2009
11893 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 11:34 am to
Yea I said I was not giving away their industry.
Posted by LSUlunatic
Member since Dec 2006
6833 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 12:03 pm to
So it's a tech company looking for a seed investment? Has this company raised any capital since its formation?

Are you friends/family with the founders of this company?

Also, does this company have an already-made prototype?
This post was edited on 6/13/12 at 12:06 pm
Posted by lighter345
Member since Jan 2009
11893 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 12:12 pm to
About 65k raised.
They did a beta operation last year about 40k in transactions don't know profit. 500 users.
Couple thousand on waitin list.
Friend with one founder, very small founder only an inten essentially.

Prototype is online.
Posted by Golfer
Member since Nov 2005
75052 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 12:15 pm to
BR based? If so, I probably know them. If it's who I'm thinking of, I'd be investing as well of the wife was finished with school
Posted by LSUlunatic
Member since Dec 2006
6833 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 12:24 pm to
First, don't bother them with a request for a business plan. I'd have them put together a 10-12 slide pitch deck. There are several examples of such online.

I'll try to make a post later on which includes questions I'd ask them.
Posted by lighter345
Member since Jan 2009
11893 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 12:30 pm to
I have an investment package PowerPoint.

I know a good amount about them it's more about what exactly am I getting with my shares and what guarantees do I have if any that management stays the same, when do I have the option to sell my shares, anti dilution policy? Etc. I will not have voting rights as stated in their ivestment contract.

Thanks for the help Lunatic

And golfer no they are not BR.
Posted by LSUlunatic
Member since Dec 2006
6833 posts
Posted on 6/13/12 at 12:30 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/13/12 at 12:31 pm
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