“When I was a founder, VCs hoarded information about how venture capital terms worked to stack the deck in their favor. Along came Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson who started giving away the game by publishing how things worked on their blog. Now you can have all this information provided in an easy and concise format that evens the playing field.” - Mark Suster, General Partner, Upfront Ventures
“Ventures Deals has historically been our go to book for entrepreneurs on fund raising. It is a must read for anyone who is embarking on the fundraising process and now we are delighted that it has been updated for the current fundraising environment with all the changes that have happened the past few years.”
- Bill Aulet, Managing Director, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship
“Having worked with Brad and Jason during the Internet bubble, I witnessed first-hand the experience they gained by doing deals that covered the entire range of issues an entrepreneur faces today. This is a must-read for both entrepreneurs and investors as it lets each side understand the terminology, structures and potential issues inherent in venture deals so they can focus on what really matters, regardless of which side they are on. Every entrepreneur who is raising or considering raising venture capital should read this book!”
- Heidi Roizen, Operating Partner, DFJ
"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
“Brad and Jason are undoubtedly among the most authentic VCs in the industry today. This book goes far beyond the nuts and bolts of term sheets and venture capital to give invaluable insights into the importance of building relationships based on trust. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to all Kauffman Fellows and to every entrepreneur I meet across the world.”
- Jeff Harbach, President and CEO, Kauffman Fellows
“I have been lucky to have Brad Feld as a mentor as a VC, and watch him advise companies as a board member. Venture Deals is your chance to get some of that advice and wisdom applied to your own startup. Don’t miss the opportunity.”
- Jeff Clavier, Managing Partner, SoftTech VC
“One of the most practical books on venture capital. Every entrepreneur (and their lawyer) should own a copy”
- Mike Platt, Colorado Partner-in-Charge — Cooley LLP
"We've worked with Brad & Jason through the highs and lows and highs of a number technology investments. When risk takers share insight, read it. In the case of Brad and Jason, read it twice. We love their refreshing comfort with maximizing risk in the spirit of creating meaningful impact."
- Tony Conrad, founder / CEO, About.me and Partner, True Ventures
“Even if your lawyer or VC has done a lot of deals, you should read this book. Nothing hurts a company more than a bad deal structure usually not discovered until a year or two later. This will allow you to look for the pot holes and avoid a lot of pain.”
- Lesa Mitchell, Managing Director, Techstars Kansas City
"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
"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
There has never been a better time for entrepreneurs to create a startup. With decreasing costs of getting started and operating a business, the ability to be a founder has become increasingly democratized across the globe. On top of this, the amount of funding sources has dramatically increased not only in number, but also in types, as non-traditional sources like crowdfunding and accelerators have become important players in the ecosystem. Today, an entrepreneur raising money has a lot more options than even just a few years ago. The question becomes "how does one evaluate these opportunities and maximize the result?"
Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson are back with version three of their Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestseller. Packed with the latest insights and emerging trends, the authors' thirty-plus years of collective experience are at your fingertips. Whether you need advice on raising money, negotiating a term sheet, selling your business, or really just want to have insider access into what makes venture capitalists tick, this book is for you.
Brad and Jason discuss different stages of financings, the many types of different investors that might fund your company, as well as the different avenues of funding, whether they be traditional convertible debt and equity or one of the newer practices of crowdfunding and pre-sales.
Whether you are a new or seasoned entrepreneur, lawyer, venture capitalist, educator, or student of the industry, Venture Deals, Third Edition is the go-to-guide to navigating the venture landscape.
For additional information, including term sheets and all the documents generated from the term sheet as part of venture financing, visit the authors' website at venturedeals.com.
From the Back Cover
Praise for venture deals
"When I was a founder, VCs hoarded information about how venture capital terms worked to stack the deck in their favor. Along came Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson who started giving away the game by publishing how things worked on their blog. Now you can have all this information provided in an easy and concise format that evens the playing field."
Mark Suster, General Partner, Upfront Ventures
"Venture Deals has historically been our go-to book for entrepreneurs on fundraising. It is a must-read for anyone who is embarking on the fundraising process and now we are delighted that it has been updated for the current fundraising environment with all the changes that have happened the past few years."
Bill Aulet, Managing Director, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship
"Having worked with Brad and Jason during the Internet bubble, I witnessed first-hand the experience they gained by doing deals that covered the entire range of issues an entrepreneur faces today. This is a must-read for both entrepreneurs and investors as it lets each side understand the terminology, structures, and potential issues inherent in venture deals so they can focus on what really matters, regardless of which side they are on. Every entrepreneur who is raising or considering raising venture capital should read this book!"
Heidi Roizen, Operating Partner, DFJ
"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
"Brad and Jason are undoubtedly among the most authentic VCs in the industry today. This book goes far beyond the nuts and bolts of term sheets and venture capital to give invaluable insights into the importance of building relationships based on trust. I'll definitely be recommending this book to all Kauffman Fellows and to every entrepreneur I meet across the world."
Jeff Harbach, President and CEO, Kauffman Fellows
"I have been lucky to have Brad Feld as a mentor as a VC, and watch him advise companies as a board member. Venture Deals is your chance to get some of that advice and wisdom applied to your own startup. Don't miss the opportunity."
Jeff Clavier, Managing Partner, SoftTech VC
About the Author
BRAD FELD has been an early-stage investor and entrepreneur for over twenty-five years. Prior to co-founding Foundry Groupa Boulder, Colorado-based venture capital firmhe co-founded Mobius Venture Capital. Brad also founded Intensity Ventures, a company that helped launch and operate software companies. Prior to this, Brad founded Feld Technologies. He is also a founder of Techstars and has been active with non-profit organizations, including acting as chairperson for the National Center for Women in Technology.
JASON MENDELSON has 20 years of experience in the venture industry. Prior to co-founding Foundry Group, Jason was a Managing Director and Chief Administrative officer at Mobius Venture Capital, where he also served as the firm's general counsel. Besides his experience as a venture investor, Jason has also been a software engineer, startup lawyer, and a co-founder of SRS | Acquiom. He is an adjunct at the University of Colorado Law School where he co-teaches a course on venture capital and entrepreneurship.
