Siliconlegalseedfinancingreport2015report 170105143207 PDF
Siliconlegalseedfinancingreport2015report 170105143207 PDF
FINANCING
REPORT
A comprehensive look at the very early stage
venture capital financing market
At the same time, innovations like software and services in the cloud, cheap storage and
crowdsourced labor have enabled founders to hit the ground running with significantly less capital
than their counterparts from the late 1990s. New entrepreneurs are taking the plunge every day, all
over the country (and really, all over the world). The challenges that these entrepreneurs face are
incredibly unique. These founders are taking bet the company risks everyday as they hire their first
employees, attempt to find and close commercial partners and raise capital. Resources are limited,
competition is intense and decisions around how to structure early stage financings often have
repercussions as the company scales. In our first report, Seed Financing: Three Years in Startup Land
we looked at trends in the very early stage seed funding market from 2010 through 20121. In examining
nearly 300 deals over a three year period, our data revealed an interesting dichotomy: very founder
favorable economic terms, combined with stronger attempts from investors to maintain negative
control. Last year, in examining the very early stage seed funding market in 2013 and the first 3 quarters
of 2014, our data indicated a continuation of these same trends, but also seed investors acting more
like later stage institutional investors and demanding the right to participate alongside larger funds
in later rounds and investing anew in startups with a few rounds under their belts2.
As with our prior endeavors, this report speaks to those on the very early end of the startup life cycle
and provides entrepreneurs and investors with a deeper look at the seed funding market. Other venture
finance reports focus on later stage financings (Series A and beyond). Silicon Legal has been in a unique
position in that over the past six years, we have emerged as an incredibly active firm (and without
question the most active boutique firm) in this very early stage seed funding space. We are once again
aiming to deliver the authoritative report, capturing not only the data, but also perspective and analysis.
Introduction 1
INTRODUCTION
As in our prior reports, the big challenge in interpreting this data is that while deal terms exhibit certain
statistical trends, navigating the venture capital financing market is still more art than science (especially
at the seed stage). There are countless examples of outlier transactions and trying to put the specifics
of a deal into perspective by looking at comps can be frustrating. The reality is that while a market
is set for most financing deal terms, everything is negotiable. In a vibrant fundraising environment,
sometimes it feels like anything goes if the deal is a hot one!
Our Takeaway.
In our prior reports, we posited that while the economic terms of seed financing rounds were founder
favorable, certain market forces were driving seed investors to seek additional control and strong down-
side protection and to behave more and more like later stage institutional investors.
NEGOTIATING
economic stake in the companies.
Investors continue to demand pro
rata rights and are starting
to expect existing convertible
Introduction 2
TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
Bigger Rounds; Round Extensions; More diligence.
The amount of capital raised in seed convertible note, SAFE and priced equity rounds has continued
to increase as companies are deferring their Series A rounds for longer periods of time. Our survey data
indicates that the average amount of capital raised in seed rounds has increased as follows in the last
four quarters compared to the prior four quarters: 22% increase in the size of note rounds; 27% increase
in the size of SAFE rounds, and 39% increase in the size of equity rounds.
Our data corroborates the observations of other commentators3 that early stage companies are
increasingly extending their seed rounds and raising additional capital from new investors without
a significant increase in valuation cap or valuation, as applicable, if any. Our survey data indicates
that in the last four quarters 23% of seed rounds included additional capital raises as part of extensions,
while such extensions were a part of only 10% of seed rounds in the preceding four quarters. A few
factors are driving this phenomenon:
The bar required to raise a Series A round due to the much talked about Series A Crunch
has remained high.
But, there has been no downtick in the number of investors and amount of capital chasing
seed deals.
What investors participating in these larger note rounds and extensions of seed equity rounds are asking
in return is more due diligence. Investors who in the past only did cursory diligence on companies are now,
even in convertible note and SAFE rounds, increasingly asking more pointed questions about performance
metrics, prospects for future funding, financials, legal housekeeping, and intellectual property.
Ironically, the likelihood of investors getting less than their pro rata share in the Series A round increases as
the company gives such rights to more and more investors. As more seed investors are granted pro rata
rights, they end up having a contractual right to a significant portion of the Series A round. Because new
investors typically expect to own a certain portion of the Series A round, founders often find themselves
having to fight for the seed investors pro rata rights with the new money investors. Those investors who
have secured contractual pro rata rights learn quickly that relationships with the founders are an equally
critical component to protecting those rights.
Founders dilution hit is partly a function of how convertible securities are treated. As an example,
if a company raised $1,000,000 via convertible notes with a valuation cap of $6,000,000 and subsequently
raised $8,000,000 in new capital in a Series A round at a pre-money valuation of $20,000,000, the
ownership stakes will break down as follows:
As shown in the table above, including the notes in the pre-money results in more dilution of the founders
ownership stake.
There has been a change in the investors view on this issue as investors are increasingly expecting any
and all previously raised capital, whether raised via equity, convertible note or SAFE, to be included
in the pre-money capitalization. As the size of note and SAFE rounds increases, it is becoming more
important for founders to address this point as soon as there is any discussion about valuation with
potential investors. As other commentators have noted, the simple solution is to agree to the post-money
valuation, instead of the pre-money valuation4.
As an example, if a company raises its Series A round at a pre-money valuation of $10,000,000, resulting
in a per share price for new money of $4.00, and the Series A has a 1x liquidation preference, then
outstanding notes in the principal amount of $500,000 and with valuation cap of $2,500,000 will get
liquidation preference in the amount of $2,000,000 (which is 4x the noteholders investment amount).
The impact of the liquidation preference overhang becomes more significant as the size of note rounds
increases and companies raise multiple note tranches, often resulting in an increase in the delta between
pre-money valuation of Series A rounds and valuation cap of convertible notes.
Leading voices in the startup community have put this issue on the founders radar5 and many investors
are now agreeing to either:
(i) Convert notes into a combination of preferred stock and common stock, such that the price
discount resulting from the valuation cap is paid in common stock and the aggregate liquidation
preference of the shares of preferred stock issued upon conversion of the notes equals the principal
plus interest of the notes; or
(ii) Convert notes into shadow preferred stock, which is a series of stock that is exactly the same
as the preferred stock issued to new money investors in all respects except for the liquidation preference
and anti-dilution and dividend rights. The liquidation preference of such shadow preferred stock equals
the principal plus interest of the notes, instead of the price per share paid by the new money investors.
The SAFE securities popularized by Y Combinator incorporate this approach6.
The result of both of these solutions is that noteholders liquidation preference is equal to their investment
amount.
However, these solutions come with some downsides. The conversion to common stock may significantly
impact the control that founders have over the companys outstanding common stock, which becomes
relevant for purposes of calculating voting thresholds for future financings, recapitalizations, and
acquisitions. In addition to adding a layer of complexity to the legal documents, the conversion to shadow
preferred stock gives the former noteholders blocking rights under Delaware corporate law with respect
to any amendment to the companys certificate of incorporation that would alter or change the powers,
preferences or special rights of the shares of such class so as to affect them adversely. The result is that
any recapitalization, for example, will require consent of the former noteholders, voting as a separate
class, instead of voting as part of the same class as the new money investors.
Founders issuing convertible notes should carefully weigh the benefits of eliminating the liquidation
preference overhang with the voting rights implications of issuing common stock or shadow preferred
stock.
Valuation caps for the convertible notes continue trending more favorably for companies.
The median valuation cap for convertible notes in the last four quarters was $7,500,000.
52% of notes rounds in the last four quarters included preemptive (pro rata) rights for investors.
Pre-money valuations continue to increase median in the last four quarters was $8,300,000.
From a control perspective, investors are taking board seats more often. In the last four quarters,
investors took board seats in 93% of equity seed rounds.
Investors got preemptive (pro rata) rights in 96% of seed equity deals in the last four quarters.
The median valuation cap for SAFEs in the last four quarters was $8,000,000.
Investors were promised the grant of preemptive (pro rata) rights in the next round
in 70% of SAFE rounds.
Highlights 6
THE DATA: CONVERTIBLE NOTE ROUNDS
$200,000
$-
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters
SIZE OF ROUND
60% There continues to be an
increase in the number of
50%
companies raising more than
40% $1 million using convertible
< $500K
notes. A majority of companies
30% $500K $1MM
have raised at least $100,000
> $1MM
20% in their note rounds.
10%
0%
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters
NUMBER OF INVESTORS
(MEDIAN)
14 The phenomenon of party rounds is holding
12 steady as companies include higher numbers
of investors in their note rounds. We saw a
10
median of 13 investors per note round during
8 the last four quarters.
6
0
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters
CONVERSION DISCOUNTS
80%
70% CONVERSION VALUATION CAP
60% (MEDIAN, WITH PERCENTAGE OF DEALS CAPPED)
50% $8,000,000
95% 95%
40%
$6,000,000
30%
20% $4,000,000
10%
$2,000,000
0%
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters $-
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters
No Discount
20% Discount
10% Discount
25% Discount
15% Discount
Warrant Coverage. While more frequently used in the past as a sweetener in lieu of conversion discounts,
warrants are no longer favored as a means of compensating the investors with additional equity. In the
last four quarters, warrants were used in 1% of note deals.
0%
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters
The maturity term for convertible notes (the due date for the loan) typically falls within a 12 to 24
month range. In practicality, note maturity is not a hard-and-fast end of the line for the company.
Because most note investors are seeking the equity upside and do not invest for the purpose of earning
interest income, they are often willing to extend the term of the note to give the company a longer
runaway to reach a Series A round. Across our portfolio of company clients, we could not find any
examples of note investors forcing a company into bankruptcy when the notes came due.
Along these lines, a note investors worst fear is not that they will lose the money they have invested.
Instead, investors worry that the company will successfully use the note round proceeds, pay the
investors back at the end of the note term, and then sell the company for $1 billion twelve months later.
As a result, investors often want the right to convert their principal plus interest into equity upon maturity
in lieu of repayment of the note. The trend is for more and more notes to allow for such optional
conversion (into either Common Stock or Preferred Stock).
MATURITY TERM
(WITH PERCENTAGE ALLOWING CONVERSION AT MATURITY)
68% 76%
100%
80%
0%
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters
Convertible notes issued in seed rounds are almost always unsecured; and it is still quite unusual for
a note investor to receive a board seat. Investors are increasingly asking for the right to invest additional
capital in subsequent rounds.
$2,000,000
$
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters
SIZE OF ROUND
60%
A majority of deals raised more 50%
than $2 million and only 6% of
40%
deals raised less than $1 million. Less than $1mm
30% $1mm - $2mm
20% $2mm - $4mm
10%
0%
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters
NUMBER OF INVESTORS
(MEDIAN)
14 The phenomenon of party rounds
12 continues as the median of 13 investors
10 participated in each equity round.
8
6
4
2
0
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quarters
Investor Board Seats. We are seeing investors take board seats in a vast majority of seed equity
deals as investors look to assume a more hands-on role.
Pro Rata Rights. All or at least a subset of investors were given the right to invest additional capital
in subsequent rounds in more than 95% of seed equity deals. Often, the company will set a minimum
investment threshold that must be met in order for investors to enjoy pro rata rights. However, we
are seeing more and more seed deals where all investors in the round are receiving pro rata rights.
Further, where thresholds are set, they are trending lower.
>1x Preference 1% 0%
Redemption Rights 3% 2%
No Seat 8% 7%
>1 Seat 8% 8%
Investment Amount. As has been the case historically, the amount of capital raised using SAFEs has
been lower than amounts raised under convertible notes, with the median raise of $810,000 during
the last four quarters. However, this is a significant increase from the median raise of $500,000 in the
prior three quarters.
Number of Investors. The phenomenon of party rounds is growing with SAFEs, as the median number
of investors has increased to 15.
Valuation Cap. The median valuation cap of $8,000,000 is actually higher than that for convertible
note rounds. This is at least partly because SAFEs are used most often by companies coming out of
the Y Combinator ecosystem.
SAFE TERMS
2014 (Q1-Q3) Last 4 Quaters
Discount
Price Discount. Only half of the deals included a conversion price discount.
Change of Control. While all deals allowed for conversion upon a change of control, a majority did
not include a change of control premium.
Preemptive Rights. As consistent with seed note and equity deals, most SAFE deals include a promise
to grant pro rata rights in the next equity round.
MFN. Most Favored Nation provisions require amendment of the SAFE if the company subsequently
issues SAFEs with more favorable terms to other investors. MFNs provisions are more common in deals
with no discount or valuation cap.
Sources
1. http://www.siliconlegal.com/reports/seed-financing-report-2010-2012
2. http://www.siliconlegal.com/reports/seed-financing-report-2014
3. http://venturebeat.com/2015/11/07/why-seed-extensions-are-becoming-the-new-normal-in-
fundraising/
4. http://www.feld.com/archives/2015/06/pre-money-vs-post-money-confusion-convertible-
notes.html
5. http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2015/05/30/one-simple-paragraph-every-entrepreneur-
should-add-to-their-convertible-notes/
6. https://www.ycombinator.com/documents/
Acknowledgements
Wed like to thank the entire Silicon Legal team for their input and assistance in making this report
a reality. A special thank you goes out to Victoria Martinez of Diosa Designs.
Disclaimer: This report is not intended, and should not be considered, as legal advice and there can be no
assurance that the information provided herein is error-free. Neither Silicon Legal, nor any of its partners,
associates, staff or agents shall have any liability for any information contained herein, including any errors
or incompleteness.
Administrivia 14
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