In the wake of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, Americans turned again to the familiar gun control debate. This time, however, an unlikely player was thrust into the spotlight: private equity firms. As the public conversation about gun violence ensued, the pro-gun crowd stood their ground while the anti-gun lobby…
Author: Zachary Anderson
Petroleum and Private Equity: PE Firms Increase Investments in the Oil and Gas Industry
Demand for global energy resources has made the energy industry an attractive target for private equity investment. According to a 2013 report by Bain & Company, the strength of recent fundraising activity by PE funds indicates that energy investments will be popular in years to come.1 Within the energy industry, the most attractive area for…
Getting a Good Deal: Strategies for Entrepreneurs in VC Negotiations
Venture capital is an invaluable resource for the nascent business. Providing much-needed capital, VCs enable a business to fund the future growth that every entrepreneur hopes for. Negotiations between entrepreneurs and VCs frequently allow a company not only to raise funds but also to create long-term value through lasting business relationships. However, these negotiations also…
Legal Necessity or Founder Faux Pas? Why VCs Don’t Like Non-Disclosure Agreements (And Why Startups Shouldn’t Ask for Them)
Every entrepreneur wants to protect their idea. Confidentiality is key to safeguarding intellectual property, and it’s only natural to want to protect your product or service so that you can get it to market before a competitor can. At first glance, when meeting with potential investors, asking them to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may…