Interview subjects have asked to remain anonymous in order to feel comfortable providing candid answers. Mergers and acquisitions is a hot practice in business, law, and consulting and one of the most requested banking groups for incoming investment bankers.1 Like any practice or career, however, there are many pros and cons. This blog post will…
Tag: startups
The Unicorn’s Dilemma
For startups seeking to join the ranks of “unicorns”- private companies with billion-dollar valuations- the venture capital climate has never been more favorable. The number of private companies receiving billion-dollar valuations has ballooned in recent years1 and as of 2015, a record 41 companies have received exactly such a valuation.2. However, these sought-after valuations are…
Too Big To Succeed: How Liquidation Preference May Be Driving Unsustainable Valuations
When startups begin to negotiate for venture financing, most are primarily focused on maximizing their valuations. While founders are wise to focus on the valuation term given its importance to the company’s public perception and financial position, that focus may ultimately be leading founders to undermine their own interests. When venture capitalists (VCs) invest in…
Three Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Should Consider Detroit
It is not news that in the summer of 2013 Detroit filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.1 In spite of the bankruptcy proceedings, which formally concluded when Judge Steven Rhoades confirmed the City’s plan last November, Detroit received a lot of press as a burgeoning hub for entrepreneurial activity. While many may still…
Antitrust implications of Big Data
Increasingly, big data is becoming an important tool for understanding customer behavior. The information provided by the data can be used to understand customer behavior, predict consumption patterns and market products. Now, because big data has become such a central tool for effectively operating a company, companies are coming under fire for withholding big data…