Almost all successful companies need financial help when they first start putting together their operation, but the term “venture capital” does not seem adequate to describe the various complications involved. Without this external money, many massive global companies we know and love might have been pipe dreams. Venture capitalists have ensured the rise of Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Airbnb, but even unsuccessful businesses like WeWork and Theranos relied on investors’ capital to kick off their life cycle or expand their offerings.
How does venture capital work, and what are the risks of running with this strategy? Below, we explore this financing solution for startups in more depth to see whether venture capital is worth the fine print. Montague Law‘s Florida business law professionals also discuss the legal considerations for entrepreneurs entertaining this possibility for their startups.
What Is Venture Capital?
In essence, venture capital is private equity financing. An investor or group of venture capitalists invests money into a business in exchange for equity (capital) or part ownership that comes with some benefits. Private equity financing is a subsection of a much larger sector, and there are specific legal guidelines within this financial landscape.
Venture capitalists often take a chance on an idea they think might work in hopes of seeing that investment grow into a highly profitable company. They study a business to assess its potential before putting money into it, especially with unproven startups. Sometimes, venture capital assists companies that have been around for a while and need some support to move to the next level, but it needs significant potential to attract these savvy investors.
How Venture Capital Works
When entrepreneurs start a business, they use whatever capital they can find to gain a foothold in the niche. As the operation grows, it passes through different stages. Financial and operational commitments increase, and the need for venture capital typically sends the founders out to find support for their ideas.
Venture firms or venture capitalists may focus on specific points within a business’s life cycle to influence how they invest. There are three key stages for venture capital: the seed, early, and late stages.
#1 Seed Stage
Venture capitalists are often willing to provide a small amount for market research, product development, or the formulation of a business plan. These initial capital investments take advantage of the “seed round,” and it is typically the business’s first official round of external funding.
The company might offer these initial investors equity, convertible notes, or preferred stock options in return for their money.
#2 Early Stage
The early stage in the life cycle comprises a business’s development phase. Venture capitalists are usually willing to put in larger sums than at the seed stage because there is more evidence of growth. Companies operating within this stage also need more money for day-to-day operations if they want to be able to expand their viable product or service offering.
#3 Late Stage
Mature businesses are not exempt from needing venture capital, and late-stage funding might be the catalyst needed to put these companies in the black. These businesses will have to be generating revenue and have substantial growth potential for a venture firm to risk partnering with them, but it can be lucrative if things work out.
For example, a venture capitalist could invest in a company and successfully acquire it or list it publicly. In either case, the investor will make a profit. If it goes public, the company will distribute returns to the limited partners invested in the fund; otherwise, the venture capitalist could profit from selling their acquired shares in the secondary market.
Is Venture Capital Right for You and Your Business?
Venture capital is often associated with Silicon Valley and tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Slack, and Uber. Why are these companies a favorite type of investment for venture capitalists and firms? It’s all about scale.
Investors put their money where they see growth potential, looking for factors like:
- Does the idea solve a strong customer pain point?
- Does the idea create real value for customers?
- Is the business scalable?
- How quickly can the company generate revenue, increase sales, and grow efficiently?
- Are there any opportunities to exit the investment in the future or realize returns?
Tech companies are a great example of how a business idea can scale quickly and easily with the right investors to support its operations. The fast-growing digital economy just happens to make this easy for tech companies, but there are many other sectors benefiting from these developments as well. Other successes include The Honest Company, SpaceX, Blue Bottle Coffee, and Dollar Shave Club, all companies that have benefitted from venture capital.
The Role of Business Attorneys in Venture Capital
Any company or entrepreneur considering a venture capital strategy should also take into account the legal implications of this decision. The first step is to approach competent venture capital attorneys or business attorneys that will provide the right legal advice for the state and industry in which the venture will operate. Venture capital firms also benefit greatly from these Florida legal services, covering:
- Fund formation
- Fundraising
- Due diligence
- Intellectual property
- Investment strategies
- Litigation and dispute resolution
- Portfolio management
- Regulatory compliance
- Tax solutions
- Fund liquidation
Venture capital attorneys like Montague Law are invaluable in three key areas: advice, insight, and connection.
Sound Legal Advice for Venture Capital Lenders and Recipients
Venture capital lawyers are typically corporate lawyers by training and provide transactional legal advice. A consultation with Montague Law covers all the bases, for example:
- The venture capital lawyer would counsel clients on complicated topics, such as the tax implications of issuing early employees with shares of restricted stock or stock options.
- A tax lawyer might then advise how to restructure a venture capital deal in a tax-efficient manner.
- The team might also discuss whether your employee benefit plans are compliant with tax regulations.
A skilled venture capital attorney like John Montague also offers advice about contract-related laws, securities, intellectual property laws, employment, and tax laws in Florida.
Invaluable Market Insight for Florida Startups
A skilled venture capital attorney also needs exceptional market insight to help their clients understand trends and market conditions. Venture capital-backed rounds of financing can only make a difference to the business’s growth with the right strategy. For example, Montague Law can provide a valuable perspective on the common pitfalls that Florida’s newest entrepreneurs face and how to avoid them.
It’s a great idea to ask a potential venture capital attorney about their past clients to see how their knowledge might cover your business niche.
Prime Industry Connections for Growth Potential
If you are a small business looking for funding, a skilled venture capital attorney should be able to connect you with key players in the industry. They will not focus on building your pitch or raising the financing you need, but it does mean that they know who can support you in that endeavor. High-worth venture capital lawyers might put you in touch with investment bankers, accountants, developers, insurers, and other service providers who work with companies in your business niche.
A venture capital lawyer is more than a corporate attorney; they are an important cog in the wheel of the venture capital process and an excellent point of contact for high-quality referrals. Montague Law might just be what your startup or business venture needs to thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
If venture capital is on your radar, the following information may fuel your decisions about funding sources, strategies, and the right legal representatives in Florida.
Is there a difference between venture capitalists and angel investors?
Venture capitalists raise and invest capital from limited partners for a living; angel investors are wealthy individuals who invest in promising businesses. An angel investor’s money does not belong to anyone else, whereas venture capitalists often manage a fund that involves many other profit-seekers. Famous examples of angel investors include Kevin Leary, Mark Cuban, Daymond John, and Lori Greiner from Shark Tank.
What is a venture capital firm?
A venture capital firm is an investment firm that mentors and funds startups or other young companies. These firms use capital from limited partners to invest in promising businesses. For example:
- Andreessen Horowitz invested in Instacart, Airbnb, and Foursquare
- Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) invested in Pinterest, Twitch, Skype, and Periscope
- General Catalyst invested in Stripe Payments and Lemonade
- Sequoia Capital invested in 23andMe, DoorDash, and Uber
- SoftBank invested in WeWork, Uber, and Relay Therapeutics
What is a venture capital fund?
A venture capital fund is an investment vehicle. It raises money from limited partners to invest in companies. It forms a pool of money that it can invest into promising private companies for profit.
Contact Montague Law Today
Are you in need of venture capital? Perhaps, you are a venture capitalist looking for sound legal advice? Montague Law understands the complexities of these transactions under Florida’s legal framework, guiding you through every step of the process to realize a successful venture capital transaction.
If you need legal representation for your business, the Law Offices of John Montague are available to assist you. Call us at 904-234-5653 or contact us online for a free no-obligation consultation for business law needs in Amelia, First Coast, and Jacksonville, FL.
