Innovative businesses are presently surfacing in a variety of industries, making India one of the startup ecosystems with the quickest rate of growth worldwide. However, adequate money and investment are necessary for the Indian startup ecosystem to expand and flourish. Tracxn Technologies reports that just 91 transactions totaling $1.32 billion had been registered as of February 2023, compared to 308 transactions totaling $4.77 billion that were logged during the same month in 2022. Before starting their fundraising efforts, investors anticipate that the firms in their portfolio will correct their unit economics.
Negotiating finance agreements with investors is a crucial procedure for companies. Startups must pay attention to factors outside the term sheet, which details the fundamental terms of the agreement being completed, in addition to getting the unit economics correct.
Due Diligence Has Two Sides
Before taking an investment, a founder should perform due research on the investor. This entails being aware of the kinds of entities the investor normally finances, the amount of money they typically invest, the average length of time they hold an investment, and their return expectations. To get insights, startups must talk with some of the businesses the investor has invested in.
It’s crucial to verify claims made by investors that they would provide you access to their network or assistance with hiring and strategy. The team sheet includes forecasts for the company’s prospective growth and worth, the amount of capital given, and the pre-money valuation. Founders may connect their own ambitions and objectives with the investor’s expectations by knowing the investor’s expectations for return on investment.
Recognising The Investment Philosophies
Indian entrepreneurs need to be aware of typical errors and take precautions to prevent them. One of these errors does not comprehend the investor’s investing philosophy, practises, track record, and the value they can offer beyond simply the monetary investment. Startups must assess the management style of the investor and take into account the rights the investor is requesting in the term sheet. The firm will often go through a full due diligence procedure when an investment term sheet is agreed upon, which entails inspecting numerous elements including financial records, client orders, staff records, and statutory compliance.
Startup investments have declined significantly this year compared to the same period last year, which is mostly due to private equity and venture capital organisations becoming more careful with their investments. The founders of startups must be aware of the due diligence procedures that investors must follow before investing in them, and they must make sure that they are ready and have all the relevant documents on finances, compliance, client orders, human resources, etc. in place.
Early Recognition Of Expectation Mismatch
The fund’s stage of development and the ramifications of the term sheet being presented to the founders must be understood. Particularly when working with VC funds, effective communication between the investor and founder is essential. It is crucial to take into account the fund’s life cycle and how it can affect their corporate strategy. The business must determine how much money it requires to raise in the future prospects and how much further dilution it is ready to absorb before discussing value. Startups need to make sure the funding arrangement being given to them is set up to promote long-term success.
