{"id":18971,"date":"2019-06-09T21:00:56","date_gmt":"2019-06-09T18:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/?p=18971"},"modified":"2019-06-09T21:00:56","modified_gmt":"2019-06-09T18:00:56","slug":"assessment-of-emerging-companies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/assessment-of-emerging-companies\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Value an Early-Stage Startup: Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneuralarabiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Valuation-methods-770x400.jpg\" alt=\"\u00d9\u0086\u00d8\u00aa\u00d9\u008a\u00d8\u00ac\u00d8\u00a9 \u00d8\u00a8\u00d8\u00ad\u00d8\u00ab \u00d8\u00a7\u00d9\u0084\u00d8\u00b5\u00d9\u0088\u00d8\u00b1 \u00d8\u00b9\u00d9\u0086 \u00d8\u00aa\u00d9\u0082\u00d9\u008a\u00d9\u008a\u00d9\u0085 \u00d8\u00a7\u00d9\u0084\u00d8\u00b4\u00d8\u00b1\u00d9\u0083\u00d8\u00a7\u00d8\u00aa \u00d8\u00a7\u00d9\u0084\u00d9\u0086\u00d8\u00a7\u00d8\u00b4\u00d8\u00a6\u00d8\u00a9\" width=\"701\" height=\"364\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">If you\u2019re wondering whether founders and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/how-do-you-attract-investors\/\">Investors<\/a> venture capitalists can value early-stage startups, you\u2019re not alone. Valuation relies on <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">assumptions, estimates, and growth rates to arrive at a specific figure for a company\u2019s actual value. Since comparable events that affected <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">the company\u2019s value cannot be fully explained, analysts tend to normalize and adjust prices to arrive at a more reliable value, disregarding the outcomes of such rare events.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">Valuation can be straightforward\u2014for example, negotiating 15\u201320% ownership in the company in exchange for an investment. At this stage, the investor wants to know <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">The company\u2019s ability to generate a tenfold return (10x) over five to eight years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">The key question remains: Can this company double its revenue, given its size,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/how-to-keep-quiet-when-the-market-stagnates\/\"> Market<\/a> impact, team, and product? The analysis changes significantly <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">if the founder is a successful entrepreneur; as a result, value increases as a byproduct.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">Once the company begins generating revenue and receiving cash flows, valuation analysis becomes easier, more technical, and more robust. Investors typically look for valuation <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">methods based on comparable transactions in the target company\u2019s industry, while taking into account any obstacles before the anticipated exit, or sale of shares by <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">5 \u0625\u0644\u0649 8 \u0633\u0646\u0648\u0627\u062a.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">It is important to note that the valuation of projects <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/%d9%85%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%ad%d9%84-%d8%a8%d9%86%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b4%d8%b1%d9%83%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d8%a7%d8%b4%d8%a6%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d8%a7%d8%ac%d8%ad%d8%a9\/\">Startups<\/a>typically changes in response to competition or a recession. Some sectors attract more capital looking to close <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">deals than others, and investors are less inclined to sign checks if there is a recession or one is imminent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">The first scenario, an abundance of capital, pushes valuations up; the second, a recession scenario, pushes valuations down.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">For an early-revenue startup, an investor may seek a 5\u201310x return on their investment and a single stage of growth (companies <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">with annual revenue growth of 20% or more); accordingly, the investor makes assumptions about the company\u2019s growth over the next five years, while calculating <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">Exit value; to determine whether the target IRR and return multiple can be achieved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">The investor reviews sales of comparable companies and valuations of public companies in the same sector, then makes exit assumptions based on the metrics used <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">for example, revenue, annual or monthly recurring revenue, and EBITDA multiples, before identifying the valuation metrics <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">to use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 28px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; color: #00ccff;\">List of transactions<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">In general, an investor will have a list of comparable company transactions, along with their operating metrics at the time of acquisition and valuation. They should take the average of this <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">comparable group and use it as a data point for the valuation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 28px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; color: #00ccff;\">\u0646\u0642\u0637\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0627\u0646\u0637\u0644\u0627\u0642<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">There are many ways to value early-stage startups. Comparable transactions are the starting point for determining an early-stage venture\u2019s valuation, so<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\"> an analyst should look at companies in the same business sector and local markets, those that received funding in the recent past, and the amounts spent on sales.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">So, before discussing the three most popular methods for valuing early-stage companies, it\u2019s important to understand what determines a startup\u2019s value and its <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">investment stages. There are positive and negative signals to consider when valuing a company, including the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 28px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Positive signals<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1- \u0627\u0644\u0627\u062c\u062a\u0630\u0627\u0628:<\/span> <\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">Does the startup have customers? If it\u2019s growing its customer base, you have a good chance of raising between $500 and $1 million.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">2- Prototype:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\"> Having prototypes shows that the company has already made some progress toward execution and is ready to move to market, which creates a <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">positive impression among investors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">3- Current funding supply and demand:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">If there is more<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/4-%d9%85%d9%87%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%b0%d9%87%d9%86%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%8a%d9%86%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%ac%d9%87%d8%a7-%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84\/\"> \u0631\u0648\u0627\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0639\u0645\u0627\u0644<\/a> Those seeking more money from investors than they are willing to provide <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">may affect your business valuation. This is compounded by the founder\u2019s desperation to secure investment and investors\u2019 desire to negotiate incentives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">4. Distribution channels:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\"> Distribution is one of the most important elements of a startup\u2019s strategy. The more efficiently a company\u2019s distribution channels operate, the higher its valuation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\"> \u0645\u0646 \u063a\u064a\u0631\u0647\u0627.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">5-\u00a0\u0627\u0644\u0625\u064a\u0631\u0627\u062f\u0627\u062a:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\"> Revenue streams are especially important for companies producing a core product with both B2B and B2C audiences; this can lead to a higher valuation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">6-\u00a0\u0627\u0644\u0633\u0645\u0639\u0629:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\"> A startup receives a higher valuation when its founder or team has a track record of executing good ideas, and when the product has a strong reputation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">7- Industry timing:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">If the company operates in a thriving or popular industry, such as mobile gaming, investors are more likely to take an interest in it; <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">and it is therefore more valuable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 28px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>\u0625\u0634\u0627\u0631\u0627\u062a \u0633\u0644\u0628\u064a\u0629<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">1- Underperforming sector:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">If a startup belongs to a sector that has performed poorly recently, investors typically avoid the entire sector.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">2- Ineffective management team:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">A startup\u2019s management may be considered ineffective if it lacks a strong track record or a good reputation, or if key positions are vacant.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">3. Competitive and Saturated Markets:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">Some industries are highly competitive and already saturated. Startups may face intense competition from established companies or enter an already crowded market, which may <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">discourage investors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">4-\u00a0\u0645\u0646\u062a\u062c \u0645\u0639\u064a\u0628:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">If the product doesn\u2019t work well, the market isn\u2019t ready for it, it\u2019s illegal, or it isn\u2019t appealing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">5. Low Profit Margins:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">A startup with low profit margins needs larger cash reserves to avoid the risks of missed payments and legal disputes, since profits <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">and reinvestment are rare.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">Some industries\u2014such as wholesale trade\u2014are known for low profit margins and tied-up capital, making startups in these <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">sectors less attractive to investors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">6- Lack of financial planning:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">A startup may seek funding when it needs money urgently and in the near term, especially if its capital has run out. Ideally, it should have plans <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;\">For the approach investors take.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; \u0625\u0630\u0627 \u0639\u0644\u0645\u062a \u0623\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0624\u0633\u0633\u064a\u0646 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0645\u0633\u062a\u062b\u0645\u0631\u064a\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u0627\u0645\u0631\u064a\u0646 \u064a\u0633\u062a\u0637\u064a\u0639\u0648\u0646 \u062a\u0642\u064a\u064a\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0631\u0643\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0627\u0634\u0626\u0629 \u0641\u064a \u0645\u0631\u0627\u062d\u0644\u0647\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0628\u0643\u0631\u0629\u060c \u0641\u0627\u0639\u0644\u0645 \u0623\u0646\u0643 \u0644\u0633\u062a \u0648\u062d\u062f\u0643\u061b \u0641\u0627\u0644\u062a\u0642\u064a\u064a\u0645 \u064a\u062a\u0645 \u0645\u0646 \u062e\u0644\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0627\u0641\u062a\u0631\u0627\u0636\u0627\u062a \u0648\u0627\u0644\u062a\u0642\u062f\u064a\u0631\u0627\u062a \u0648\u0645\u0639\u062f\u0644\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0645\u0648\u061b<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_ibtdi_aa_focus_keyword":"","_ibtdi_aa_secondary_keywords":"","_ibtdi_aa_audience":"","_ibtdi_aa_tone":"","_ibtdi_aa_summary":"","_ibtdi_aa_reviewer_name":"","_ibtdi_aa_reviewer_bio":"","_ibtdi_aa_reviewer_url":"","_ibtdi_aa_reviewed_date":"","_ibtdi_aa_service_id":"","_ibtdi_aa_related_ids":"","_ibtdi_aa_human_reviewed":"","_ibtdi_aa_disable":"","_ibtdi_aa_disable_links":"","_ibtdi_aa_sources":"","_ibtdi_aa_update_notes":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[491],"tags":[19039,19038,2185,782,1320,19037,19040,793],"class_list":["post-18971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-491","tag-19039","tag-19038","tag-2185","tag-782","tag-1320","tag-19037","tag-19040","tag-793"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18971\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibtdi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}