Michael Bayer

Dive into our latest blog where we explore the complexities of warrants—a critical tool in venture deals. From strategic advantages to potential pitfalls, learn how warrants can both propel and complicate investment scenarios. Learn more. https://lnkd.in/g3zWY9ER #VCWarrants #VCDeals #VentureSuccess #SaaSGrowth

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Great analysis by the AGC team on SaaS public company comps. It's worth a look as we recalibrate mid-way through earnings season. The analysis aligns with the broader Nasdaq equity performance, where the Mag 7 (or fab 4 now :-)) have shown more resilience than the rest of the market. #AGC #SaaS #EarningsSeason #Nasdaq #EquityPerformance

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As a startup founder, scaling your business is hard enough without the added pressure of a high-interest rate environment. While the challenges are significant, there is an upside. 🔺 Burkland Fractional CFO Daniel Rosenbaum outlines the strategies founders can use to turn high interest rates into an advantage, earning returns that extend your runway and support sustainable growth. https://lnkd.in/g5WmcaNw #TreasuryManagement #startups #CashRunway #StartupFinance

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🔋 #TodayinVC - All of the biggest deal announcements in venture capital - July 2nd, 2024. Sourced from Litquidity's Exec Sum. 💰 Fundraising Announcements: - SmartHR, a cloud-based HR software startup, raised a $140M Series E led by KKR and Ontario Teachers'​ Pension Plan (TC) - Eve Air Mobility, an eVTOL aircraft manufacturer, raised $94M from Embraer, Nidec Conversion and others (PRN) - K Health, an AI primary care platform, raised a $50M round led by Claure Group (BW) - Reusable packing company Vytal raised a $6.6M round led by Emerald Technology Ventures (EU) - Vaire Computing, a startup building energy efficient chips, raised a $4.5M seed round led by 7percent Ventures and Jude Gomila (TC) Congrats to all - what #startups do you have your eyes on? 👀 Follow @Today in VC for daily #venturecapital news! 📆

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Moats - Competitive Advantage Morningstar lists top competitive moats: 1. Intangible Assets: Brand recognition, patents, and regulatory licenses that give companies a competitive edge. Example: Coca-Cola 2. Switching Costs: Costs incurred by customers when switching from one product or service to another. Example: Oracle 3. Network Effect: The value of a product or service increases as more people use it. Example: CME Group 4. Cost Advantage: Companies that can produce goods or services at a lower cost than their competitors. Example: UPS 5. Efficient Scale: Markets where a company serves demand more efficiently than competitors, deterring new entrants. Example: Kinder Morgan --- These moats are among the most commonly recognized but not exhaustive. Other potential competitive moats or sources of competitive advantage include: - Technological Innovation: Advancements in technology that lead to superior products or processes. Example: NVIDIA (i.e. advancements in GPU technology, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and gaming, which have set new standards for performance and capabilities) - Freemium Models: Offering a free version of the software with limited features to attract users, then converting them to paying customers with premium features. Example: Slack, Dropbox - Data Advantage: Leveraging large datasets to improve products and services through machine learning and AI, providing better customer experiences and insights. Example: Google, Palantir - Developer Community and Open Source Contributions: Building a strong community of developers who contribute to the software, improving it and increasing its adoption. Example: Red Hat, GitHub - Scalability & Performance: Offering a highly scalable and reliable platform that can handle increasing user loads and demands without compromising performance. Example: AWS, Google Cloud Platform - Platform Integrations: Building integrations with other popular software platforms to enhance functionality and make the software more indispensable. Example: Zapier, HubSpot - Innovative Features and Continuous Improvement: Regularly updating the software with new and innovative features that keep it ahead of competitors. Example: Tesla’s continuous updates to its software for cars - Ecosystem Lock-in: Creating a suite of interconnected products that work seamlessly together, making it difficult for customers to switch to competitors. Example: Microsoft Office Suite - Customer Support and Service: Providing exceptional customer service and support to create strong customer loyalty and satisfaction. Example: Zendesk - Customer Loyalty: Strong customer relationships that result in repeat business. Example: Amazon Prime - Selling (how you sell is just as important as what you sell). Example: Hubspot, Zoom, Atlassian, Salesforce P.S. What are some of the other moats you've seen especially in tech? #pe #privateequity #business #markets #investing #ceo

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We love seeing founders be able to keep their equity and take advantage of non-dilutive funding sources⚒️. We're excited to collaborate with Stacy Chin, PhD leader of KeepYourEquity.co, who has secured over $15M in SBIR/STTR grants for startups across various sectors. She's written a guest blog post sharing her insights on navigating the competitive landscape of grant funding 💰. Some highlights: ❇️ Understanding SBIR/STTR: A lifeline for startups, offering up to $2 million in non-dilutive funding! ⏺️ Learning how to overcome hurdles and capitalize on the golden opportunity. ❇️ Gaining essential tips on outlining your go-to-market strategy, choosing the right program, and preparing thoroughly. ⏺️ Benefiting from Stacy Chin's 10+ years of grant writing experience and her extensive track record in securing funding for startups. Read More in the blog post linked in the comment below 👇🏾 #SBIR #STTR #GrantFunding #StartupSuccess #SmallBusiness #KeepYourEquityCo #ShayCPA #cpafirm #techaccountants #startupaccountants #techstartup #techcompany #nondilutivefunding

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Join us tomorrow for a panel discussion on the complex relationship many FirstGens have to money and how that affects founders, investors, operators and others. See you tomorrow! https://lu.ma/9rixyzgs

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Last week, we shared the first part (1/2) of our perspectives on vertical SaaS (vSaaS), more specifically on which metrics define the performance of vSaaS businesses and outlining the benchmarks for each of these metrics. If you have not yet read the piece, give it a read here - https://lnkd.in/d94n2bgN This week we published the second part (2/2) where we call out certain strategies deployed by successful vSaaS companies like Procore Technologies Toast ServiceNow Zenoti and others that can be used to improve the metrics that matter. Read on to layer the numbers with the strats- https://lnkd.in/dPkmWFax Do reach out if you are building in the space or want to exchange notes / feedback on the perspectives. #fintech #verticaSaaS #embeddedfinance #investments

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Too many small and mid-sized businesses struggle with capital constraints out of fear and misunderstanding. Sourcing the capital required to remove those constraints is key to unlocking the value creation potential of these companies. https://lnkd.in/gRYTKEmN #smallbusiness #businesstransformation

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https://lnkd.in/e-Cc-PhA Just wrapped up a case study highlighting some successful value creation work for a vertical software company. After a funding event, it can be tough for management teams to align on which initiatives to tackle first. Here are a few tips from my experience: 📈 Prioritize Compounding Benefits Start with initiatives that enable or build capabilities. These early projects are not the most glamorous. The long term value is the momentum they create and tone they set. They pave the way for bigger wins down the line. 🚧 Address Bottlenecks We identified and fixed a major technical bottleneck in the sales funnel. This gave us an immediate boost to revenue and win rates. The less obvious win was a finding that our marketing efforts were more effective than we thought. Many opportunities fitting the ideal customer profiles were getting stuck at the bottleneck! ✴ Find the Triple Word Score Initiatives Focus on initiatives that add value across multiple valuation categories like revenue, margins, and multiple expansion. My favorites are those that improve operating leverage and scalable unit economics. Operating leverage improves as each dollar of increased revenue earns a little more Operating Margin (EBITDA) over time. In the case study, I renegotiated two of the largest variable cost supplier contracts, leading to immediate improvements in unit contribution margins and setting the stage for increasing margins as revenue grew. This is a valuable function of a durable business model. Most teams agree on what needs to be done, but not always on the order. Choose initiatives that start building a solid foundation for future investments or the Quick Wins with high impact. A few good articles that touch on the technical concepts.. Healthtech: Show Your Magic | Andreessen Horowitz  https://lnkd.in/eGkDnkiG The Gross Margin Problem - Bottom Up by David Sacks https://lnkd.in/e9J2Eqaa

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VC might be on the road to recovery—but staffing is not source: https://lnkd.in/eJw4ZAn5 PitchBook Andrew Woodman ⚫ VC Investor Headcount Lags Market Recovery: Despite the broader market recovery, the staffing levels of venture capital (VC) firms have not kept pace. ⚫ Slow Hiring Trends: VC firms have been slow in ramping up their hiring compared to the rebound seen in deal-making activity and fundraising. ⚫ Impact of Remote Work: The shift towards remote work has influenced hiring decisions, with some firms taking longer to adapt their hiring strategies post-pandemic. #VentureCapital #Investing #Fintech #Startup #AI

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Avoid presenting your 'Allocation of Funds' section in percentages. Find out why in this insightful article: https://buff.ly/3LfhDJc. Discover the reasoning behind this recommendation and consider alternative ways to communicate this crucial information. #FundingInsights #FinancialPlanning

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What's in a Number? The question I have been asked consistently since establishing Point79. Find out here: point79.com Join Point79's growing community of 300 PE Investors and Business Leaders for exclusive market insights and value creation perspectives on the global Tech, Media, and Digital B2B Services industries: https://lnkd.in/d9pCc6Nc #PrivateEquity #Innovation #ValueCreation

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In part 2 of our “Q&A with the Founders” series, valuation experts and founders of initio Dave Pezeshki and Alex Beard share valuable insights into the 409A and how initio’s 409A platform has revolutionized the valuation process. Click below to read more! #initioSoftware #PrivateValuation #409AValuation

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Is the AI-Infrastructure and GPU mania a repeat of the fiber-optic and data-center boom-to-bust of the late 1990s and early 2000s? Or am I just making an overly simplistic comparison? $7.5 billion loan for what is essentially a re-seller of computing infrastructure.

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Since joining Media Development Investment Fund in 2022, several of you have asked me "what exactly does MDIF do?," "what is impact investing?" and "how does a not-for-profit investment fund work?" Here's a recent Reuters Breakingviews podcast with our CEO, Harlan Mandel, discussing our mission and investment model. I look forward to your questions and comments!

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The 2024 F Suite Executive Off-Site: It’s a catalyst for breakthrough ideas and game-changing strategies. It’s a highly curated meeting of the minds, limited to a hand-picked circle of our SeniorCFOs – seasoned CFOs steering some of today’s visionary tech companies, including: Aglika D., CFO at Riskified (Co-Chair) Michael G. Levine, CFO at Fireblocks (Co-Chair) Aimee Fearon, CFO at Wealthsimple Alexandra Weingarten, CFO at Daily Harvest Anu Subramanian, CFO at Bumble Christopher Jones, CFO at BurgerFi Conor O'Donoghue, CFO at Ocrolus Daniel Budlovsky, CFO at Wattpad Davinder Athwal, CFO at Phenom Ed Lu, CFO at Fandom Joel Johnson, EVP Finance at Suzy John Herman, CFO at Movable Ink Joshua Boyer, CPA, CFO at Revel Systems Kash Mathur, President & CFO at Bungalow Katie Royce, CFA, CFO at ZenBusiness Kelley Morrell, CFO at Wonder Luigi Testa, CFO at LinkSquares Neil Dorken, CPA, CFO at Index Exchange Paul Sheppard, CFO at Amplify Rakib Azad, CFO at Alkira Rory Parness, CFO at Niche Saloni Sanghvi Varma, CFO at Thorne HealthTech Samuel Hillard, CFO at Tripledot Studios Sandeep Beotra, CFO at Degreed Scott Stockberger, CFO at Cedar Shannon Tatz, CFO at Go1 Siddarth John, CFO at Apptegy Sindy Wilson, CFO at Kickstarter Sruthi Lanka , CFO at Public.com For these senior members, it’s an unmissable opportunity to embark on a journey of personal and professional growth. Set in the breathtaking landscape of the Catskills at the rustic yet luxurious Scribner’s Lodge, the 2024 F Suite Executive Off-Site explores the theme of “Synergy in Strategy: Driving Alignment Across the C-Suite as CFO.” With programming guided by our brilliant co-chairs, the agenda includes a series of provocative roundtable discussions exploring the nuances of the various cross C-suite relationships: > Balancing Act: CFO-CRO Partnership for Growth… When to be a supportive partner, and when to be an effective enforcer > Strategic Alignment: How CFOs and CTOs Can Work Together to Drive R&D Efficiency and Accountability… Excelling as both a steward of financial resources and a champion of innovation > The Strategic CFO: Elevating Your Role as a Trusted Advisor and Influential Leader… How the modern CFO can go behind traditional financial management and reporting to drive organizational growth and mitigate risks as a strategic partner Plus many more thoughtfully designed opportunities for attendees to forge authentic connections with this highly curated group of peers: > 1:1 deep dive discussions in the serene beauty of Scribner’s garden > Engaging conversation over a private dinner at Scribner’s locally inspired restaurant, Prospect > Exchange of ideas around the campfire Rest + rejuvenation, meet focus + inspiration. SeniorCFOs, we look forward to seeing you in the Catskills. https://lnkd.in/dd795Q8U #fsuite #seniorcfo #executiveoffsite 

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