When a $40M is More Than a $200M Exit

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why a lower valuation exit can offer founders more advantageous financial outcomes than a higher valuation exit. This happens because of things like how much of the company's ownership each founder still has and what investors are expecting from their investments. As startups grow and get more funding, founders might end up owning less of the company. So even if an exit seems worth more on paper, the actual money each founder gets can be less due to having a smaller piece of the pie. Let’s delve into the maze of startup exits, exploring the delicate interplay between exit values, ownership, and the real-world implications.
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Resources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan
What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:28 Navigating funding & exit strategies 05:59 Optionality  09:23 Outcomes can vary depending on the funding path chosen 13:46 Founder fatigue 17:53 What are preferences? 25:34 Protect your downside first