Venture Hacks

Yesterday, I was brainstorming a list of things-to-do with an entrepreneur who is getting ready to sign a term sheet.

After searching through the Venture Hacks archives, I realized one of our posts already covers it: How much diligence should we do before signing a term sheet? I think that post mostly stands the test of time—problem solved.

I revised the post to include this question for prospective investors:

“Do you agree with our plan for the next two/three/four quarters?”

Discussing this before you sign a term sheet has a few benefits:

1. You learn what it’s like to work with the investor—before you marry him for the life of the company. If you don’t like working with him, he may not be the right husband-for-life.
2. You discover if your investor agrees with your plan. If he doesn’t agree with your plan or you don’t agree with his revisions, why do you want him to join the company? Are you really going to put someone on the board who doesn’t agree with what your plans?
3. Getting agreement on the plan before the financing is normative leverage. If your investor wants to change the plan in the future, you can ask him to justify the change: “We agreed on a plan, how have the circumstances changed since we agreed on a plan, and why does that require us to change the plan?”

Completely unrelated (or is it?):

(Video: YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER!!!!)