Fast-growing private companies are exciting to observe as outsiders, but on the inside the company founder has the challenge of securing enough capital to fuel the rapid growth of the business. The company’s continuous need for capital places the founder in the position of having to manage the company’s operations while at the same time
Private company investing is inherently risky, but these risks can be mitigated if investors take proactive steps before making this type of investment. This due diligence action plan for potential investors includes the following specific steps: (1) identifying whether key factors are present in the businesses that mark it for success, (2) evaluating the current
Conflicts between co-owners in private companies are common, but the vast majority are worked out through dialogue and negotiation. When these internal conflicts cannot be resolved, however, minority investors may file suit against the company’s majority owner. Anecdotally, these investor claims seem to be on the rise, including claims that the majority owner breached fiduciary
Hindsight can be a wonderful thing, especially if hard-earned lessons are adopted by others who are willing to learn from past mistakes. When private company owners and investors share with me some of the wisdom they have gained from their past dealings with business partners, they often cite the same three mistakes they made in