John Murgo

PE - Effective Boards of Directors (Expectations of Boards & CEOs) Insights for expectation setting for effective Boards of Directors for PE-backed CEOs: ------------------ Expectations of Board Directors: - Stay informed about the company’s business and industry trends - Prepare for meetings by reviewing materials and bringing relevant questions - Contribute meaningful insights and engage in discussions without dominating - Express views during meetings rather than waiting for private discussions - Provide constructive feedback with respect and professionalism - Be fully present and engaged during meetings - Support board decisions once made, even if personally opposed - Foster a positive working relationship and culture with management Expectations of the CEO & the Management Team: - Maintain transparency, especially in reporting bad news to the board - Uphold high ethical standards and deliver on financial and operational goals - Keep the board updated on significant developments promptly - Involve the board in decision-making as thought-partners, not just for final approvals - Provide clear and sufficient pre-reading materials for informed decision-making - Expose the board to high-potential executives for better succession planning - Promote a positive, energetic corporate culture in dealings with both employees and the board ------------------ Source:  "Sample Expectations of Board and Management" - Great Companies Deserve Great Boards: A CEO’s Guide to the Boardroom by Beverly Behan --- #boards #directors #pe #privateequity

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Why Buying Your First Business is the hardest & Financing The Fear is Being seen as too risky by lenders and investors. The Solution: Prepare a solid business plan with detailed financial projections. Work with a financial advisor to enhance your credibility. Consider alternative financing options like SBA loans or seller financing.

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https://buff.ly/46dCF4M A Comprehensive Guide for Pitch Decks (Investor Deck) Versions provides valuable insights into crafting effective presentations for potential investors. This resource covers essential elements like market analysis, financial projections, and competitive landscape assessment. It emphasizes the importance of clear communication and compelling storytelling to engage investors. Additionally, it offers tips on structuring the deck for maximum impact, utilizing visuals effectively, and tailoring the content to the target audience. Understanding these principles can significantly increase the chances of securing funding for your business. #PitchDecks #InvestorRelations

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How To Assess Product-Market Compatibility, as discussed by a16z & Sequoia Capital. Discover more at https://buff.ly/4bJnqSi Gain insights into determining the fit between your product and the market with expertise from leading venture capital firms. #ProductMarketFit #StartupInsights

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I love seeing honest interpretations of the current capital markets by those who have more experience than I do on the capital side. I’m blessed to have an experienced team with many avenues for both funding as well as exit to come but love how the suggestion here is on the key metrics. Good business has always been had timelsss metrics that remain the same and have ROI about them. When I observe many of the current titans they had long plays but the metrics were and are the same business wise. What are metrics you focus on in early stage that translate well into later stage?

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What Boards talk about is important, what they don't talk about maybe more so as it has undue influence on outcomes. Reviewing the Sales Model versus just the outcomes creates failure points in scaling. Or, letting the technical debt accumulate to the point of crisis courts disaster. Establishing a cadence of meeting subjects keeps things from being overlooked and unaddressed.

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BluWave has a deep bench of 800+ interim CFOs that allow us to quickly and expertly connect private equity firms and their portfolio companies to the exact-fit interim CFOs they need.    In one case study example, a PE firm came to us in need of a stopgap interim CFO for their automotive operations portfolio company. Here's the details of how we helped:   The Situation - Needing to make a leadership change in their portfolio company, a PE firm came to us in urgent need of an interim CFO who could focus on the portco's cash flow and working capital optimization while the search for a permanent CFO was underway. Given the protfolio company's industry, the PE firm not only needed an interim CFO with financial acumen, but one with the ability to handle a complex operational landscape and turnaround skills.   How BluWave Helped - Thanks to BluWave's deep network of exact-fit interim CFOs, we quickly connected them with a select few interim CFOs with the exact experience they were looking for.    The Outcome - The client selected their preferred interim CFO from our presented options. Their leadership marked a significant turning point for the automotive manufacturer, helping them tighten cash flow, meet reporting requirements and guide them through a crucial transition period.   When you need an exact-fit, PE-grade interim CFO, contact BluWave and we'll be ready to support.   #interimCFO #interimchieffinancialofficer

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New York City startups are addressing the lack of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) by installing curbside solutions. These startups, such as It’s Electric, Gravity, and Voltpost, offer different approaches, including tapping into existing power sources, utilizing fast charging technology, and integrating chargers into lampposts. Despite challenges like grid capacity and vandalism, these startups aim to make EV ownership more accessible and appealing to urban residents.

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Venture debt can be a game-changer for VC-backed startups seeking strategic growth capital. Venture gives startups a non-dilutive way to cover operating expenses, support expansions, or bridge gaps between funding rounds – all while protecting precious equity capital. Priced competitively, Venture Debt allows startups to leverage the quality of their investors. It's generally available to startups with recent equity funding from strong institutional backers and early indicators of business performance. By agreeing to small warrants, founders can further bring down pricing or grow sizing. For savvy founders and CFOs, venture debt can help fuel growth without sacrificing significant equity. But navigating this landscape can be complex and time-consuming. That's where Arc Capital Markets comes in. We've revolutionized the venture debt process with a single, frictionless application that connects you to our integrated lender network. Our platform has the ability to save you valuable time and reduce costs, while delivering customized debt solutions tailored to your startup's unique needs. Ready to explore how venture debt could optimize your financial strategy?Reach out to learn more at https://lnkd.in/eayQbjKF. (See disclosures in comments.)

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business starts here, at the venture foundry. learn about: incorporation problem statements (with worksheet) ideal customer personas (with worksheet) value propositions (with worksheet) minimum viable segments (with worksheet) minimum viable products (mvp) business plans (with templates)​ investment decks (with templates) commercial models (with template) brand guidelines (with template) brand packs (with template) basic brand design cap tables (with template) master ledgers (with template) nda & mutual ndas (with templates) employment contracts (with template) https://buff.ly/3Ybq3Ji

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🌱 For founders taking on venture debt, covenants are the fine print you cannot afford to ignore. 📃 They set the boundaries for how you can operate and manage your company’s finances. If you don’t play by these rules, the consequences can be pretty dire. It’s all about negotiating terms that align with your startup’s financial health. Be sure to read the original post by Kruze Consulting to get the full breakdown. Link in the 1st comment. 👇 #StartupFinance

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Explore the intricacies of venture capital returns with this latest VC Blueprint: Waterfall Model by our own Alexey Bulygin! Learn how this financial model determines the payout order from senior investors to common shareholders in startup exits, and check out the included model template to see the dynamics in action. Perfect for both new entrepreneurs and seasoned investors looking to sharpen their financial strategies! 📈 #VentureCapital #InvestmentStrategy #StartupSuccess #FinancialModeling #VerbVentures

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Series A or B wondering when to bring in a VP of Finance or CFO? It’s a crucial decision that can shape the future of your company. At this stage, financial leadership is not just about managing numbers but also scaling processes, securing funding, and driving strategic growth. My colleague Paul breaks down key signs that it’s time to hire and indicators for choosing between VP of Finance and a CFO #FinanceLeadership #CFO #StartupGrowth #SeriesA #SeriesB #NextGenLeadership

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Board of Directors - insights from "The Essays of Warren Buffett" Buffett’s principles for Boards of Directors emphasize the importance of independence, accountability, and a focus on long-term shareholder value: - Long-Term Focus: Boards should act in the long-term interest of shareholders - Board Composition: Boards with mostly outside directors and select members for business savvy, not prominence or diversity (PE insight: CROs on the Board) - Regular Evaluation: Outside directors should meet without the CEO to assess performance True Independence: Directors must have equity in the company to align with shareholders' interests P.S. This is a very insightful book structuring Warren Buffett's shareholder letters by specific categories - here are the top summary takeaways from the rest of the book: Investment Discipline – Maintain patience and discipline, avoiding speculative investments and market timing Business Quality – Seek businesses with a durable competitive advantage Management – High-quality, trustworthy management & look for managers who think like owners Corporate Governance – Transparent communication and fair treatment of all stakeholders Risk Management – Avoid excessive leverage and maintain a margin of safety to minimize risk and preserve capital Fundamentals – Focus on fundamentals rather than market trends Economic Earnings – Focus on economic earnings and free cash flow rather than accounting profits for a true picture of financial health Long-Term Focus – Long-term investments and value creation vs. short-term gains Capital Allocation – Efficient capital allocation is key - reinvest earnings wisely Market Irrationality – Recognize and capitalize on irrationality as "Mr.Market" can be inefficient in the short term #investing #markets #business #stocks #finance #pe #ceo

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