Metrics Investors have a close look at for Early Stage Startups

Metrics Investors have a close look at for Early Stage Startups

Early-stage startups face many challenges, one of which is attracting investment. Investors are looking for startups with the potential for high growth and a strong return on investment. To evaluate this potential, investors look at various metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to determine whether a startup is worth investing in. These metrics range from customer engagement and growth to market size and revenue, and can provide valuable insight into a startup's viability and potential for success. In this article, we will explore some of the key metrics that investors closely examine when evaluating early-stage startups.

KPIs for Early Stage Startups:

Early-stage startups must focus on growth and customer acquisition to succeed in a highly competitive market. To achieve this, startups need to track and measure their progress using key performance indicators (KPIs) that are relevant to their business goals. By monitoring KPIs, startups can identify areas of strength and weakness, make data-driven decisions, and optimize their strategies to achieve success. In this article, we will explore some of the most important KPIs for early-stage startups and how they can be used to drive growth and success.

Engagement - Investors want to see that the founders have a strong understanding of their ideal customer persona, why they use the product, and what the ideal usage pattern is. They also want to know how many customers are using the product in this way and whether usage is growing organically or through customer success efforts.

Growth - Investors want to see that the founders have a deep understanding of their go-to-market strategy, including how many customers the company has, how fast it is growing, and what the customer acquisition cost is. They also want to know what levers the company has to get more users, whether customers bring other customers, and whether the product becomes more valuable as it grows.

Revenue Growth - Investors are interested in businesses that are able to grow their revenue over time. A high revenue growth rate indicates that a business is gaining market share and has a competitive advantage.

Gross Profit Margin: Gross profit margin is the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting the cost of goods sold. A high gross profit margin indicates that a business is able to generate significant profits from its operations.

Net Profit Margin: Net profit margin is the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses, including taxes and interest. A high net profit margin indicates that a business is able to generate profits while effectively managing its costs.

Churn - Investors want to know why customers leave the service, whether inactive users are counted as churned, and what the number one reason for customer dissatisfaction is. They look for honesty and self-reflection from the founders, as well as their ability to think critically about solutions to customer issues within the product.

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) - CAC is the cost of acquiring a new customer. A low CAC indicates that a business is able to acquire customers cost-effectively, which can help drive growth and profitability.

Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) - LTV is the total revenue that a business can expect to generate from a single customer over the course of their relationship with the business. A high LTV indicates that a business is able to generate significant revenue from each customer, which can help drive long-term growth and profitability.

Return on Investment (ROI) - ROI is the percentage return that investors can expect to receive on their investment. A high ROI indicates that a business is likely to generate significant returns for investors.

Market and Business KPIs:

For any business, it is critical to have a deep understanding of the market and industry they operate in. By tracking relevant market and business metrics, companies can identify opportunities, assess their competitive position, and optimize their operations to achieve success. Key performance indicators (KPIs) play a vital role in measuring these metrics and assessing performance. In this article, we will explore some of the most important market and business KPIs that companies should be tracking to make data-driven decisions and stay competitive in today's fast-paced business environment.

Market Size - Investors want to know the total addressable market (TAM), the serviceable available market (SAM), and the serviceable obtainable market (SOM). This helps them evaluate the potential size of the company and whether it can become a significant player in its market.

Market Share -Investors are interested in businesses that have a significant market share in their industry. A high market share indicates that a business has a competitive advantage and is well-positioned for future growth.

Annual Contract Value (ACV)/Revenue per customer - Investors want to see a deep understanding of customer payment habits and a realistic perspective on pricing. This helps them understand how many customers the company needs to reach its goals.

Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) - MRR is the predictable revenue that a business generates each month from its subscription-based business model. A high MRR indicates that a business has a predictable revenue stream, which can help build investor confidence in the long-term potential of the business.

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) - This KPI provides a good indicator of the total value of the company and its stage of development. Investors want to see whether revenue is truly recurring and predictable, as well as the rate of growth.

Burn rate - Investors want to see that the founders are able to control costs and spend wisely. They also want to know how much money is being spent per month, on what, and whether this amount has grown.

Runway - Investors want to know how many months the company can run with no further investment. They expect the founders to be able to calculate all the factors of burn rate, revenue, prior investments, and debt and to provide a realistic prediction of the runway.

In conclusion, investors consider a wide range of KPIs when evaluating early-stage startups, and the importance of each KPI can vary depending on the industry, stage of the company, and other factors. Founders who deeply understand their business and are able to provide accurate and informed responses to questions about these KPIs are more likely to attract investment.

Crucial Investment Metrics

Making investment decisions requires careful consideration of a variety of factors, including market trends, business fundamentals, and financial metrics. However, not all metrics are created equal, and some are more crucial than others in determining the viability and potential success of an investment opportunity. In this article, we will explore some of the most important investment metrics that investors should be paying close attention to, such as valuation, fundraising goals, burn rate, and runway. By understanding these metrics and how they impact investment decisions, investors can make informed and strategic choices that maximize their returns and help drive the success of their portfolio companies.

When evaluating a potential investment in a startup, prior investment numbers are a critical factor to consider. These numbers provide insight into the financial health and history of the company, as well as the potential risks and challenges facing future investments.

One of the key prior investment numbers to consider is the current valuation of the company. This number provides investors with an estimate of the company's current worth based on previous investments and revenue. Understanding the current valuation is essential for negotiating the terms of a new investment and assessing the potential return on investment.

Another important number to consider is the amount of money raised by the founders and previous investors. This information can provide insight into the level of support the company has received and the history of fundraising efforts. Additionally, it is important to consider the source of these investments and whether they are reputable and aligned with the company's goals.

Cap table numbers are also crucial when evaluating prior investments. The cap table provides a breakdown of the company's ownership structure, including the percentage of equity held by founders, investors, and other stakeholders. It is important to assess whether the founders own enough of the company to successfully raise additional rounds of funding and whether there is dead equity from a founder who left or an investor who took too much in the earlier round. Additionally, the cap table should represent the current stage of the company and be free from any unhealthy practices that could create obstacles for future investments.

Overall, understanding prior investment numbers is crucial for making informed investment decisions in startups. These numbers provide critical insights into the financial history and health of the company, as well as the potential risks and challenges facing future investments. By carefully evaluating prior investment numbers, investors can make informed decisions and increase their chances of realizing a strong return on investment in the future.

Cap table - explained on an example

A cap table is a document that outlines the ownership structure of a company and how equity is distributed among its shareholders. It is a crucial metric for investors as it provides a snapshot of the ownership of the company and helps them understand the potential returns they can expect from their investment.

For example, let's say you are an investor considering investing in a startup called ABC Tech. ABC Tech currently has three founders who each hold 25% of the company's equity, and the remaining 25% is split between two angel investors who each own 12.5% of the company.

Now, let's say ABC Tech is looking to raise another round of funding and has set a pre-money valuation of 4 million EUR. You are interested in investing 500,000 EUR  in this round, and the founders have agreed to a post-money valuation of 5 million EUR.

Using these numbers, we can calculate the new ownership percentages and cap table. The pre-money valuation of 4 million EUR plus the 500,000 EUR investment gives us a post-money valuation of 4.5 million EUR. Your investment of 500,000 EUR represents 11.11% of the post-money valuation (500,000 EUR ÷ 4.5 million EUR), and the founders' ownership percentage is diluted to 22.22% each (1.125 million EUR ÷ 5 million EUR), while the two angel investors' ownership percentage is diluted to 11.11% each (562,500 EUR ÷ 5 million EUR).

This cap table gives you a clear understanding of how equity is distributed among shareholders and helps you evaluate your potential returns. It also highlights the importance of cap table management, as a poorly managed cap table can lead to unnecessary dilution and can make it difficult for companies to attract future investment.

Deal Numbers

The world of investing is full of opportunities and challenges, and investors must carefully consider a range of deal numbers when evaluating investment opportunities. These numbers include valuation, amount raised, cap table numbers, and post-money value, among others. Each of these metrics plays a critical role in determining the viability and potential success of an investment opportunity, and investors must consider them carefully before making any investment decisions. In this article, we will explore the significance of deal numbers and why they are important for investors when evaluating early-stage startups. We will also discuss some key strategies that investors can use to make informed decisions based on these metrics, ultimately maximizing their returns and building a successful investment portfolio.

As an investor evaluating a potential deal, there are several key deal numbers that can provide insight into the value and potential return on investment of a startup. These deal numbers include pre/post-valuation, raising amount, cap and discount, and allocation potential.

Pre/post-valuation refers to the estimated value of the company before and after the current funding round. This number provides investors with a sense of how much of the company they will own for their investment. The pre-money valuation is the value of the company before the investment, while the post-money valuation is the value after the investment.

Pre and post valuation - explained on an example

Let's say a startup is currently seeking investment and has not yet received any funding. The founders believe that their company is worth 2 million EUR, which would be the pre-money valuation. An investor is interested in investing 500,000 EUR in the startup. After the investment, the post-money valuation would be 2.5 million EUR.

Pre-money valuation: 2 million EUR Investment: 500,000 EUR Post-money valuation: 2.5 million EUR (2 million EUR pre-money + 500,000 EUR investment)

This means that after the investment, the investor would own 20% of the company (500,000 EUR investment divided by 2.5 million EUR post-money valuation). The remaining 80% would be owned by the founders and any previous investors.

It's important to note that valuations can vary widely depending on the startup's industry, stage, and other factors, and that negotiations between investors and founders can influence the final valuation.

Raising amount is the amount of money the company is raising in the current funding round, along with the investors contributing to the round and how much they are investing. This information can give investors a sense of the level of interest and support the company is receiving from other investors.

Cap and discount are two important features of a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) investment. A SAFE is an investment vehicle that allows investors to purchase equity in a startup at a future point in time, typically during a future funding round. Cap refers to the maximum valuation at which the investor will purchase equity in the company during the future round. A discount is an additional incentive for investors to invest early, as it allows them to purchase equity at a discounted price compared to the future valuation.

Cap and Discount - explained on an example

Cap and discount are two key levers of a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE), which is an investment instrument used by startups to raise capital from investors. The cap sets the maximum valuation of the company at which the investor's investment can convert into equity, while the discount offers the investor a lower price per share than the next investor in a future financing round.

For example, suppose a startup is raising 500,000 EUR through a SAFE with a 5 million EUR cap and a 20% discount. If the next financing round values the company at 10 million EUR, the investor's SAFE investment will convert into equity at a 5 million EUR valuation (the cap). However, because the investor participated in the earlier round, they will receive a 20% discount on the price per share, effectively lowering their valuation even further.

Assuming the price per share in the next round is 1 EUR, the investor's SAFE investment would convert to equity at a valuation of 4 million EUR, with the investor receiving shares at a price of 0.80 EUR per share (1 EUR minus the 20% discount). The cap and discount provide an attractive incentive for early-stage investors to invest in a company, as they can potentially benefit from a lower valuation than later investors.

Allocation potential refers to the amount of money an investor can potentially invest in the current funding round. This number depends on the total amount being raised, the investor's desired ownership percentage, and the minimum investment amount required by the company.

Allocation potential - explained on an example

Sure, let's say a startup is looking to raise 1 million EUR in their funding round and they have already secured 500,000 EUR from a lead investor. As an angel investor, you express interest in investing 100,000 EUR in the company.

The total amount of the funding round is now at 1.5 million EUR(500,000 EUR+ 1,000,000 EUR), and your 100,000 EUR investment represents 6.67% of the total funding round. This means that your allocation potential is 6.67% of the total funding round or 66,667  EUR(1,000,000 EUR x 6.67%).

However, it's important to note that allocation potential does not guarantee that you will be able to invest the full amount. It depends on factors such as the level of interest from other investors and the terms of the funding round.

These deal numbers are crucial for investors to consider when evaluating a potential deal. They provide valuable insights into the potential value and return on investment of a startup, as well as the level of support the company is receiving from other investors. Additionally, understanding the nuances of deal terms such as cap and discount can help investors negotiate a better deal and maximize their return on investment.

In conclusion, deal numbers such as pre/post-valuation, raising amount, cap and discount, and allocation potential are important factors for investors to consider when evaluating a potential deal. By understanding these numbers and negotiating favorable terms, investors can increase their chances of realizing a strong return on investment in the future.