Toptal Finance Expert
Startup Financing for Founders: Your Companion Checklist
Attention on the financial aspects of startups tends to focus on the external measure of fundraising. Yet before this, there are many aspects for an entrepreneur to consider regarding setting their business up for financial success.
In this article, we address eight vital considerations to take around the equity, budget, and valuation components of a startup.
Carolyn Deng, CFA
A Wharton MBA and CFA, Carolyn has executed 20+ VC/PE deals, managed a $700M portfolio and is a fundraising, growth and M&A specialist.
How to Build and Utilize a High-Impact Advisory Board
Advisory boards are undoubtedly controversial. While many articles sing their praises, others condemn them as mere headshots in pitch decks. The truth is that advisory boards are usually not silver bullets. Still, they can be powerful tools and yield strong ROI—if executed properly.
This article includes an overview of advisory boards, their economics, when they can and should be used, and a step-by-step guide to building one.
Patrick E. Donohue
Patrick is a 5x serial entrepreneur accross finance, healthcare and energy. He specialises in capital raising, client networks/partnerships.
Principles of Organizational Design and Optimization: Lessons From The Great Recession
In 2006, Ford Motor Company’s losses came in at a staggering $12.7 billion; but four years later, profits had rebounded to $6.6 billion. At around the same time, Carlos Brito’s “one firm, one culture” optimization policy delivered $2.3 billion in synergies, exceeding pre-merger projections for Anheuser-Busch’s combination with InBev by 50%.
Both Ford and AB InBev’s CEOs achieved these results by adeptly applying the principles of organizational optimization—concepts explored by Toptal Finance Restructuring Expert, Christopher Hearing, in this article.
Chris Hearing
Chris comes with 25+ years of large-cap finance, operating and restructuring experience accross marketing, CPG and live entertainment.
ICOs, Exotics, and Platforms: An Insider’s Perspective on the Future of Venture Capital
2017 saw a number of issues arise in the VC industry and it may be approaching a watershed regarding its relevance.
This article looks into the root causes of the industry’s problems and why they have come to light. VCs can go through a pivot of their own to retain a seat at the table, with big data, exotic funds and platforms offering a path forward.
Toptal Talent Network Experts
Will Spotify's Non-IPO Pave the Way for Tech Companies?
This year, Spotify will move its headquarters from Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood downtown to the Financial District. Beyond its physical presence, Spotify will also make its mark at NYSE when it goes public via direct listing, an unusual choice. What is expected to be the largest tech public debut of 2018 has set Wall Street and the music industry abuzz, with everyone eager to see how this unconventional approach will play out.
This article covers everything you need to know: a brief overview of the typical IPO process, how the direct listing will function, why Spotify chose to buck tradition, potential motivations behind the decision, and its potential implications.
Melissa Lin
Melissa has worked in ECM, tech startups, and management consulting, advising Fortune 500 companies across multiple sectors.
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Price Elasticity 2.0: From Theory to The Real World
Price elasticity theory was once the haunt of classical economists, with loose applications in the real world. Today, companies such as Uber, with its sheer volume of data and surge algorithms, are able to continuously triangulate price elasticities in real time to manipulate demand, moment-to-moment.
This article introduces the fundamentals of price elasticity of demand theory before taking us back into the real world, where theory will meet both big data and consumer psychology to create new possibilities.
Orinola Gbadebo-Smith
Ori an investor cum entrepreneur with experience across M&A, PE, VC and startup operations. He most recently founded a VC-backed startup.
Are Art Investments a Worthwhile Asset Class?
Did you know that, in 2016, $60 billion was invested in art, which was comparable to the exit proceeds from venture capital investing?
This article sheds light on the opaque world of art investments and whether it’s a realistic choice for inclusion in portfolios. The article covers types of art as well as how investments are valued and return performance relative to other assets.
Zachary Elfman
Zach is a modelling, fundamental analysis and valuation expert that has managed money for PE and hedge funds. He now runs his own business.
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