How do you value a startup?
From your point of view: Which valuation method is the most accurate for startup valuation?Which would you consider are the key drivers to value determination in a startup?
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Apr 9, 2014
Valuing a startup is a complex process based on contextual factors affected heavily by market forces and how similar companies within your sector are currently being valued or their recent exits. Even with some traction to go on, the market still plays a substantial role in shaping the final valuation.
Jhon
Apr 4, 2014
In case the startup company does not have any revenue or asset as on the date of valuation, the earnings and the assets approach becomes irrelevant, hence the only option is the market approach which one has to apply. No business operates in a vacuum. Every business has possibility that a similar business must be in existence. Hence the optimum method would be the market price method of valuation.
Mar 30, 2014
Start ups and projections - when considering a start up's potential for funding, I look at the company's projections and collaborating documentation such as contracts, purchase orders, even letters of interest. Community development funding programs also consider factors such as job creation when making funding decisions.
Mar 26, 2014
There are many methods of valuation - cash flow, asset, etc. It's simple really.. value is in the eye of the beholder aka buyer. We can come up with prices for listings or some arbitrary number for reports.
But until cash or other assets are exchanged, it's all academic. Most of the time it is very difficult to sell a business that is less than 3 yrs old. Yet, we've seen this "rule" broken like so many others in the business world.
Sure, historical data provide some basis for a valuation, but ultimately its true worth will be settled when the dust clears and the ink dries on a deal.
Mar 26, 2014
Might I ask. Are your interest in valuation or transaction price for start up. If you are truly interested in valuation. You can use any methods; such as discount cash flow, cost of acquisition, ...etc.. However, if you are interested in coming up a price for a start up investment. This is completely different mindset.
Mar 25, 2014
One method is to create a 'football field valuation' using valuation models relevant to the stage of the start-up. This will provide you with an overview of what the business could be worth, assuming that potential buyers model your business in the same way. However there will also be other less tangible factors that affect the valuation of a business in the real world, e.g. the number of parties interested in acquiring your business, that are less straight forward to work into a valuation.
Ultimately a purchaser should be looking to buy a business because they believe they would be a 'better owner' for the business than its present owners. Believing this creates the space for a deal to get done, since the company interested in buying the business perceives that they would be able to extract more value from the business than its present owners, which means they can offer a price for the business that is attractive to both them and the businesses existing owners.
As regards the key drivers of value, they are the same for a startup as any other business in my opinion; potential growth and potential return on capital. The challenge with startups is building plausible long term models for these key value drivers, since even small changes to assumptions about these variables will have a large impact on value. Such risks are generally accommodated by using discount factors, which can vary enormously depending on the buyer (VC/PE or Trade), the industry (techs are more risky than more tangible businesses), etc.
Good luck with your thesis.
Mar 25, 2014
Discounted Cashflow Valuation method, although a high risk factor has to be applied to the projected cash-flows because of the higher levels of uncertainty.
Mar 25, 2014
It's like real estate. It's only worth how much someone is willing to pay for it.
Apr 3, 2014
Very true, Kym. As unnerving as it might sound to the average investment banker, your simple yet valid method is exactly how some VC investments and business acquisitions happen. A VC, desperate to have his/her share in some upcoming technology/ sector will hunt the next start-up [one that hasn't been funded yet] and invest. Pricey promoters or very desperate VCs, and the price goes up. Facebook's billion $+ acquisitions versus Google's more strategic but never as expensive acquisitions speak of the same thing.
Mar 25, 2014
Many good comments here, but I will add one extra thought: value depends on the buyer. If you are talking to a competitor or similar firm hungry to buy their way into your business, they will pay a premium. If you are talking to a VC fund or investor that already has many investments in play, or worse yet, an investor who doesn't understand your business, they will find a way to offer a lower price.
Mar 25, 2014
1. Your business plan and concept.
2. Customers
3. Ethics
4. Value your employees & or contractors.
It is very intresting your point of view. In my opinion, I need a fair valuation to negotiate a price for a startup valuation.