Pre-Money Vs Post-Money
Valuation Calculator
Pre-money and post-money valuations are concepts used during the fundraising process of a startup. They provide a measure of a company's value before and after an investment round, respectively.
What is Pre-Money Valuation?
Pre-money valuation refers to the value of a company before it goes public or receives external financing or the latest round of funding. Here's an example with numbers:
Example:
Let's say a startup is looking to raise £500,000 for a 10% equity stake in their business. The pre-money valuation of this startup can be calculated as follows:
If £500,000 represents 10% of the company's value, then 100% of the company's value, or the pre-money valuation, would be £500,000 divided by 10% (0.10), which equals £5,000,000.
In this case, the pre-money valuation of the startup is £5,000,000.
What is Post-Money Valuation?
Then, once the company receives the £500,000 investment, the post-money valuation (the company's estimated worth after outside financing and/or capital injections are added to its balance sheet) would be £5,500,000 (£5,000,000 pre-money valuation + £500,000 investment).
This term is commonly used in the venture capital industry, where venture capitalists, angel investors, and private equity firms determine the pre-money valuation to calculate how much equity to demand in return for their cash injection.
Is Pre-Money or Post-Money Better For Founders?
The choice between pre-money and post-money valuation can have a significant impact on the founders' ownership stake in the company. Let's take a look at an example using numbers:
Scenario A: Pre-Money Valuation
Let's say a startup has a pre-money valuation of £1,000,000 and it raises £200,000 for a 20% stake in the company. The post-money valuation becomes £1,200,000 (£1,000,000 pre-money + £200,000 investment).
So, the founders' equity after the investment is 80%.
Scenario B: Post-Money Valuation
Now let's say the same startup agrees to a £1,200,000 post-money valuation with an investor, who is providing £200,000. This means the £200,000 investment is for a 16.67% stake in the company (£200,000 / £1,200,000), not 20%.
So, after the investment, the founders hold 83.33% equity, which is more than in the pre-money valuation scenario.
As you can see, using post-money valuation can be better for founders because it can result in them retaining a larger percentage of ownership in their company. However, it's important to note that there are many factors to consider in investment negotiations and what's best will depend on the specifics of the situation.
How To Get A Better Valuation For Your Startup?
Negotiating startup valuation during fundraising is a critical step, and it involves several elements such as the market situation, the growth potential of the startup, the track record of the founders, and the startup's financial metrics.
Example
The founders have a solid business plan with a clear path to profitability. They've built a product that has gained traction, and they have several thousand monthly active users. Their revenue for the last year was £100,000.
They decide they want to raise £250,000 in exchange for 20% of the company, implying a post-money valuation of £1,250,000 (£250,000 / 20%), and a pre-money valuation of £1,000,000 (£1,250,000 post-money - £250,000 investment).
A venture capitalist is interested, but they feel the valuation is too high given the current revenue and user base. They counteroffer with £250,000 for a 25% stake, implying a post-money valuation of £1,000,000 and a pre-money valuation of £750,000 (£1,000,000 post-money - £250,000 investment).
The founders must now consider whether they are willing to give up a larger stake in the company for the same amount of money.
Negotiate the valuation
They might negotiate, explaining their future growth plans and potential profits, and argue for a higher valuation. Alternatively, they could agree with the VC's offer if they believe the investment (and possibly the VC's network and expertise) could help them accelerate their growth.
Other investors
They could also try to bring other VCs or investors to the table to create a competitive environment and potentially increase the investment terms.
Hire a fundraising advisor
A fundraising advisor is a professional who assists businesses, particularly startups, in raising capital. They guide the fundraising process, help develop strategies, prepare necessary materials, determine company valuation, identify potential investors, and assist in negotiations, all while ensuring legal compliance.
Negotiating startup valuation is as much an art as it is a science. It requires understanding your startup's worth, being able to present and defend that value convincingly, and knowing when to compromise. In the end, it's about striking a balance between getting the necessary funding and preserving equity for the founders and future financing rounds.
The pre-money and post-money valuation concepts are critical in understanding equity ownership before and after an investment, which can help both the company and investors gauge the fairness of the investment terms.
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