Astra Global and Startup Station present Founders Talk
Why You Don't Want to Raise Equity
Raising equity: Pros and Cons by Oleg Dmitriev
Recording preview
Astra Global present a series of talks by entrepreneurs to entrepreneurs (Founders Talks), where they share their experiences and can learn from each other. Want to talk next? Please fill in the application here.
This event is supported by Gold Ventures Investment.
ONE-TO-ONE TALK to Oleg Dmitriev, serial entrepreneur with a practical knowledge of seed funding and taking the company through the "valley of death", having raised over £3m of equity funding and over £0.5m of grant funding.
Awards: Made in Scotland 2018, winner; Innovator of the Year 2018, One of Top 100 Figures in UK Manufacturing 2017, Red Herring Top-100 Europe, Inventor of the Year 2017, Best Venture-backed Management Team 2017 in Scotland.
About this event.
After doing MBA, Oleg believed that funding by selling equity (pre-seed>seed>A>B...) is the only way to grow.
But first-hand experience showed there are many traps along this route: investor approvals, KPIs/ratchet, liquidation prefs, any many more. How much does an equity round really cost - 5%? 10% 15%? When each milestone takes more time, entrepreneurs may end up going down the spiral of fundraising.
Oleg will share with you what legal traps you need to watch for, and what are red flags you need to be aware of.
Speaker
Oleg Dmitriev is serial entrepreneur, graduate of Executive MBA programme of Columbia Business School and London Business School. He lives in Edinburgh, UK. Oleg's online wine boutique www.independent.wine sells premium Italian wines imported directly from vineyards – cutting out the middleman and passing the value straight to end-consumer.
Oleg has 20 years of experience in developing new technologies and products: from software development to mechanical engineering, and to launching rockets. Being a technology entrepreneur, Oleg supported a few startups with cash and advice, leading to a successful exit.
Oleg has a practical knowledge of seed funding and taking the company through the "valley of death", having raised over £3m of equity funding and over £0.5m of grant funding.
Started as software biz dev and project manager, worked for PwC, IBM, and Sumitomo. Launched a portfolio of mobile products for MTS generating hundreds of $M for the company. In 2011-2018 developed an innovative high-pressure gas compressor - possibly the first major design innovation in the last 45 years. Lead a team to build Scotland's first rockets and open the largest private rocket engine test centre in the UK. Awards: Made in Scotland 2018, winner; Innovator of the Year 2018, One of Top 100 Figures in UK Manufacturing 2017, Red Herring Top-100 Europe, Inventor of the Year 2017, Best Venture-backed Management Team 2017 in Scotland.
Agenda:
5:00 - 5:10 BST: Opening remarks, Astra Global
5:10 - 5:40 BST: Talk by Oleg Dmitriev
5:40 - 5:50: Q&A
This event is supported by Gold Ventures Investment.
ONE-TO-ONE TALK to Oleg Dmitriev, serial entrepreneur with a practical knowledge of seed funding and taking the company through the "valley of death", having raised over £3m of equity funding and over £0.5m of grant funding.
Awards: Made in Scotland 2018, winner; Innovator of the Year 2018, One of Top 100 Figures in UK Manufacturing 2017, Red Herring Top-100 Europe, Inventor of the Year 2017, Best Venture-backed Management Team 2017 in Scotland.
About this event.
After doing MBA, Oleg believed that funding by selling equity (pre-seed>seed>A>B...) is the only way to grow.
But first-hand experience showed there are many traps along this route: investor approvals, KPIs/ratchet, liquidation prefs, any many more. How much does an equity round really cost - 5%? 10% 15%? When each milestone takes more time, entrepreneurs may end up going down the spiral of fundraising.
Oleg will share with you what legal traps you need to watch for, and what are red flags you need to be aware of.
Speaker
Oleg Dmitriev is serial entrepreneur, graduate of Executive MBA programme of Columbia Business School and London Business School. He lives in Edinburgh, UK. Oleg's online wine boutique www.independent.wine sells premium Italian wines imported directly from vineyards – cutting out the middleman and passing the value straight to end-consumer.
Oleg has 20 years of experience in developing new technologies and products: from software development to mechanical engineering, and to launching rockets. Being a technology entrepreneur, Oleg supported a few startups with cash and advice, leading to a successful exit.
Oleg has a practical knowledge of seed funding and taking the company through the "valley of death", having raised over £3m of equity funding and over £0.5m of grant funding.
Started as software biz dev and project manager, worked for PwC, IBM, and Sumitomo. Launched a portfolio of mobile products for MTS generating hundreds of $M for the company. In 2011-2018 developed an innovative high-pressure gas compressor - possibly the first major design innovation in the last 45 years. Lead a team to build Scotland's first rockets and open the largest private rocket engine test centre in the UK. Awards: Made in Scotland 2018, winner; Innovator of the Year 2018, One of Top 100 Figures in UK Manufacturing 2017, Red Herring Top-100 Europe, Inventor of the Year 2017, Best Venture-backed Management Team 2017 in Scotland.
Agenda:
5:00 - 5:10 BST: Opening remarks, Astra Global
5:10 - 5:40 BST: Talk by Oleg Dmitriev
5:40 - 5:50: Q&A