Kirkanson, Inc. (A)

Abstract

This case study introduces students to the nuances of deal structuring between company founders and venture capital firms. Specifically, the learning objectives for the case exercise include the following: (1) apply the venture capital method to value entrepreneurial ventures and structure financing between entrepreneurial firms and venture capitalists; (2) use capitalization (cap) tables to understand the dilution effects of multiple rounds of venture financing; and (3) gain an appreciation for the importance of arriving at a realistic value estimate for the entrepreneurial firms that gives the firm and its founders the best chances of long-run success.