> The real choice was likely this deal where we let the 800k go, or future uncertainty
And not just "future uncertainty", but "the future of a company that's spent 7 years trying and doesn't look any closer to launching the rocketship, who's founder is onto his second attempt to sell out, and clearly is out of enthusiasm and ideas".
There was no 3x or even 2x future here for them, certainly no 100x - there was just another 2, 5, or 10 years of slow flameout with a 0x - or a quick and tidy 0x with a significant PR goodwill upside.
No, the 'spin' of the founder puts on this makes no sense - by your very own logic.
>>>> If there was 'no future good outcome' for the company then in what way is the founder's 'threat' to 'not sell' credible in any way? <<<<<
Why would he 'march on for 5 more years with little hope of exit' (by your very own projection?)
He's threatening to 'not sell' and therefore probably end up with $0?
That's an empty threat - and it's also acting agains the best interest of shareholders, which is his legal duty.
The situation is obvious:
They have an offer for $4M, it's probably their only way out, it's a nice 'few million' for the founder, the investors get their 1x participating + a tiny bit.
That's it.
It's not uncommon.
What kind of person would even think to sell a company 'on the premise that the other investors get nothing'?
He basically told the investors to bugger off and that's that.
'There is no significant goodwill' for the investors.
There is however some 'bad PR' for the founder unfortunately.
> He basically told the investors to bugger off and that's that.
No, He asked, they agreed. There’s clearly something they both know that we don’t, and the outcome that happened happened. I guess it’s just as easy and valid for you to interpret it as being a bad thing, as it is for me to interpret it as a good thing. Only the VCs really know, I guess.
The real choice was likely this deal where we let the 800k go, or future uncertainty.
This isn't "rich people don't care about 800k". This is more like "400k write down makes sense at this time".