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Venture Deals

Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist

Decode the term sheet so you can negotiate as an equal.

by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson

Two experienced venture capitalists walk founders through exactly how a venture deal works, from term sheets and valuations to the economics and control provisions that matter most. They explain who is in the room, how VCs and lawyers think, and how each clause affects the founder. The book demystifies the legal and financial mechanics of raising money.

Fundraising terms can quietly determine who controls and profits from a company, and most founders enter negotiations underinformed. This is the standard reference for understanding term sheets and negotiating from a position of knowledge.

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