- Term sheetTerm sheet
- A summary of the key terms of the investment: valuation, capital amount, share class, investor rights and governance structure. Most of the content is principled and not legally binding, except for provisions on confidentiality and exclusive negotiation.
- Valuation before and after investmentPre-money & post-money valuation
- Pre-investment valuation is the business value before receiving new capital; Post-investment valuation is equal to pre-investment valuation plus mobilised capital. The investor's ownership ratio is calculated based on the post-investment valuation, so both parties need to clearly agree on what number they are exchanging.
- Priority payment upon liquidationLiquidation preference
- The right of investors to receive capital back before common shareholders when the business is sold or liquidated. The common level is one time the amount of capital contributed; A higher multiple, or a mechanism that both receives priority and divides the remainder, will significantly reduce the portion the founding team actually receives.
- Anti-dilution and pro-rata purchasing rightsAnti-dilution & pro-rata rights
- The two provisions aim to protect investors' ownership percentage. Anti-dilution adjusts the conversion price to benefit investors if the next round is priced lower than the previous round; The right to buy the next rate allows them to contribute more in the next round to maintain the current holding rate.
- Share vesting timeVesting & cliff
- The shareholding mechanism of founding members and personnel is only owned gradually over the period of association, typically four years with a minimum of one year at first. This clause protects both the business and those left behind in case a member leaves early.
- Board seats and veto powerBoard seat & protective provisions
- The right of investors to appoint people to join the Board of Directors, with the requirement of their approval for some key decisions such as selling the business, issuing additional shares or amending the charter. This is a group of terms that govern decision-making rights, not just economic interests.