Tag Archives: founders

When Good Legal Advice Is Worth $10 Million An Hour

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Antone Johnson • 1 Comment

One of the highest profile liquidity events in the first half of 2012 was Facebook’s deal to acquire Instagram for $1 billion. The popular mobile photo-sharing service should fit well into Facebook’s growth strategy as a public company, but its eye-popping valuation — more than that of the New York Times, for those keeping score… Continue Reading

Filed Under: digital media, entrepreneurship, law, liquidity events, Silicon Valley, social media, startups, Web 2.0

Crowdfunding Back On Track — As Milk Train, Not TGV

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Antone Johnson • 0 Comments

The version of the JOBS Act initially approved by a bipartisan majority in the House was a bold experiment in targeted radical deregulation of financial markets that would have come on the heels of one of the worst economic disasters in American history — itself attributable to deregulation with inadequate oversight — while the asthmatic U.S. economic recovery continues to wheeze and stumble through the smoldering wreckage of once-mighty financial institutions.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: angel investing, economics, entrepreneurship, law, public policy, startups

Evaluating the Risks in Facebook’s IPO: Would You Invest?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Antone Johnson • 1 Comment

Facebook is forthcoming about the challenges of mobile: No revenue currently generated from mobile advertising; unclear how much mobile use could be monetized; failure to solve this puzzle combined with a dramatic shift toward mobile usage could be a serious problem; and they don’t control the iOS and Android platforms. Frankly, if there were one thing that persuaded me not to invest in FB at current valuations, this would be it.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: digital media, law, liquidity events, social media, startups, Web 2.0

Avoiding “Janitorial” Legal Work for Startups

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Antone Johnson • 6 Comments

Guide to laying the legal foundations of a successful startup company by startup lawyer Antone Johnson, Founding Principal of Bottom Line Law Group… Continue Reading

Filed Under: law, startups

Keep It Under Your Hat: Valuation Caps and the $650 Million Sale of MySpace for $125 Million

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Antone Johnson • 1 Comment

Valuation caps can shape the fundamentals of an exit, redistribute value among stakeholders, or even kill a deal altogether. Never missing an opportunity for a good war story, I’d like to revisit one high-profile transaction, the $650 million acquisition of MySpace by Fox Interactive Media in 2005.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: angel investing, digital media, entrepreneurship, liquidity events, social media, startups, venture capital, Web 2.0

Convertible Note Financing 101 for Startups

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Antone Johnson • 5 Comments

A key advisory role of startup lawyers in my opinion is to level the playing field by bringing our own perspectives to bear, having gone through the twists and turns with many clients over the years. Knowledge is power.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: angel investing, law, startups, venture capital