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I write about how we design, build, and make decisions in the physical world — a field where success depends on navigating risk, timing, and tradeoffs.

If you still aren’t convinced, here are three more reasons to take a discount on your valuation: 

  1. First, you get better investors. I’ve seen too many cases where second-tier investors outbid the top-tier. But a lower valuation ensures the very best investors want in. 
  2. Second, a lower valuation helps protect you from a down round. Even great businesses face unexpected challenges like market downturns; I raised money during the 2001 and 2008 market corrections, and it was rough. Valuations got slammed, and the end result for many was a down round that seriously hurt their companies’ stature and ability to raise more money. 
  3. The third and probably least understood reason is that a lower valuation allows you more headroom for an exit. I’ve seen many entrepreneurs raise money at valuations that are higher than any buyer would be willing to pay. The result is that they get themselves boxed in, and when they see an opportunity to exit they can’t get a deal investors will agree to because their last round was done at too high of a price.

(via Raising Venture Capital? Take a “Discount” on Your Valuation | LinkedIn)