The Startup Solution

In the process of closing her startup’s first round of outside capital, CEO Claire hit a snag. One of her co-founders had already left the company, and his massive share position for only a year of work concerned the new investor. Heidi explains how to allocate founder shares fairly, and what can be done if you may have already done it differently. More information: https://www.threshold.vc/podcast/the-case-of-the-deadweight-co-founder

Nate has a first-world problem: As VP of Engineering at a startup, he thought he'd become a millionaire when the company had its big exit — but he was crushed when he got only 5% of what he expected. Heidi helps Nate understand what likely went sideways, and what to consider the next time around. More info: https://www.threshold.vc/millionaire

Heidi changes gears from recounting other entrepreneurs' challenges to share a story of her own from when she was the CEO of a software startup. Learn how a mishap with the office sprinkler system led to a reckoning about her company's culture. More information: http://www.threshold.vc/podcast/the-case-of-the-soggy-software

Trent hits a crisis when his strategic investor lets their term sheet expire, and his $50 million round falls apart. Strategic investors are a huge part of the startup ecosystem but differ from regular VCs. Learn about the pros and cons of strategic investors, and how to craft a good deal for both sides. More information: https://www.threshold.vc/podcast/the-case-of-the-strategic-sucker-punch

JJ, a Threshold Venture Fellow at Stanford, has in-laws who want to pull money from their retirement fund to participate in a “friends and family” allocation in JJ's seed round. Heidi sets JJ straight about the ins and outs of seed investing — and suggests at least one way to reward his in-laws for their support without putting them at risk. More information: https://www.threshold.vc/podcast/the-case-of-the-in-law-investors

Founders often think of valuation as the grade at the top of the paper, which is why few things take an emotional toll like the prospect of a down round. When Ann's company is faced with just such a thing, Heidi explains that terms end up mattering more than valuation — and that a down round needn't be a downer.   More information: https://threshold.vc/podcast/the-case-of-the-downer-round/

When Priya informed her board that the company missed its quarterly sales target, she was met with a barrage of attacks. The real error wasn’t the business shortfall — it was how she managed the situation. Learn how to avoid her mistakes.   More information:  https://threshold.vc/podcast/the-case-of-the-boardroom-blow-up-1/

The Startup Solution is a new podcast from Threshold Ventures. The series tackles the make-or-break challenges that startups face, offering clear advice on how to survive and thrive in an early-stage company. Who’s it for? Founders, startup execs, and investors who want to hear (and learn from) rarely discussed real-world “oh shit” moments. All names and details have been changed to uphold our commitment to the Entrepreneur Protection Program. Heidi Roizen, partner at Threshold, unravels a new startup situation each week, breaking down why it’s a big deal, and talking about how it was solved — or could have been solved. Heidi closes each podcast with a clear review of lessons learned.