Overview

Venture Debt Deals is the first founder-friendly guide to venture debt fundraising and term sheets. Written by innovation lending veteran Marshall Hawks, the book provides a clear, practical framework for understanding how venture debt really works-and how founders can use it to fund growth with less dilution. Drawing on more than two decades in venture banking, including sixteen years at Silicon Valley Bank, Hawks explains the structure, strategy, and incentives behind every major term-from warrants to covenants-and shows how debt can complement equity rather than replace it. The book walks readers through the full process, from evaluating lender options and understanding term sheets to managing diligence, negotiating key terms, and maintaining productive relationships with lenders. Venture Debt Deals also includes five detailed case studies illustrating how real founders have successfully (and unsuccessfully) used venture debt. Written for founders, CEOs, CFOs, and investors, this is a comprehensive reference for anyone seeking to use debt effectively within the innovation economy.

Full Product Details

9798998567902

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Founders often underestimate the role debt can play in shaping outcomes for a company. Marshall combines two decades of hard-earned lessons into a book that gives entrepreneurs the context they need to make smarter decisions about when-and when not-to use debt."" Brad Feld, Co-Founder of Foundry Group and Techstars, author of Venture Deals and Startup Communities ""As a CEO, I've raised venture debt and seen how powerful it can be when used well and how risky if misunderstood. Marshall's book is the first to truly level the playing field for founders by explaining both the opportunities and the pitfalls in plain language."" Matt Blumberg, CEO of Markup AI, former Founder & CEO of Return Path and Bolster, author of Startup CEO, Startup CXO and Startup Boards ""Until Marshall Hawks' book, venture debt was a dark art. Now entrepreneurs and venture capitalists alike have the benefit of Marshall's decades of experience and insight. I wish I had this book when I was starting out!"" David Hornik, Co-Founder of Lobby Capital ""I wish I'd had this book earlier when raising venture debt. The section on red flags and potential downsides is especially valuable-venture debt can be dangerous if not used for the right purpose and at the right time. The stories are great, and the advice is practical and real. Don't raise venture debt without reading this book first."" James Park, Co-Founder & former CEO of Fitbit

Author Information

Before becoming an author, Marshall Hawks spent more than twenty years in venture banking and lending, including sixteen at Silicon Valley Bank, where he most recently led the Northern California Relationship Management organization and the bank's Strategic Capital Group. He has worked with hundreds of startups-including Airbnb, Twitch, Fitbit, Planet Labs, and Egnyte-giving him a front-row seat to how founders use venture debt. Marshall is the founder of Writing Is Hard Publishing and lives in San Francisco with his family.

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