This document provides information about Bert Baeck, including that he is 36 years old, has a passion for MMA, has degrees in electronics and computer science/machine learning, co-founded D-square in 2008 and founded TrendMiner in 2013 which he sold to Software AG for $1 billion in 2018. It also discusses common ways for companies to create shareholder value, the goal of most companies taking outside investment being an exit, and strategies for bootstrapping a company versus taking venture capital funding.

1. >> Bert Baeck (me@bertbaeck.com)
>> 36 years
>> ❤ MMA
>> MsC - Electronics and CS/ML
>> Co-founded D-square in 2008
>> Founded TrendMiner in 2013
>> Sold TrendMiner to Software AG ($1B rev) in 2018

2. Q1: Is an Exit the goal
of each Company?

3. Ways to create shareholder Value
1. By dividends based on realised profits
2. Trade Sale / Exit (M&A)
3. IPO

4. 90% of the companies taking outside money
end up selling in some form of M&A

5. Only 287 IPO’s global Q1 2018
< 0.04% of companies achieve the level of 100 Mio$ ARR

6. 287 IPO’s global Q1 2018
< 0.04% of companies achieve the level of 100 Mio$ ARR
Software IPO’s since 2011

7. 287 IPO’s global Q1 2018
< 0.04% of companies achieve the level of 100 Mio$ ARR
Lifestyle business
>> Live off the cash flow without being too hands-on.
>> Focus on a niche that can generate decent profit
margins from a limited number of heavily engaged
customers.
>> Don’t spend lots of money and resources on
development. Capital intensive businesses take
longer to become profitable and typically require
external VC money.
>> Bootstrap (grow in an organic way), try to take loans.
>> Try to become oversubscribed
>> Try not to be incentivised on an a hourly basis

8. Q2:

9. Here are 6 reasons

10. 1.The offer captures the upside.

11. 2. Faster route to product-market leadership

12. TIME
3. Time Squeezing

13. Your company is losing market share
Your competitors are executing much better than you
Unit Economics not under control (CaC, Capital efficiency,…)
Your competitor got acquired and could wash you out by a established marketplace
Your competitors have much more funding than your company and you’re no longer fighting with the same weapons
4 Facing an

14. 5.Personal Choice

15. 6.
It’s all about 2nd
Generation
Entrepreneurs

16. Or just join the Dark Side; Being a VC is much more fun ;-)