The pitfalls and important thoughts for founders on their way to a successful exit of their startup company from a view of a Venture Capitalist. (my presentation of Arctic15 Event in Helsinki on May 28th 2014 - www.arctic15.com).

1. How to Drive the Road to Exit…
… a view from a Venture Capitalist
Helsinki - 28th of May 2014

2. My current portfolio and areas of VC expertise:
Mobile Internet, Big Data & Cloud based Platforms
Thomas Grota – Investment Director T-Venture Holding GmbH – @thomasgr
E"X"I"T"S"

3. T-Venture Portfolio contains currently 100 companies.
Two Funds managed for Deutsche Telekom AG
Thomas Grota – Investment Director T-Venture Holding GmbH – @thomasgr

4. Selected successful exits of T-Venture
E-Commerce solution
1998: IPO
@motion
Wireless internet access
2000: trade sale to Openwave
(formerly: phone.com)
Web conference
provider
2000: IPO
Internet payment services
2010: trade sale to Deutsche Telekom
Online Flight Search and Bookings
2010: trade sale to KAYAK
Optical Networking Applications
2010: trade sale to Cisco
Fabless Semiconductors
2010: trade sale to Broadcom
Real-Time Collaboration Software
2011: trade sale to Citrix
Search Portal for Discount
Offers of Local Retailers
2011: trade sale to Axel Springer
Wireless Access Technology
2012: trade sale to Ericsson
"On-Demand" E-Commerce
2012: IPO
Wireless Systems for Home Networks
2012: IPO
Security Solution for Mobile
Enterprise Devices
2012: trade sale to Rapid7
Mass calling service
2002: trade sale to
Deutsche Telekom
Femtocell Technology
2013: trade sale to Cisco
Customer experience management
solution. 2009: trade sale to Tektronix
Communications
Mobile messaging solutions
2008: trade sale to Nokia
Web based calling company
2010: trade sale to Telefonica
End-to-end wireless internet solution
2008: trade sale to Microsoft
E-Commerce
2006: shares sold to
Holtzbrinck + Weltbild
Multimedia core solutions
2007: IPO
Core networking infrastructure
provider. 2008: trade sale to
Nokia Siemens Networks
Social P2P media networking platform
2006: trade sale to
Sony Pictures Entertainment
M-commerce
infrastructure solution
2006: trade sale to Amdocs
Mobile broadband
2005: trade sale to
QUALCOMM
Transit application
2013: trade sale to Apple
Multi-platform productivity solution
2013: trade sale to Sequoia
Mobile advertising
2014: trade sale to Opera Software

5. 7
1st$Ques(on:$$$What$a/racts$buyers?$

6. You$are$the$ho/est$company$out$there.$

7. 9
$$You$are$THE$hardest$compe(tor$….$or$THE$best$fit$

8. 10
you$close$an$innova(on$gap$for$a$market$leader$

9. 11You$grow$all$your$KPIs$in$all$areas$of$business$

10. 12you$have$the$best$skills$in$an$industry$segment.$

11. 13
2nd$Ques(on:$$$$$How$to$ini(ate$an$Exit?$

12. 14
$$$$You$shop$your$company$around…$or$on$eBay$

13. 15
You$get$approached$with$an$$
offer$due$to$your$leading$posi(on$$

14. 16
You$know$the$poten(al$buyer$for$a$long$(me.$

15. 17
You$are$recommended$by$someone$with$
knowledge$of$buyer‘s$inten(on.$

16. 18
3rd$Ques(on:$$$What$are$your$tasks$to$execute?$

17. 19
Find$advisors:$$
Legal$for$protec(on$$Q$$M&A$for$pricing$&$process$

18. 20
focus$on$transac(on:$$have$a$strong$2nd$(er$team$Q$$
Exit$takes$3Q6$months$(me.$

19. 21
Shareholder$takes$as$much$(me$as$Buyers$

20. 22
Keep$data$room$upQtoQdate.$
All$the$(me$Q$you$have$no$
(me$when$needed$

21. 23
$$$$$Final$thoughts:$$$$What$you$need$to$know?$

22. 24
You$will$separate$from$your$investors$–$keep$it$in$mind.

23. 25
Equity$was$most$valuable$asset$$Q$now$its$(me.$

24. 26
All$shareholders$must$be$“all$in”$to$get$a$deal.$

25. 27
Breakup$could$happen$–$so$be$prepared.$

26. 28
Have$enough$run(me$for$your$exit$road.$$

27. T-Venture Portfolio contains currently 100 companies.
Two Funds managed for Deutsche Telekom AG
Thomas Grota – Investment Director T-Venture Holding GmbH – @thomasgr

28. Selected successful exits of T-Venture
E-Commerce solution
1998: IPO
@motion
Wireless internet access
2000: trade sale to Openwave
(formerly: phone.com)
Web conference
provider
2000: IPO
Internet payment services
2010: trade sale to Deutsche Telekom
Online Flight Search and Bookings
2010: trade sale to KAYAK
Optical Networking Applications
2010: trade sale to Cisco
Fabless Semiconductors
2010: trade sale to Broadcom
Real-Time Collaboration Software
2011: trade sale to Citrix
Search Portal for Discount
Offers of Local Retailers
2011: trade sale to Axel Springer
Wireless Access Technology
2012: trade sale to Ericsson
"On-Demand" E-Commerce
2012: IPO
Wireless Systems for Home Networks
2012: IPO
Security Solution for Mobile
Enterprise Devices
2012: trade sale to Rapid7
Mass calling service
2002: trade sale to
Deutsche Telekom
Femtocell Technology
2013: trade sale to Cisco
Customer experience management
solution. 2009: trade sale to Tektronix
Communications
Mobile messaging solutions
2008: trade sale to Nokia
Web based calling company
2010: trade sale to Telefonica
End-to-end wireless internet solution
2008: trade sale to Microsoft
E-Commerce
2006: shares sold to
Holtzbrinck + Weltbild
Multimedia core solutions
2007: IPO
Core networking infrastructure
provider. 2008: trade sale to
Nokia Siemens Networks
Social P2P media networking platform
2006: trade sale to
Sony Pictures Entertainment
M-commerce
infrastructure solution
2006: trade sale to Amdocs
Mobile broadband
2005: trade sale to
QUALCOMM
Transit application
2013: trade sale to Apple
Multi-platform productivity solution
2013: trade sale to Sequoia
Mobile advertising
2014: trade sale to Opera Software