UVC: Will Klippgen from Cocoon Capital on how startups are valued, key clauses to look out for in a shareholder agreement, and the importance of improving your product with your customer’s feedback
Understanding VC is a deep dive on how Venture Capitalists work. This is the first episode wherein I talk to Will Klippgen, Managing Partner, Cocoon Capital on how startups are valued, key clauses to look out for in a term sheet or a shareholder agreement for founders, and the importance of improving your product with your customer’s feedback. He also shares some insights on how they work with their portfolio companies, key industries he is interested to invest in and why. Get listening now!
Will Klippgen is a Singapore-based Norwegian entrepreneur and technology venture capitalist who co-founded the price comparison portal Zoomit.com (later merged with Kelkoo, which was sold to Yahoo! in 2004). He served as one of the judges on the television series Angel's Gate, which was broadcast on Channel NewsAsia in 2012. Will is a co-founder and serves as the Managing Partner at Cocoon Capital. He holds an MBA from INSEAD where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence.
He has invested in over 55 startups in Singapore and across the world since 2004. His investments include PropertyGuru, Anacle Systems, ReferralCandy, Nugit, Tickled Media, iXiGO.com, See-Mode Technologies, SensorFlow, GuardRails, BuyMed and Augmentus.
Key Takeaways
- Difference between Angel investors and Venture Capitalists
- Best pitch Will has heard and a deal he wishes he should’ve closed
- How VCs determine the valuation of startups
- Important clauses in a term sheet or a shareholder agreement that founders should know
- Why VCs insist founders take a low salary till their startup is profitable
- How Cocoon Capital works with startups when they invest in them
- Industry verticals Will is interested to invest in and why
Will Klippgen
Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Cocoon Capital
Will Klippgen is a Singapore-based Norwegian entrepreneur and technology venture capitalist who co-founded the price comparison portal Zoomit.com (later merged with Kelkoo, which was sold to Yahoo! in 2004). He served as one of the judges on the television series Angel's Gate, which was broadcast on Channel NewsAsia in 2012. Will is a co-founder and serves as the Managing Partner at Cocoon Capital. He holds an MBA from INSEAD where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence.
He has invested in over 55 startups in Singapore and across the world since 2004. His investments include PropertyGuru, Anacle Systems, ReferralCandy, Nugit, Tickled Media, iXiGO.com, See-Mode Technologies, SensorFlow, GuardRails, BuyMed and Augmentus.
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