246 lines
7.5 KiB
Markdown
246 lines
7.5 KiB
Markdown
% Exit to Co-op
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% Nathan Schneider + Jason Wiener
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% (Use lateral arrow keys to navigate)
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## Can cooperative ownership improve your deal-flow?
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We think it might.
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## Who are we, anyway?
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---
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<img src="https://i2.wp.com/www.jrwiener.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/NoTie.jpg?fit=432%2C287" height="250px" />
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### Jason Wiener
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Principal at [Jason Wiener|P.C.](http://www.jrwiener.com/), "a boutique law and business consulting practice providing expertise to social enterprises and mission-driven business models"
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---
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<img src="https://nathanschneider.info/images/headshots/Schneider-Flatirons0-thumb.jpg" height="250px" />
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### Nathan Schneider
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[Assistant Professor of Media Studies](http://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/media-studies/nathan-schneider) at the University of Colorado Boulder, leader in the ["platform cooperativism" movement](https://ioo.coop/); co-organizer of [the original conference](http://platform.coop/2015) and co-editor of the collective manifesto, _[Ours to Hack and to Own](http://www.orbooks.com/catalog/ours-to-hack-and-to-own/)_
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---
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## What is Platform cooperativism?
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A growing movement to build democracy into the operating system of the internet, from worker-led startups to #BuyTwitter
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---
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## So, what's the problem?
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---
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## The internet economy needs better options
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* Dominant platforms built on surveillance and monopoly
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* Investor expectations have decentralized the network
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* Problems start with early funding terms
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* With fake news, hate speech, and bullying, investor interests conflict with those of users
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---
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### Investors need better options, too
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How many companies in a given VC or angel portfolio either:
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* don't need subsequent financing
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* are operating profitably
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* are not likely to IPO or get acquired
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* have a founder who doesn't want to sell
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Is there latent value in your portfolio that a strategic co-op conversion can unlock?
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Can we do better than a 1/10 success rate for liquidity?
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---
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### What's the addressable market we're talking about?
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* % of convertible note portfolio
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* \# of growing portfolio companies with no strategic buyer
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* \# of mature portfolio companies ready to exit
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---
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## Where do co-ops come in?
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*A new market of potential buyers*
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* Users, workers, or other stakeholders buy the company from early investors
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* The company benefits from the trust and loyalty that come through co-ownership and democratic governance
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* Early investors benefit with a fair return
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* All can celebrate the social benefit
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---
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## How would this actually work?
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1. Identify candidates in fund portfolios for co-op conversions
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2. Co-op capital partners finance buyout with exit to future co-owners
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3. New co-owners pay off bridge capital with revenue from their business
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---
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## What might the terms look like?
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---
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### Example 1: Direct buy-out
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Consider a portfolio company, **PortCo**, with steady cash-flow and a vibrant user community. The founder doesn't want to raise additional capital in a qualified financing; there is little to no likelihood of a convertible note converting. The fund prefers to extend the note rather than claim the principal with accrued interest.
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<!-- * Independent and/or negotiated enterprise valuation -->
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<!-- * User/worker/contributor capitalized buy-out through equity purchase and subscription payments -->
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---
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#### What does this mean for PortCo?
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* Founder negotiates enterpise valuation
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* PortCo undergoes user/worker/contributor buy-out of controlling interest
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* NewCoop becomes a multi-stakeholder cooperative with:
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* Worker owners (employees)
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* User owners (customers)
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* Contributor owners (contractors)
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* Net profit allocated on basis of patronage and target dividend (or capped revenue share) to outside investors
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* Fund converts at buy-out valuation or valuation cap, then holds preferred stock
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---
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### Example 2: Leveraged buy-out
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Consider a portfolio company, **TechCo**, that is growing rapidly and not yet profitable, but the founder doesn't want to exit. A mission-aligned private-equity buyer with co-op experience negotiates a buy-out with committed exit to user-ownership. There is little to no likelihood of a convertible note converting. The fund prefers to extend the note rather than claim the principal with accrued interest.
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---
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#### What does this mean for TechCo?
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* Negotiated buy-out valuation to mission-driven private equity (PE)
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* Fund gets converted at buy-out valuation or val. cap, then position liquidated
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* PE takes control, restructures with balance of profit and growth
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* Plans multi-year transition to user-ownership
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* PE recoups investment through profitability
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* Resulting entity is either earn-in or buy-in coop or trust
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---
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### Example 3: Seed stage
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* Un-priced, quasi-convertible note investment
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* Equity line of credit - 10% equity- preferred stock
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* Repayment:
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* Discretionary cash distributions
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* Profit Sharing
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* 3x cap
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* If 3x cap is reached in < 3 years, 5% equity
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* No need for exit or additional financing
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(Adapted from [Indie.vc](http://indie.vc))
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---
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## What makes us think this really can work?
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*or, why is this not utopian?*
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---
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### Namaste Solar
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<img src="http://www.namastesolar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/logo-footer-white-2.png" width="250px" />
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A North Boulder solar pv company converted from a partnership to a worker-owned cooperative. Jason was in house counsel during the process.
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---
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### Stocksy United
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<img src="https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/screen-shot-2013-03-27-at-1-01-42-am.png?w=400" width="250px" />
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A thriving, women-led stock-photo platform co-owned by hundreds of photographers, competing effectively in a competitive online market.
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### dojo4
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<img src="http://d33wubrfki0l68.cloudfront.net/images/global/f7a48faf00783246637567fce84518349358153c/a-2.png" width="250px" />
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Successful Boulder technology services firm and social innovator converted from a partnership to a worker cooperative in early 2017, preserving flexibility and boosting a high-integrity brand.
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---
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### Associated Press
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<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Associated_Press_logo_2012.svg/416px-Associated_Press_logo_2012.svg.png" width="250px" />
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Founded as a cooperative in 1846, it's no accident that nobody accuses this company of "fake news." Today it models the potential for co-ops in large-scale media.
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---
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### Twitter (?!)
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<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9f/Twitter_bird_logo_2012.svg/1267px-Twitter_bird_logo_2012.svg.png" width="250px" />
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At the 2017 annual meeting, Twitter shareholders voted on a widely publicized proposal to study the possibility of co-op conversion. Is this as crazy as it sounds?
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---
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## How can we graft these models into the mainstream tech economy?
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We want to build pathways for entrepreneurs and investors to embrace cooperative
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models—and a fairer internet for everyone.
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---
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## We'd love your ideas and your help
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* What players need to be involved to make this work? Incubators, accelerators, fund managers, private equity, legacy co-ops?
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* What barriers exist to deploying capital?
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* How do we identify and vet deals?
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* Who would be receptive to continuing this conversation?
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* What role might you play?
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---
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## How can you learn more?
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[The Internet of Ownership](https://ioo.coop)
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Directory of the platform co-op ecosystem
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_[Ours to Hack and to Own](http://www.orbooks.com/catalog/ours-to-hack-and-to-own/)_
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A collective manifesto on platform cooperativism
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<br />
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<table>
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<tr>
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<td width="50%">
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**Nathan Schneider**
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nathan.schneider@colorado.edu
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</td>
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<td width="50%">
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**Jason Wiener**
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jason@jrwiener.com
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</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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