Taylor received a call from her board, “We’ve got bad news. You’re going to need to shut down your startup” Her heart sank, and her stomach tied in knots. She knew this was coming but hoped she had a few months left. “We’ve got a couple of numbers for you to call. Pick a wind-down...
Under the cold, clinical glow of his office lights, I received the call that set the next challenge into motion—a biotech firm couldn’t get another round of funding after the FDA approval failed, buried under a mountain of debt and regulatory scrutiny. The voice on the other end was Jerri, a friendly Venture Capitalist I’d...
As a Chief Restructuring Officer, I understand the panic that comes with a startup struggling to stay afloat when they’ve got six months left of runway and are unsure if they have product market fit. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, but it’s crucial to recognize that the strategies that brought your startup to this point...
In April 2009, amidst the echoes of an explosive financial crisis that left shrapnel over every industry, I found myself giving a presentation alongside Silicon Valley Bank and Lightspeed Ventures, delving into the stark reality of the times: the exorbitant cost of capital. Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing a headline that Spotify reduced...
From the Desk of Dr. Doom, Chief Restructuring Officer: Trigger Warnings: VC indecisiveness, looming debt I landed in Nashville last night after a call from a friend investor, Beatrice. Always intelligent and direct, Beatrice got straight to the point. “I need your help,” she began, her voice devoid of any fluff, “I have an amazing...
From the Desk of Dr. Doom, Chief Restructuring Officer: Trigger Warnings: Uncontrolled Debt, Zero Profitability It was a routine morning when my inbox flashed with an introduction email from Bailey, a known board member from the industry. The subject: “Harry’s Crisis: Urgent Intervention Needed”. The content was straightforward; Harry’s decade-long dream startup venture was in...
