Games Room, Robinson College

Phillip Baddeley of Equity Fingerprint

Do you want a large part of a small pie or a small part of a large pie? What will be your equity journey? What is best for you? What is best for your company?

Equity Fingerprint is a resource to help you answer these question and plan your equity journey.

Most businesses are built from cash generated by the company, and the founders (usually one or two people) keep all the equity – Passive Equity Companies. It is clear from the outset that no one else will be a shareholder.

However most of the companies which become global technology companies have a different equity structure – different from the start and changing over time – Active Equity Companies.

Technology entrepreneurs must plan their equity journey at the same time as preparing their business plan. Many have realised too late the consequences of decisions made about equity in the early days of the venture and also the often disastrous effect on the founders of missing key targets linked to funding rounds let alone being with the wrong investors.

Equity Fingerprint is a visual tool to promote understanding, discussion and planning of the equity journey – a vital part of being an entrepreneur.