TermSheet Mastery

The definitive course on startup term sheet negotiation — built by a financial planner who's seen hundreds of deals close. Learn to read, ne...
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@sivertguthridgeProfile pictureMay 31

Why Most Founders Leave 15-30% of Their Company on the Table

Every year, thousands of founders sign term sheets that cost them millions in equity, control, and future flexibility — not because the terms were unfair, but because they didn't know what to negotiate.


Here's what I see repeatedly:


  • Founders celebrate a "high valuation" while ignoring participating liquidation preferences that gut their payout at exit

  • They accept option pool shuffles that dilute them 10-15% before a single dollar lands in the bank

  • They give up board control at Series A and spend the next 3 years asking permission to run their own company


The term sheet is a 5-10 page document that determines who controls your company, how money flows at exit, and what happens if things don't go as planned.


What This Course Covers


A 6-module, 22-lesson masterclass covering everything from valuation mechanics to a full Series A case study with payout waterfall analysis:


  • Startup founders (seed to Series A) going through their first institutional raise

  • Early-stage CFOs and advisors who need to speak the language of deal terms

  • Angel investors who want to understand what they're signing


Every lesson is substantive — real frameworks, real numbers, real negotiation tactics.


The difference between a good term sheet and a bad one is often the difference between keeping your company and losing it.