JamesPeterson

Hi HN,

In the media I read, which includes a wide range of startup and finance blogs, founders themselves are always - without exception! - portrayed as the representatives of each startup in capital negotiations.

This seems crazy!

Surely, if the above is true, founders would be leaving money on the table when negotiating against VCs; investors seek to maximise their return, and they don’t do so by making investments that are sub-optimal to the opportunities presented to them. If they can - as trained negotiators and analysts - get a better deal, they will take that opportunity.

Not only have I received an impression that the above is as it is at seed and series A stages, but also at far later stages until around about the time that a startup’s equity begins have liquidity (i.e. trading begins on second markets etc).

The question I am alluding to here, HN, is - Are there market participants, invisible or ignored in my readings, that act to represent founders in negotiations?

Hi HN!

I'm looking at taking a year out and doing something completely different; to draw away from my current domains (finance/government bleh) to doing something interesting and of value. The problem is, if I want to take an entry-level role the employer has to drop a significant investment in me!

I'm looking for a junior business development role, but the problem is these only exist at Big Co. They seem happy to take me on, but the work always seems to be of no value (ie. crappy products). Small firms don't seem to be able to open these positions up.

How do these rules affect you, if at all?

Hi HN,

Recently we've seen posts about programs that teach programming - usually RoR (?) - to an entry-level in just 8-12 weeks. All of these have been USA-based.

To me, a business student slash wanna-be hacker who reads basic programming books (LPTHW et al) but progresses very little out of lack of focus, these look great. As an Australian though, the location is always a real shame.

Does anyone know of any Aus-based equivalents? I'd be there in an instant.