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Facilitator Guide

Venture Capital Closings

What’s covered

  • Overview of venture capital closings
  • Timing
  • Preparing for the closing
  • Closing documents
  • Pre-closing procedures
  • Closing day
  • Follow-on closings
  • Post-closing matters

Before the session

Prepare the Attendees

Send the attendees an invitation for the session. Include this link, which has the videos and exercise they’ll need to prepare.

https://www.hotshotlegal.com/discussions/venture-capital-closings/attendee

Prepare Yourself

Watch the videos and read the exercise so you’re familiar with the Hotshot material.

  • still frame from Venture Capital Closings

    Course

    Venture Capital Closings

    An explanation of the closing process for venture capital deals, including preparing for and managing a closing, typical closing documents and post-closing requirements.

  • Icon of a document

    Exercise

    PDF

During the session

Part 1: Knowledge Check

Ask attendees these questions to ensure they understand the topic:

  • Who typically manages the closing process?
  • What are some factors that influence the timing of a venture capital closing?
  • What are the typical principal deal documents?
  • What are some typical ancillary deal documents?
  • What’s a bring-down certificate?
  • Who typically creates the closing/signature checklist?
  • What are some things company counsel usually does on closing day?
  • What are some investor requirements to consider?
  • When do board and stockholder consents have to be signed?
  • What’s a follow-on closing and when does it typically apply?
  • What are some common post-closing matters?

Part 2: Group Exercise

Lead a group discussion based on the exercise. To encourage collaboration, divide the attendees into groups to discuss the exercise, then have a representative from each group summarize their views to the larger group. Call on people to share their thoughts and ask others to respond.

Tip for remote sessions: use your web conferencing system’s breakout room feature to divide people into groups.

Part 3: War Stories and Firm Specifics

Share your own experiences and guidance, including:

  • Anecdotes and war stories (e.g., about a near-disaster or a tough negotiation)
  • General practice tips (dos and don’ts)
  • Firm-specific guidance and practices

After the session

To continue their learning, attendees can check out related courses in Hotshot’s Venture Financing topic.