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What Founders Need to Know About Startup Valuation?

“I want to seek advice regarding my startup valuation.” We are here to help you:


How Does a Startup Valuation Work?

I’ve often been asked this question by some Founders – “Bro/Fareez/En.Fareez /Sir<—WHAT!!!, How do I value my startup?” and my usual response would be “not a clue/I don’t know/magic/pick a number”. This is because there are various formulas or methods out there to value a Startup, to which due to my poor arithmetic skill, I only have passing knowledge.

There is no harm to learning or understanding the various formulas or methods for valuation. However, the fundamental concept of Startup Valuation in an investment transaction is far more important for the Founder to grasp before mastering the method or formula for valuation.

Fundamental Concept of Startup Valuation

Truth be told, in an Investment transaction, especially during seed funding, startup valuation is more often than not be determined based on what the Founder(s) and Investor(s) ULTIMATELY AGREE (agreed buyer and agreed seller).

WHAT! LIES! BLASPHEMY!

*the sound  of shattered reality in the background* 😱

What it means is that the Valuation of a Startup can be as basic/simple as this:

Founders: So how much you do you want to Invest?

Investor: RM100k at RM1.0million valuation

Founders: Aiyooo…cannot lah like that – RM1.5 million valuation can?

Investor: Ok…ok can lah, cincai kira.

2) There you have it – the Startup is now valued at RM1.5million. This is because, if Parties cannot agree on a valuation figure, the Investment Transaction will not take place.

If that is the case, what is the purpose of Startup Valuation formulas and methods?

Simple… to substantiate and support the Valuation figure you proposed. Consider this scenario:-

Founders: So how much you do you want to Invest?

Investor: RM100k at RM1.0million valuation

Founders: I disagree, I believe my Startup is at least worth RM1.5 million.

Investor: How did you arrive at that figure?

Founder: The movement of the constellation/Feng Shui Master told me/ Tok Bomoh say it’s my lucky number/ I saw it written on a fish in my dreams on the night the moonshine the brightest

Investor: 😑😑😑

What I’m trying to convey is that in an Investment Transaction, Investors would be more likely to agree with the figure you arrived at if it’s based on logical data, formula or method.

This is also why at the Pre-Seed or Seed round – Valuation is either postponed to a later round or done as follows:

Assuming, there are 3 founders with RM30k paid-up capital (equally shared)

Investor: I give you RM250k

Founders: I give you a 25% equity ownership

In the above scenario, your Startup is effectively being valued at RM750k pre-money valuation. (If you don’t know how I arrived at the RM750k pre-money valuation – please don’t be shy to ask Hint Hint —>🍦🍦)

Important Note – Don’t be afraid to counter propose on the Valuation proposed by the Investor

Warning – Please, please, please maintain a proper Capitalisation Table to see the actual dilution taking place.


“I want to seek advice regarding my startup valuation.” We are here to help you: