FINANCE FOR

STARTUPS
AN INTRODUCTION

JORIS KERSTEN, MSC BSC RAB

N OV E M B E R 4 T H 2 0 1 6 E I N D H OV E N / T H E N E T H E R L A N D S
SUBJECTS
1. Startups in The Netherlands;
2. Why is finance important for startups;
3. From business plan to pitch book;
4. Coming up with financial estimates;
5. Discussing an easy example;
6. Making a real case example.
LEARNING GOALS
1. Being able to translate (simple) business ideas into financial
numbers in order to judge how much capital is needed for a
specific startup;

2. Develop the right mind-set for attracting investors for your

business model;

3. To get more confidence in finance for entrepreneurship.

PLANNING: NOVEMBER 4TH 2016/
EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS
• 11:00-12:45: Theory in finance for startups

• 12:45-13:00: Coffee break

• 13:00-13:45: Participants work on real life case

• 13:45-14:00: Discussing the real life case

ABOUT
Joris Kersten, MSc BSc RAB
• Owner of Kersten Corporate Finance (consultancy & training in Mergers &
Acquisitions)
• Founder of Financeyourstartup.com (consultancy & training in financing of startups)
• Author at Noordhoff Publishers (writing book on financing of marketing- & business
plans/ startups)
• Graduated in MSc Strategic Management and BSc Business Studies at Tilburg University
and graduated Registered Advisor Business Acquisitions Tax and Legal (RAB).

Any questions:
[email protected]
+31 (0)6 8364 0527
www.kerstencf.nl
www.financeyourstartup.com
 ABOUT
My biggest passion is scuba diving J. As a scuba diver, and Padi Divemaster, I have noticed
that we should take better care of the environment and nature. Therefore my motto is:

Life is about executing ideas that make the world nicer and better!!

I work on this every day within my company Financeyourstartup.com since many startups
are “social ventures” that make every day life better!
 STARTUPS IN THE NETHERLANDS
What is a startup?
• A startup is a starting company with an innovative idea that produces a
product or service that is scalable and repetitive (Definition: Rabobank);

• Sometimes these startups are “disruptive” (changing life of people and the
current business environment drastically) but this is not necessary needed ....

• Although in general one could say: the more innovative, online and scalable a
business is, the more the business can be called a “startup”.
STARTUPS IN THE NETHERLANDS
How many startups are here in the Netherlands?

• During 2007-2015 yearly (on average) about 162.000 businesses

have started in The Netherlands (CBS);

• But these companies can not all be called startups;

• Let’s take a look at the branches in which (most) startups are active.
 STARTUPS IN THE NETHERLANDS
There are certain sectors in which the most startups are active:

5% of the yearly starting

companies are active in
these “startup” sectors.

Source: CBS/ rabobank

(do not forget that about

90% of starting companies
are small businesses with
only 1 person working).
STARTUPS IN THE NETHERLANDS

• During 2007-2015 yearly (on average) about 8.200 businesses (about

5%) where started in the top sectors for startups;

• Also yearly about 5% of the businesses in these sectors are expected

to be “real” startups (Rabobank RaboResearch, may 2016);

• This implies 400 “real” startups started in 2015 (rough estimate).

STARTUPS IN THE NETHERLANDS

• 2007-2015: yearly (on

average) about 162.000
starting companies;

• Yearly 8.200 starting

companies in “startup
sectors” (5 %);

• Yearly 400 “real” startups

(5% on 5%).

Source: Rabobank.

Source: Meer startende sterren: het toenemende belang van startups

in Nederland. Rabobank, mei 2016.
STARTUPS IN THE NETHERLANDS
• 400 “real” startups started in 2015 (rough estimate);

• 90% “fail” (some just stay smaller);

• 360 startups stay small and about 50% quits within a few years

• 10% success, which implies success for about 40 startups a

year …. (rough estimate on current numbers).

Source: Meer startende sterren: het toenemende belang van startups in Nederland. Rabobank, mei 2016.
STARTUPS IN THE NETHERLANDS
• So the yearly startups business is small with a low number of successful
companies, which implies a relatively small turnover and number of
employees;

• But the importance of startups is getting bigger and bigger. Corporates

work together with small companies (startups) more and more in
order to realise innovation;

• The Dutch government encourages the startup-ecosystem highly by

facilitating all kinds of initiatives like the “Startup Delta”. This is a
platform that facilitates the startup-ecosystem led by prince
Constantijn of The Netherlands and in the past by European
commissioner Mrs. Neelie Kroes.
STARTUPS IN THE NETHERLANDS
Different cities focus on different “clusters”.

Source image: Meer startende sterren: het toenemende belang van

startups in Nederland. Rabobank, mei 2016.
STARTUPS IN THE NETHERLANDS
In the hubs at different
cities in The Netherlands
there is collaboration
between:

• Government;
• Universities;
• Research;
• Corporate business;
• Startups;
• Finance/ banks;
• Consultants (finance,
legal, tax).

Source image:
Startupdelta.org.
FINANCE FOR STARTUPS
• Many startups need financing for their business plans or business ideas.
• The market for investments in startups lies at about 100 million euro’s per quarter.

Source graph:

River Venture Partners: “State of

the Dutch Tech Startup & VC
Landscape”, September 2016.
 FINANCE FOR STARTUPS
Who are the active investors in The Netherlands ??
This presentations
focusses on startup
financing < 2 million
euro’s.

The 6 main players

financed about 26
startups in the last 12
months.

Seed/ early stage =

about 50.000 EUR –
250.000 EUR
financing.

Source graph: River Venture Partners: “State of the Dutch Tech

Startup & VC Landscape”, September 2016.
FINANCE FOR STARTUPS

As said, I focus on the first stage of

startup financing from seed capital
to round A (red line).

Within this stage financing goes

from about 50.000 EUR until
2.000.000 EUR.

Source graph: What does series-A, series-B, series-C mean in

startups. Alisha, Startupfreak.com. July 2013.
 FINANCE FOR STARTUPS
1. Most startups use technology to sell a product or service. To build
this technology this costs money! First you can start financing your
company yourself, this is called “bootstrapping”;

2. After the fase of making ideas and getting your concept clear it is
time to test, experiment and build your “minimum viable product”
(MVP). In this pre-seed fase most of the time friends, family and
angel investors are targeted for financing. The typical amount
financed here is about 50.000 EUR to 250.000 EUR.

3. When you then are doing well, your first (paying) customers are
coming (“traction”), you need money for marketing, sales and
scaling up your team. Moreover, in many cases there is money
needed to further develop your platform. The typical amount
financed here is 250.000 EUR – 1.000.000 EUR.
FINANCE FOR STARTUPS
(1) Bootstrapping: finance yourself

(3) Traction? Finance with venture capital:

250.000 EUR – 1.000.000 EUR.

(2) Build MVP: Finance by family, friends, angel investors.

50.000 EUR – 250.000 EUR.
 FROM BUSINESSPLAN TO PITCH BOOK
From the beginning of your startup it is important to get your financial numbers right!

Finance is the language of business!!

A business plan including a strong financial paragraph is called a “pith book”. This pitch book is needed
to convince investors to participate. Investors can be: angel investors or venture capitalists. But also for
example: The Crowd (crowdfunding).
 FROM BUSINESSPLAN TO PITCH BOOK
Pitch book =
• Business plan (max 10 A4/ PP slides)
• Plus financial paragraph (excell sheet, including explanation)

Components of the financial paragraph:

• Estimated profit & loss statement;
• Estimated cash flow statement;
• Estimated balance sheet.
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
• For your startup the most important thing concerning financing is to make an
estimate of sales!!!
• Moreover, you need to estimate the costs that come along.

Therefore we need to come up with:

1. Estimations for sales of your product or service;
2. Estimations for the production costs or buy in costs for your product or service;
3. Estimations for the marketing costs;
4. Estimations for the overhead costs.
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
Making estimates is very difficult since we cannot
predict the future! And unfortunately in business
we do not have a crystal ball to predict the future
L.

That is why with making estimates of the profit &

loss statement one speaks of an “educated guess”
J.
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
So how do you make an educated guess for the P&L ??
Start with the 4 P’s of marketing. It’s an old marketing tool BUT effective !!
*The business model canvas is even more effective, use this when you have a little more time
J.

1. Product: What product or service do you sell?

2. Price: Which sales price do you use?
3. Place: By which channels do you sell your product
or service?
4. How do you promote/ market your product or
service in each channel?
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
1. Product
Which product or service do you sell ??

Think about:
• What problem do you solve for the consumer? And why do you do that?
• Who are the competitors?
• How big is your potential market?
• What are the biggest risks? Are there product liability risks?
• Do you have the intellectual property of the product?
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
2. Price

• Which sales prices do you use (per channel) ?? And why ??

• Use average sales prices for your calculations.

• Moreover, what are the cost prices for your products or

services ?
• Also use average cost prices for your calculations.

• At last, notice your average margins per product or service.

ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
3. Place

• Through which channels are you going to sell your product

or service ?
• How many products or service do you expect to sell
through each channel ?
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
4. Promotion

• Which marketing efforts do you use in each sales channel in

order to get sales for your product or service?
• What are the costs for these marketing tools?
• What are the “conversion rates” for these marketing tools?

• Do the same for your sales effort !

• What are the costs for the sales efforts?
• What are the “conversion rates” for the sales efforts?
 ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
This is a brilliant book to read in order to market/ promote the product or
service of your startup.

Every startup entrepreneurs want ”traction” which means that your

product is “picked up” by potential customers. This in the form of for
example website visits, app downloads and preferably hard sales (real sales
numbers).

• “traction and product development are of equal importance and should each
get about half of your attention.This is what we call the 50% rule: Spend 50%
of your time on product and 50% on “traction” (Weinberg & Mares, 2015)
• Most businesses actually get zero distribution channels to work. Poor
distribution, NOT PRODUCT, is the number one cause of failure (Weinberg &
Mares, 2015).
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
Now that you know your marketing basis:

Make estimation for sales in all your sales channels.

Use conversion rates for ALL your marketing and sales

tools, like:

• Sales through website;

• Sales through direct selling;
• Sales through shop;
• Sales through use of influencers;
• Sales through expose on business fare;
• Etc. etc. etc.
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
So when estimating SALES ALWAYS REFER TO “CONVERSION RATES” !!!!

DO THIS FOR ALL YOUR SALES AND MARKETING TOOLS IN ORDER TO

MAKE AN:
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
Now, how do you come up with the right conversion rates ?

-You will get the right conversion rates by doing research yourself. This can be field research
or desk research (e.g. read papers in your branch).
-But also do not forget to speak with other ”experts” like:

• Other entrepreneurs;
• Your accountant;
• Your lawyer;
• Your finance consultant;
• Your coach;
• Your banker;
• Your branch specialist;
• Etc. etc.
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
• And then when you know your stuff, make estimations for the estimated sales.
• Even with carefully looking at “conversion rates” one can not be 100% sure, that is
why we usually make 3 possible scenario’s:
ESTIMATED PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT
Now we are almost ready to construct our estimated profit & loss statement.

But we need to look at a few extra costs/ investments:

• Do we need a building? And if yes what is the rent?

• Do we need a team? What do the salaries cost?
• What does research & development cost?
• What are the transport costs?
EXAMPLE
Now let’s apply all we have learned in an easy example:

As I told you my biggest passion is scuba diving J. Let’s assume that your startup
will distribute the “Triton Oxygen Respirator” (diving without an air tank) in The
Netherlands!

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
Now let’s look at the business:

1. Product

The product is quiet clear.

We are going to sell the “Triton Oxygen Respirator” (diving without an air tank) in
The Netherlands. The product is bought in from the Korean producer.

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
2. Price

• Let’s assume that you can buy in the product for 750 EUR
excl vat;
• The product will be sold to (dive-)shops for 1.000 EUR excl
vat (indirect channel);
• The consumer pays 1.250 EUR for the product excl vat;
• When the product is directly sold to the consumer you will
receive 1.250 excl vat (direct channel).

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
3. Place

Let’s assume that you are going to sell the product through 2
channels:

1. Online: Direct sales to the consumer;

2. Through selected shops: Indirect to the consumer.

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
4. Promotion

Let’s assume that you are going to use the following

promotion “tools”:

1. A sales manager to sell to the selected shops;

2. Use of “influencers” to sell online.

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
The business
Manufacturer of the
TOR

Buy in price 750 EUR Sales price direct to consumers 1.250 EUR
YOUR STARTUP

Influencers
Sales price to shops 1.000 EUR

Shop 1 Shop 2 Shop 3

Consumers Consumers Consumers Consumers

Price to consumers 1.250 EUR

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
Now make assumptions:

1. How many shops will you get as a customer?

2. How many products will you sell in each shop that is a
customer?
3. How many influencers will you use?
4. How many sales will come forth out of the influencers?

Therefore, you have to make calculations !!

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
Example 1: Hiring a sales manager/ account manager

1. A sales manager/ account manger will cost you about 90.000 EUR a year
(including car, petrol, laptop etc.);
2. He or she will work 1600 hours a year (40 weeks of 40 hours);
3. 75% of his or her time, he or she is visiting customer. A customer visit will take 4
hours including travel time;
4. After 3 customer visits you will have a new customer. The success rate is 10%.

To come with the above “conversion rates” use common sense AND input of experts
(entrepreneurs, consultants, senior managers etc. etc.)
*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
Example 1: Hiring a sales manager/ account manager

5. 75% * 1600 hours = 1200 hours visiting customers;

6. 1200/ 4 hours = 300 customer visits every year;
7. 300 visits/ 3 visits needed = 100 full sales cycles every year;
8. 100 full sales cycles * 10% success rate = about 10 new customers per account
manager.

To come up with the above “conversion rates” use common sense AND input of experts
(entrepreneurs, consultants, senior managers etc. etc.)
*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
Example 2: Make us of an influencer

1. An influencer will cost you 25.000 EUR per year;

2. A specific influencer will reach 100.000 people;
3. 0,5 % will be persuaded every year,
4. 100.000 * 0,5 % = 500 sales every year (non repetitive for this kind of product)

To come up with the above “conversion rates” use common sense AND input of experts
(entrepreneurs, consultants, senior managers etc. etc.)

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
So, for every sales tool or marketing tool that you use make an estimate for sales !!
Hereby, you need to show your calculations.

Always link marketing efforts to sales numbers !!

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
Estimates for the shop sales
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Accountmanager 1: New shops "won" 10 10 10 10 10
Accountmanager 2: New shops "won" 0 0 10 10 10
Total shops "won" 10 10 20 20 20

Number of shops that sell the "Triton Oxygen Respirator" 10 20 40 60 80

Products sold per month (on average)* 2 2,5 3 3,5 4

Products sold per year per shop 24 30 36 42 48

Total sales for the shops per year 240 600 1.440 2.520 3.840

Sales price to shops € 1.000 € 1.000 € 1.000 € 1.000 € 1.000

Buy in price € 750 € 750 € 750 € 750 € 750

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Turnover shops € 240.000 € 600.000 € 1.440.000 € 2.520.000 € 3.840.000
Buy in price € 180.000 € 450.000 € 1.080.000 € 1.890.000 € 2.880.000
Margin (25%) € 60.000 € 150.000 € 360.000 € 630.000 € 960.000
*speak to entrepreneurs, experts (bankers, consultants etc), shopkeepers etc etc to make the assumption

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
EXAMPLE
Estimates for the direct sales
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Sales influencer 1* 500 500 500 500 500
Sales influencer 2* 500 500 500
Total sales 500 500 1.000 1.000 1.000

Sales price direct to customer € 1.250 € 1.250 € 1.250 € 1.250 € 1.250

Buy in price € 750 € 750 € 750 € 750 € 750

Turnover direct sales € 625.000 € 625.000 € 1.250.000 € 1.250.000 € 1.250.000

Buy in price € 375.000 € 375.000 € 750.000 € 750.000 € 750.000
Margin (40%) € 250.000 € 250.000 € 500.000 € 500.000 € 500.000
*The yearly sales in non repetitive for this kind of product. The customers only needs 1 product.

*the product really exists, but is still under development. All the
assumptions made in this example are fictive.
 EXAMPLE 2017 2018
Note year 2017: costs go before earnings !!
2019 2020 2021 2022
Turnover shops € 240.000 € 600.000 € 1.440.000 € 2.520.000 € 3.840.000
Turnover direct sales € 625.000 € 625.000 € 1.250.000 € 1.250.000 € 1.250.000
Total turnover 0 € 865.000 € 1.225.000 € 2.690.000 € 3.770.000 € 5.090.000

Costs of good sold (COGS) € 555.000 € 825.000 € 1.830.000 € 2.640.000 € 3.630.000

Margin 0 € 310.000 € 400.000 € 860.000 € 1.130.000 € 1.460.000
Estimated P&L
36% 33% 32% 30% 29%

Accountmanager 1 € 90.000 € 90.000 € 90.000 € 90.000 € 90.000 € 90.000

Fixed costs:
Accountmanager 2 € 90.000 € 90.000 € 90.000 € 90.000
Influencer 1 € 25.000 € 25.000 € 25.000 € 25.000 € 25.000 € 25.000
Influencer 2 € 25.000 € 25.000 € 25.000 € 25.000 -Almost all costs are
Warehouse employee 1 € 30.000 € 30.000 € 30.000 € 30.000 € 30.000 fixed !!
Warehouse employee 2 € 30.000 € 30.000 € 30.000
General costs € 10.000 € 10.000 € 10.000 € 10.000 € 10.000
Rent for warehouse € 25.000 € 25.000 € 50.000 € 50.000 € 50.000 -Fixed costs need to
Transport costs € 10.000 € 10.000 € 20.000 € 20.000 € 20.000
Total costs € 115.000 € 190.000 € 305.000 € 370.000 € 370.000 € 370.000
be paid out of your
margin !!!
EBITDA € (115.000) € 120.000 € 95.000 € 490.000 € 760.000 € 1.090.000
Depreciation 0 0 0 0 0
EBIT € (115.000) € 120.000 € 95.000 € 490.000 € 760.000 € 1.090.000

Corporate taks € 30.000 € 23.750 € 122.500 € 190.000 € 272.500

Net profit € (115.000) € 90.000 € 71.250 € 367.500 € 570.000 € 817.500
*de not forget that costs of accountmanager and influencers are taken already one year before the actual sales !!
**Losses can be used in later years to lower corporate taks. In this case this is NOT taken into account, but is still a benefit for the startup entrepreneur.
EXAMPLE
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Stock (10% of yearly COGS) 55.500 82.500 183.000 264.000 363.000

Yearly increase in stock (cash out) 55.500 27.000 156.000 108.000 255.000

Accounts receivable (1 month for shop sales*) 20.000 50.000 120.000 210.000 320.000
Yearly increase in accounts receivable (cash out) 20.000 30.000 90.000 120.000 200.000

*Assumption: the shops pay the bill one month later. De direct sales consumers pay direct.
**Assumption: when buying in the product one needs to pay direct.

Working capital (money that will be “put” in accounts receivable and stock) needs to be assessed.
EXAMPLE
The cash flow statement
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

EBIT € (115.000) € 120.000 € 95.000 € 490.000 € 760.000 € 1.090.000

Depreciation € - € - € - € - € - € -
Corporate taks € - € 30.000 € 23.750 € 122.500 € 190.000 € 272.500
Cash flow out of operational activities € (115.000) € 90.000 € 71.250 € 367.500 € 570.000 € 817.500

Investments
Investments in development of the platform € 50.000
Increasing sales receivables € 20.000 € 30.000 € 90.000 € 120.000 € 200.000
Increasing stock of products € 55.500 € 27.000 € 156.000 € 108.000 € 255.000
Total investments € 50.000 € 75.500 € 57.000 € 246.000 € 228.000 € 455.000

Cash in/ cash out € (165.000) € 14.500 € 14.250 € 121.500 € 342.000 € 362.500

Starting position cash € (165.000) € (165.000) € (150.500) € (136.250) € (14.750) € 327.250

Ending position cash € (165.000) € (150.500) € (136.250) € (14.750) € 327.250 € 689.750

• 50.000 investments are for product testing, checking liability risks, building sales platform etc.
• In year 2021 the company is cash positive.
EXAMPLE
The cash flow statement

Net profit & cash flow

€1.000.000
Cash flow stays behind
€800.000
due to massive
€600.000
investments in working
€400.000 capital:
€200.000

€- -Stock.
€(200.000)
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 -Accounts receivable.
€(400.000)

Net profit Cash in/ cash out

EXAMPLE
• According to these calculations. This company needs about 165.000 EUR to start.
• But you would be wise to calculate 3 scenario’s.
• Also calculate a worst case scenario. It is interesting to see how much money is needed in
case things do not work out well in the start.
• Also take the worst case scenario into account when you are collecting investments.
REAL CASE EXAMPLE
Read the case of startup “Stocker” that will be handed
out shortly. Moreover, use the excel template provided.

Team up in groups of 3 persons.

Work out how much capital is needed for this startup !!

Goodluck! You have 45 minutes.

KEY TAKE AWAYS
Now that you understand the basics:

• Every business case/ model is different. Always use common sense

when estimating the financial numbers. Think in ”cash”: When do
you expect for cash to flow into the company and when do you
expect it to flow out of the company?
• Always use “conversion rates” to estimate sales, other wise your
estimate is worth noting;
• Make a worst case scenario, and take this into account when
collecting investments.

Goodluck, do not be afraid to first construct the estimated numbers

yourself! And only in a later stage get it checked by a professional!
END OF WORKSHOP
Any questions ?

Any questions in the future do not hesitate to contact me at:

[email protected]
OTHER TRAINING/ WORKSHOPS
Financeyourstartup.com provides the following training sessions/ workshops:
1. Finance for startups: An introduction;
2. Finance for startups: Advanced topics;
3. Valuation for startups (what is the value of your startup);
4. Investments structuring for startups.

Any questions in the future do not hesitate to contact me at:

[email protected]
+31 (0)6 8364 0527