Venture Capital Interview Question Help?

Could someone please help me better understand this sample interview question as I try to prep for VC interviews?

A company raises $10mm at $50mm pre-money valuation. Terms are 1x participating preferred at 2x cap. This is the only capital raised. Between what range of exit valuations is an investor indifferent?

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Would recommend checking this out: https://www.theventurealley.com/2011/12/understanding-vc-financings-liq…

The investor would have 16.67% equity at the time of sale. The investor is indifferent at the exit values where returns at the 2x cap (with 1x preferred) are equal to returns on an as-converted basis to common stock (aka just 16.67% of the exit value).

For the lower bound - the 2x cap is $20M (2x the invesed capital). $10M is covered by the liquidation preference. The other $10M will covered by participation at 16.67% of the remaining equity. Thus the valuation is $10M (contributed to the liquidation preference) + 10/16.67% = $10M + $60M = $70M.

For the upper bound, the exit value is where $20M is 16.67% of that value. $20M/16.67% = $120M.

Thus the range of indifference for the investor is $70M to $120M (max returns will be $20M). Anything below $70M, the preferred/participation has the advantage on returns; anything above $120M, conversion to common stock has the advantage.

 

Alias quisquam dolor blanditiis voluptas minus. Eaque quaerat eligendi sunt nulla.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (27) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”