Startup Exit Strategies: IPO, M&A, Secondary, Buyout — Explained
Exits create the cash VCs return to LPs. Here are the five real exit paths, 2026 market conditions, and what each implies for founder and employee outcomes.
investor-education - VC Tracker Resources
Discover comprehensive resources and guides related to investor-education. Our comprehensive guides cover VC analysis preparation, investment resources, and practical advice for investors and analysts.
Whether you're an investor preparing for market analysis, a portfolio manager helping with investment tracking, or an analyst looking for resources, you'll find valuable insights in the articles below.
Related Articles (53 articles)
How Private Equity Actually Decides to Invest: EBITDA Multiples, DD Playbook, 2026 Benchmarks
PE firms use EBITDA multiples, quality-of-earnings analysis, and operational diligence. Here are the 2026 benchmarks by industry and the actual framework firms use.
Leveraged Buyout (LBO): How Private Equity Actually Buys Companies
An LBO uses equity + significant debt to acquire a company. Here's the capital structure, return drivers, and why LBO math defines PE returns.
Liquidation Preference, Explained: 1x, 2x, Participating vs Non-Participating
Liquidation preference is the single most important term on a VC term sheet. Here's how 1x non-participating, participating, and multi-preferences change exit payouts.
2 and 20: Management Fee and Carried Interest in VC, Explained
The '2 and 20' fee structure defines how VCs get paid. Here's how management fees, preferred returns, hurdles, and carry waterfalls actually work.
The VC Pitch Deck: The 10 Slides That Actually Matter in 2026
Your pitch deck should tell a clear, defensible story in 10–12 slides. Here's what each slide must say — and the mistakes that kill meetings.