As a founder equity tends to be one of the most cherished assets at your startup.  I’ve now been involved in a healthy volume of equity related startup equations (~10), I’ve participated in some and passed on others (I’m passing more these days).  One founder miss talent opportunities due to unwillingness to distribute real equity (he complained how hard he has worked to get to this point). For many of us, it is ONE of the drivers of entrepreneurship – to own our businesses and have a shot at real wealth creation (wealth is different than rich – you can get rich in corporate America). 

Last week, I was on a panel with other investors discussing the “do’s� and “don’ts� of angel and venture capital investing some one from the audience fired a series of intriguing compounded questions � why are the VC’s so illusive?, � All valid questions and valid statements – the event made me think that entrepreneurs view of the equity investment community is entirely different than that of the inner circle and this mismatch of perceptions is not disruptive and unhealthy. why don’t they have all their information available? Why don’t they disclose how

They are usually offered around 0.25% of the companies equity in exchange for their role and I’ve seen many companies hand out a total of 2% to advisers. My main advice to you if you’re considering it is don’t waste much equity on it. But I would argue that you can develop relationships with many advisers, mentors and VCs that will help with introductions for no equity.  This is part of my ongoing series Startup Advice .  Many startup companies hire advisory boards. 

Santa Monica-based SharesPost.com , which recently launched a marketplace for private company shares, said Wednesday that the firm has inked a deal with Advanced Equities. Tags: sharespost advanced equities private placement venture capita According to the firm, AEI brokers will be available to assist SharesPost members who need help marketing the shares in private companies; the deal also allows clients of AEI to have better control over resale of shares on SharesPost's bulletin board. The firms said they expect to offer approximately $150M worth of private placements from AEI at launch.

La Jolla-based private equity firm JMI Equity has scored a major win, as Computer Associates said Wednesday afternoon that it would acquire portfolio firm Nimsoft , a maker of IT management software. JMI Equity's Peter Arrowsmith represents JMI Equity on Nimsoft's board; Nimsoft had raised only around $22M in capital from JMI--the original Series A investor in the firm--Goldman Sachs, and Northzone Ventures. ...Tags: CA said it would pay $350M for Nimsoft, which is based in the Bay area. Tags: equity private nimsoft merger acquisition venture cap

Los Angeles-based SolarReserve, a developer of utility scale renewable energy solar power plants, has scored an investment from Argonaut Private Equity. SolarReserve recently raised $140M in a funding round from Citi, Credit Suisse, Good Energies, Nimes Capital, PCG Clean Energy & Technology Fund, and US Renewables Grou Argonaut said Thursday it is expanding its stake in SolarReserve, but did not detail the amount of the additional investment in the firm. SolarReserve is developing thermal solar energy plants based on molten salt and heliostats.

Los Angeles-based venture fund Craton Equity Partners announced today that it has led an investment in Sacramento-based Propel Fuels , a retailer of alternative fuels for motor vehicles. Propel raised $12M in equity and $8M in debt in its funding round, which it says will go to expand its network of stations in California. ...Tags: Tags: craton equity partners biofuel propel Propel runs a number of alternative fueling stations in both Seattle and Sacramento selling biofuels and E85 ethanol. Craton said it invested $8M in Propel, alongside Nth Power and @Ventures.

Irvine-based loanDepot.com said today that it has launched an online, mortgage marketplace with backing from private equity firm Parthenon Capital Partners. The firm did not disclose financial details behind the deal, which was brokered by Milestone Capital. Tags: loandepot private equity parthenon capital partners financial mortgage loan home realestat loanDepot.com is headed by Anthony Hsieh, who founded E*TRADE Mortgage and LendingTree Loans. According to loanDepot.com, the new site will help consumers to research real estate loans, providing education, loan

The mysterious private equity firms in a bidding war for Santa Ana-based MSC Software are Vector Capital and Golden Gate Capital, according to a report from TheDeal, citing sources close to the negotiation efforts. group of unnamed, private equity firm have been bidding against Symphony Technology Group to gain control of MSC, which makes simulation software used to develop and test product designs. A The latest bid on MSC.Software was on Tuesday, when the undisclosed group of private equity firms offered $8.50

Los Angeles-based Vicente Capital Partners said Wednesday that the investment fund has raised $150M for the firm's Growth Equity Fund. The firm said its new fund will invest between $5M and $15M in equity in expansion capital or buyout deals, to companies who have $2M to $25M in revenues and up to $5M in EBITDA. Limited partners in the new fund include CalPERS, Fairview Capital, JP Morgan Asset Mgmt. & Affiliates, LACERS, LA Fire and Police Pensions, New Mexico ERB, New Mexico State Investment Council, New York Common and Teachers' Retirement System (IL). The