Pre-money valuation (PMV) is an estimated value of a company/asset before it receives external funding or investment. This valuation helps determine the share price and the ownership percentage that new investors will receive in exchange for their investment.
Companies discuss pre-money valuation during funding rounds, such as seed funding, venture capital investments, or private equity placements.
The formula for calculating the PMV is
Post-Money Valuation = Pre-Money Valuation + Investment Amount
To find pre-money valuation:
Pre-Money Valuation = Post-Money - Investment Amount
PMV helps understand the amount of ownership the existing shareholders will retain after onboarding new investors. The dilution of ownership is a key consideration in these transactions.
It is a critical point of negotiation between entrepreneurs and investors. A higher PMV is favorable for existing owners as it has less dilution of their ownership stake.
It affects investment terms, such as the number of shares to be issued to new investors and the percentage of ownership they will acquire.
Helps determine company's value, helping to benchmark against industry standards and comparable companies.
Without external funding, businesses tend to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively, often leading to leaner operations.
It affects fundraising rounds in the future as it sets a precedent for the company’s valuation graph.
Market conditions
Company’s performance
Competition
Intellectual property
Management team