When is Convertible Debt Preferable to Equity Financing a Startup - Dan Street

In Chapter 10 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares why he chose to raise convertible debt financing over equity. He shares the pros and cons of each. Convertible debt benefits include structure flexibility and faster time to close. Convertible debt does not provide investor assurance they will own a piece of the company. Street notes the next time he approaches fundraising he would be more open going the equity route. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.