03) VC Explain Layer

Step 3: make finance and IM language decision-ready.

Step 3 decodes finance language for investment decisions.

VC Term Decoder

TermMeaning
RevenueTotal top-line sales before costs.
COGSDirect costs to deliver products/services.
Gross ProfitRevenue minus COGS.
Gross MarginGross Profit divided by Revenue.
SG&ASelling, general and administrative overhead.
EBITEarnings before interest and taxes.
EBITDAEBIT plus depreciation/amortization.
Net IncomeProfit after all costs including tax and financing.
Net DebtDebt minus cash.
Net CashCash exceeds debt.
EVEnterprise value (equity plus net debt).
EV/EBITDAValuation multiple vs operating cash earnings proxy.
MOICMultiple on invested capital.
IRRAnnualized return over holding period.
ROICReturn on invested capital.
FCFFree cash flow after capex and operating needs.
Working CapitalCash tied in receivables, inventory, payables.
QoEQuality of earnings: repeatability and reliability.