Acronyms for Startups

Here is a listing of  startup acronyms commonly used by entrepreneurs, investors, accelerators, and others who interact with startup ventures and startup financing:

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NACO -  National Angel Capital Association
NASD -  National Association of Securities Dealers
NASDAQ -  An automated information network which provides brokers and dealers with price quotations on securities traded over the counter.3
National Angel Capital Organization -  (NACO) Canada’s analogue of the American Angel Capital Association (ACA), and a close affiliate and partner of the ACA.  See http://www.nacocanada.com for more information. 1
- Synonyms: NACO
National Association of Securities Dealers -  A mandatory association of brokers and dealers in the over- the-counter securities business. Created by the Maloney Act of 1938, an amendment to the Securities Act of 1934.3
NAV -  Net Asset Value
NDA -  Non Disclosure Agreement
Negative Control Provisions -  Terms agreed to as part of an investment round that protect investors from major adverse actions (such as dissolving the company, or selling it to someone for $1), but do not provide the right to affirmatively control the company.7
Net Asset Value -  (NAV) Calculated by adding the value of all of the investments in the fund and dividing by the number of shares of the fund that are outstanding. NAV calculations are required for all mutual funds (or open-end funds) and closed-end funds. The price per share of a closed-end fund will trade at either a premium or a discount to the NAV of that fund, based on market demand. Closed-end funds generally trade at a discount to NAV.³
- Synonyms: NAV
Net Financing Cost -  Also called the cost of carry or, simply, carry, the difference between the cost of financing the purchase of an asset and the asset’s cash yield. Positive carry means that the yield earned is greater than the financing cost; negative carry means that the financing cost exceeds the yield earned.3
Net Income -  The resulting earnings of a company after deducting all costs and expenses, including operations, general and administrative, selling, depreciation, interest expense, and taxes.6
Net Present Value -  An approach used in capital budgeting where the present value of cash inflow is subtracted from the present value of cash outflows. NPV compares the value of a dollar today versus the value of that same dollar in the future after taking inflation and return into account.3
- Synonyms: NPV
Net Worth -  The value of total assets minus total liabilities.6
New Issue -  A stock or bond offered to the public for the first time. New issues may be initial public offerings by previously private companies or additional stock or bond issues by companies already public. New public offerings are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (See Securities and Exchange Commission and Registration.)3
New York Stock Exchange - 

Founded in 1792, the largest organized securities market in the United States. The Exchange itself does not buy, sell, own, or set prices of stocks traded there. The prices are determined by public supply and demand. Also known as the Big Board.3
Newco -  The typical label for any newly organized company, particularly in the context of a leveraged buyout.3
No Shop, No Solicitation Clauses  -  A no shop, no solicitation, or exclusivity, clause requires the company to negotiate exclusively with the investor, and not solicit an investment proposal from anyone else for a set period of time after the term sheet is signed. The key provision is the length of time set for the exclusivity period.3
Non Solicitation Agreement -  An agreement under which an employee or principal agrees not to solicit their existing employer’s or company’s employees, clients or customers after departing the company either for their own benefit or that of a competitor.6
Non-Compete Agreement -  An agreement between two parties under which one party agrees not to become employed by, enter into or establish a similar business, trade or profession in competition with the other party. Such agreements typically restrict competition on a geographic basis for a certain period of time.6
- Synonyms: Restrictive Covenants
Non-Dilutive Shares -  Shares with protective rights, such that when the number of shares outstanding increase, the existing shareholders positions are protected and remain constant in terms of their percentage ownership of the company. Shares for which a financing round does not cause dilution of the existing shareholders.6
Non-Disclosure Agreement -  An NDA is a formal legal agreement between two or more parties undertaken by the parties to keep information shared or provided by one party to another confidential. NDAs are utilized where parties become privy to confidential and / or sensitive information, which the disclosing party desires not be made available to third parties or the general public. Such agreements may also include the confidentiality of the relationship in existence between the parties.6
- Synonyms: Confidentiality Agreement
Nonaccredited -  An investor not considered accredited for a Regulation D offering. (See “Accredited Investor.”)3
NPV -  Net Present Value
NRV -  Net Realizable Value
NVCA Model Documents -  A standard set of investment documents for a Series A equity investment round developed by a group of most of the major venture law firms for the National Venture Capital Association.7
NYSE -  The New York Stock Exchange.