Imagine that you are a venture capitalist, seeking to invest in a new company. In preparation for meetings with prospective clients, you are developing a presentation on the valuation fundamentals of a company.

In your initial discussion, include an explanation on why capital structure is so important to a company, and analyze the reasons why firms from different industries have different capital structures and valuations. Also, discuss how an investor can use leverage ratios and industry benchmarks to evaluate the financial health of a company and determine the optimal capital structure.