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Seed stage
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Series A round
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Series B round
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Bridge round
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Pros and cons of a bridge round versus a Series B round
If you are an entrepreneur looking for funding, you might have heard of venture capital stages and rounds. These are the terms that describe the different phases of investment that startups go through, from seed to exit. But what do they mean, and how do they affect your business? In this article, we will explain the basics of venture capital stages and rounds, and compare the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round.
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- Neil Thanedar 3 Startups + 1 Nonprofit. 8X Angel Investor. 4X Political Advisor. 3 Kids!
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- Devin Thorpe Champion of Social Good | Author | TV Host | Convener | The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation | CEO
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1 Seed stage
The seed stage is the earliest stage of venture capital funding, where you have an idea, a prototype, or a minimum viable product (MVP). You need money to test your product-market fit, validate your assumptions, and grow your user base. The typical sources of seed funding are angel investors, accelerators, incubators, and crowdfunding platforms. The average amount of seed funding is between $10,000 and $2 million, and the valuation of your startup is usually based on your potential, not your revenue.
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- Neil Thanedar 3 Startups + 1 Nonprofit. 8X Angel Investor. 4X Political Advisor. 3 Kids!
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There are two paths to raising your first round that work well this early:One is to find an accelerator that fits your specific thesis. There are a lot of great sector-specific accelerators like IndieBio for biotech and HAX for hard tech.The other is to go to angels in your industry (usually repeat founders/executives) and raise the first $50K-250K from one or more of them.(Y Combinator is the best accelerator when you're ready to scale from seed to Series A, but these days it's hard to get into YC before you've built something people want.)
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2 Series A round
The Series A round is the first major round of venture capital funding, where you have proven your product-market fit, generated some revenue, and achieved some traction. You need money to scale your operations, expand your team, and enter new markets. The typical sources of Series A funding are venture capital firms, corporate investors, and strategic partners. The average amount of Series A funding is between $2 million and $15 million, and the valuation of your startup is based on your revenue, growth, and market size.
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3 Series B round
The Series B round is the second major round of venture capital funding, where you have established your market position, increased your revenue, and achieved significant growth. You need money to accelerate your growth, improve your product, and acquire new customers. The typical sources of Series B funding are venture capital firms, corporate investors, and private equity firms. The average amount of Series B funding is between $10 million and $50 million, and the valuation of your startup is based on your revenue, growth, and profitability.
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4 Bridge round
A bridge round is a type of funding that is used to extend the runway of a startup until it can raise the next round of venture capital funding. It is usually a smaller amount of money than a regular round, and it is often structured as a convertible note or a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). A bridge round can be used for various reasons, such as overcoming a cash flow gap, meeting a milestone, or negotiating better terms for the next round.
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5 Pros and cons of a bridge round versus a Series B round
Raising a bridge round versus a Series B round can have different advantages and disadvantages for your startup, depending on your situation and goals. For instance, a bridge round can be faster and easier to raise than a Series B round, as it involves fewer investors, less due diligence, and simpler terms. This can save you time and resources, and allow you to focus on your core business. Additionally, a bridge round can be less dilutive than a Series B round, as it usually has a lower valuation and a higher conversion discount. However, it can also be riskier and more expensive than a Series B round, as it implies that you are not ready or able to raise a Series B round, and that you need more time and money to reach your milestones. This can signal a lack of confidence, traction, or growth to potential investors, and affect your reputation and valuation. Moreover, a bridge round can create more pressure and uncertainty for your startup, as it is usually a short-term solution, and not a guarantee of future funding. You will still need to raise a Series B round eventually, and you will have to meet higher expectations and criteria from investors, as well as deal with the conversion of your bridge round into equity.
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- Devin Thorpe Champion of Social Good | Author | TV Host | Convener | The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation | CEO
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A "community round" raised via regulated investment crowdfunding on portals like Wefunder and StartEngine can be a great alternative to a conventional bridge round.
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