What are the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round? (2024)

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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!

    What are the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round? (3) 1

  • Devin Thorpe Champion of Social Good | Author | TV Host | Convener | The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation | CEO

    What are the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round? (5) 1

What are the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round? (6) What are the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round? (7) What are the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round? (8)

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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    What are the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round? (17) 1

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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Entrepreneurship What are the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round? (27)

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What are the pros and cons of raising a bridge round versus a Series B round? (2024)

FAQs

What are the pros and cons of raising 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.

When to raise a series B? ›

Company Growth

Naturally, investors want to review company growth year-over-year (YOY). Typically, Series B VCs like to see the company growing at 50% or more YOY Leonard says. This goal might seem somewhat hefty, but meeting this milestone isn't such a tall order when the above three parameters are in place.

Is a bridge round bad? ›

While bridge rounds often carry negative connotations—such as implying the company is in financial trouble—that is not always the case. Bridge rounds might also provide an interim cash infusion to capitalize on rapid growth or prepare for an IPO.

How much revenue do you need to raise a series B? ›

How much revenue do you need to raise a Series B? There is no hard and fast rule, but most companies generate at least $5 million in revenue before they are ready for a Series B investment. Usually, this number is much higher, and they should show growth month-over-month.

What is the average Series B funding? ›

A Series B round is usually between $7 million and $10 million. Companies can expect a valuation between $30 million and $60 million. Series B funding usually comes from venture capital firms, often the same investors who led the previous round.

How much equity do you give away in Series B? ›

Seed round dilution: 20% (or more if you need more money) Series A round dilution: 20% Series B round dilution: 15% Series C round dilution: 10 to 15%

What is the failure rate after Series B? ›

According to research, the chance of failing for a startup past Series B is about 1%. Most Series B startups are valued between $30 million and $60 million. For context, the average Series F startup is valued around $400 million.

How long does a round of bridge last? ›

Club and Tournament Games

A round can range from 21 to 24 minutes, averaging about 7 to 8 minutes per hand. Some hands will take longer, some hands less time. At the end of the round, the person managing the game (called the Director) tells everyone to move to the next table. More on Duplicate Bridge later.

What is the difference between a bridge round and a priced round? ›

A bridge round is extra money a company raises between priced rounds. One of the company's current investors will often lead the bridge round, which is an unpriced round of financing.

What is the weakest point of a bridge? ›

What is the weakest part of a bridge? there can not be weakest and strongest points in a structure , the mid span is the region where there will be maximum load.

What is a good arr for series B? ›

Our perspective. ICONIQ Growth often begins partnering with companies between $1m and $10m ARR, generally considered Series B investing.

Is it hard to get Series B funding? ›

Series B funding can be a great way to take your startup to the next level. But it's important to remember that it's not easy money. You'll need to have a strong plan and track record to secure the funding, and you'll need to use it wisely to ensure that your company continues to grow.

How long does it take to raise Series B funding? ›

Your financing decisions should be based on your company's specific circ*mstances and needs, as well as market conditions. After closing a Series A round, startups typically wait two years before raising their Series B.

Who is the most active investor in the Series B? ›

Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst and Khosla Ventures were the most-active U.S. investors leading Series A and B rounds globally in the first half of 2024. The three topped a list of 13 investors that made seven or more early-stage investments.

What do investors look for in series B? ›

What do investors look for in a Series B investment round? A scalable business strategy, consistent revenue growth, shown traction, and evident market validation are what investors in Series B funds want. They need well-thought-out plans for how the money will be used as well as comprehensive financial estimates.

How risky is it to join a series B startup? ›

A lot more earlier stage companies (including Series B) are not going to make it. You got to take some risk to make big money, but the level of risk is elevated and the number of huge outcomes are going to be dramatically lower so that should be a part of the math.

Is Series B early or late stage? ›

Series B is often led by many of the same characters as the earlier round, including a key anchor investor that helps to draw in other investors. The difference with Series B is the addition of a new wave of other venture capital firms specializing in later-stage investing.

When should a company raise Series A? ›

How to determine the right time to raise Series A
  1. Sign #1: You have strong month-on-month (MoM) traction. ...
  2. Sign #2: You have a network of investors who are actively interested in your startup. ...
  3. Sign #3: You have an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $1-5 million or otherwise significant growth.

Is it hard to get series B funding? ›

Series B funding can be a great way to take your startup to the next level. But it's important to remember that it's not easy money. You'll need to have a strong plan and track record to secure the funding, and you'll need to use it wisely to ensure that your company continues to grow.

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