Intermediate finance
J-Curve
The pattern of initial losses or decline before growth - common in VC fund returns, startup unit economics, and post-investment metrics.
#venture-capital
14 results
Glossary
Beginner fundraising
Seed Round
A seed round is a startup's first institutional funding, used to validate the product, build the core team, and reach the traction needed for a Series A.
Intermediate fundraising
Series A
A Series A is the first major priced VC round, raised after a startup shows product-market fit and consistent growth. It funds scaling the go-to-market engine.
Intermediate fundraising
Series B Round
Series B is a growth-stage VC round that funds scaling a proven business. Typically requires $8–15M ARR, 80%+ YoY growth, and NRR above 110%.
Intermediate fundraising
Series C
A Series C is a later-stage funding round for startups with proven revenue, used to scale into new markets, acquire competitors, or prepare for an IPO.
Intermediate finance
Unicorn
A unicorn is a privately held startup valued at $1 billion or more. The term was coined by VC Aileen Lee in 2013 to describe this rare class of company.
Beginner fundraising
Y Combinator
The world's most influential startup accelerator - launched Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, and 4,000+ companies since 2005. Known as YC.
Guides
Intermediate fundraising
16 min How to Raise a Seed Round
A practical, step-by-step guide to raising a seed round: what to prepare, how to run the process, and how to close.
Articles
Intermediate ai
11 min AI Startup Fundraising
What investors actually look for when funding AI startups in 2025-2026 - the metrics, questions, and red flags that determine who gets funded.
Intermediate fundraising
14 min The Anatomy of a Series A Round
What a Series A actually requires in 2024–25: the metrics, the process, the timeline, and what investors are really evaluating.
Intermediate fundraising
13 min Bootstrapping vs. VC Funding
VC or bootstrap? The answer depends on your market, your ambitions, and what you're willing to trade. Here's how to decide.
Intermediate fundraising
15 min The Startup Fundraising Process
The fundraising process is opaque by design. This article maps every phase - from prep to close - so you can run it like an operator.
Beginner fundraising
11 min What Is Venture Capital?
How venture capital works - VC fund structure, what investors look for, fund economics, dilution, and whether VC is the right path for your startup.
Intermediate fundraising
12 min What VCs Look for in a Startup
VCs say they back great teams in big markets. The reality is more specific - and more useful. Here's the actual framework seed investors use to decide.