Funding
What's Your Ownership Stake Really Worth?
Founders obsess over ownership percentage. Wrong metric. Your 20% stake could be worthless if the preference stack is too high.
Funding
Funding
Navigating the 2025 Startup Valuation Reset
1 in 5 venture rounds since 2023 has been a down round. A down round isn't failure. It's a strategic reset, reflecting a market that has fundamentally changed and now demands stronger fundamentals.
Funding
The Series A Squeeze: This is What a Tighter Fundraise Environment Looks Like
In 2020, 39% of SaaS startups raised a Series A within 2 years of their seed round. That number has now fallen to just 13%. This is what the Series A squeeze looks like.
Funding
Q1 VC Fundraising Tracks to Decade Low
VC fundraising hit a decade low pace in Q1 2025 ($10.0B via 87 funds). For founders, this signals one of the toughest fundraising climates in years. Your metrics should be undeniable. Prepare for a marathon, not a sprint.
Funding
When 71.1% of VC Dollars Go to One Sector, You Pay Attention
71.1% of all VC deal value last quarter went to AI. If you're building here, focus on PMF, not hype. If you're not in AI, fundraising keeps getting harder—your story needs to be sharper than ever.
Funding
The Holiday Fundraising Trap – What Founders Should Do Now
Thinking about launching your fundraise now? November & December are the worst months to start, with just 6.4% of deals closing in January. Here's what you should do.
Funding
Time Is Killing Venture Returns
As an investment vehicle for LPs, venture capital is broken. As a founder, you need to understand this dynamic. Choose your investors wisely.
Funding
Why Longer Fundraising Cycles Are Good for Startups
It's taking longer to raise a round of venture funding. This is a healthy change. Let me explain why.
Funding
Valuation Makes The Headlines – Liquidation Preferences Allocate The Cash
Why do some startups, despite raising over $100 million and achieving unicorn status, end up with little to show for it? The startup press and many founders are obsessed with valuation. But that can be a trap. During a liquidation event, the most important factor is how the cash is
Funding
🪤 Avoid the SAFE Note Dilution Trap
SAFEs are fast and inexpensive to use. That’s a feature and a bug. Too many founders overuse SAFEs and end up in a dilution trap. * Carta recently released its Q1 2024 State of Pre-seed report. It's the perfect opportunity to review the current state of SAFE notes
Funding
How To Steer Your Startup Through The VC Shakeout
Are your current venture investors acting strange? Did they seem more nervous and jumpy at your last board meeting? Are you concerned that you’re suddenly not all on the same page? Venture funds are under a lot of pressure right now. This has implications for your startup as you
Funding
Are You Growing Fast Enough?
2023 is in the books. Your 2024 budget is sitting in front of you. The start of a new year is the perfect time to reassess whether your startup is still on the venture path. Here is a simple question: Is your revenue growth strong enough to attract a round