Startup Fundraising: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about raising funding for your startup. From deciding when to raise to closing your first round and beyond.
Funding Stages Overview
| Stage | Typical Amount | Purpose | Typical Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-seed | $50K-500K | MVP & initial validation | Angels, Friends & Family |
| Seed | $500K-2M | Product-market fit | Seed VCs, Angels |
| Series A | $2M-15M | Scale product & team | Venture Capital |
| Series B | $15M-50M | Accelerate growth | Growth VCs |
| Series C+ | $50M+ | Market dominance | Late-stage VCs, PE |
Fundraising Topics by Category
Funding Basics
Understand startup funding fundamentals
Investor Types
Know your funding sources
Pitch & Presentation
Win over investors
Funding Rounds
Navigate funding stages
Legal & Terms
Understand deal structure
Team & Equity
Build and compensate your team
Key Metrics Investors Look For
$1M+
ARR for Series A
Most VCs want to see at least $1M ARR before Series A
3:1+
LTV:CAC Ratio
Unit economics should show 3x return on customer acquisition
15-20%
MoM Growth
Early-stage startups should show strong month-over-month growth
Prepare Your Startup for Fundraising
Calculate your funding needs and runway with our free calculators. Get the numbers investors want to see.