Series A / B / C Funding
Series Rounds
Sequential rounds of institutional venture capital funding as a startup grows.
Definition
Venture funding rounds are labeled sequentially: Seed (initial capital to validate an idea), Series A (first institutional round to scale a proven model, typically $3–15M), Series B (scale operations and go-to-market, typically $15–50M), Series C and beyond (scale aggressively, geographic expansion, or pre-IPO). Each round dilutes existing shareholders and brings new investors with board representation and governance rights.
Why It Matters
Each round has distinct expectations for metrics, team size, and product maturity. Raising Series A without typical Series A metrics is exceptionally difficult. Understanding what investors expect at each stage prevents misaligned fundraising strategies that waste months of founder time.
Example
Series A investors typically want to see $1–3M ARR, strong NRR, and clear evidence of a repeatable sales motion.