Funding glossary

Funding-stage glossary

Every way a startup raises money, in plain language — where it falls in a company’s journey, what the money is for, and what to watch out for. Search or browse.

• Accelerator / Incubator Round A small standardized investment plus a structured program of support.
• Acquisition One company buys another — an exit for the acquired company’s shareholders.
• Angel Round Money from wealthy individuals investing their own funds, often very early.
• Bootstrapped Growing on your own money and revenue, without outside investors.
• Bridge Round A smaller raise to “bridge” a company to its next major round or milestone.
• Convertible Note A short-term loan that converts into equity at the next priced round.
• Corporate Venture Round Investment from a large company’s venture arm, not a traditional VC fund.
• Equity Crowdfunding Raising small amounts from many people online in exchange for shares.
• Extension Round More money added to an existing round — e.g. a “seed extension.”
• Friends and Family The first small, informal money from people who know and trust the founder.
• Grant Funding Non-dilutive money — usually from governments or foundations — that need not be repaid.
• Growth Equity Large investments in already-successful companies to fuel expansion.
• IPO The first sale of a company’s shares to the public on a stock exchange.
• Merger Two companies combine into one, rather than one simply buying the other.
• Post-IPO Debt Debt raised by an already-public company.
• Post-IPO Equity Equity raised by a company after it is already public.
• Pre-IPO A late private round shortly before a company goes public.
• Pre-Seed The earliest outside money — usually to build a first version and test the idea.
• Private Equity Firms buying large or controlling stakes in established companies.
• SAFE A simple agreement giving investors future equity, with no debt or interest.
• Secondary Market Transaction Existing shares changing hands — no new money goes to the company.
• Seed Early financing to build the product and find first customers, before predictable revenue.
• Series A The round after seed — raised once there is real traction and a repeatable way to grow.
• Series B Scaling a proven business — more customers, more markets, a bigger team.
• Series C Later-stage capital to accelerate a clear winner — scale, acquire, or expand globally.
• Series D A further late-stage round — to keep scaling, fund a big move, or bridge to exit.
• Series E & Later Series E, F and beyond — additional late-stage rounds before an exit.
• Strategic Investment Money from a partner who also wants a business relationship, not just returns.
• Undisclosed Funding Round A raise whose stage or amount was not publicly announced.
• Venture Debt A loan for venture-backed startups — capital without giving up much ownership.

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