View from Seed

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

Warning – this assumes some basic knowledge of VC performance metrics. Early-stage valuations are up 70%, and late-stage valuations are up 103% (source Pitchbook ). Seed investors are being compensated for the risk because later-stage investors are paying higher prices, and diluting early-stage investors less.

Valuation 156

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Distribution Early Stage 156

Austin Startup

AUGUST 30, 2018

So while the number of dollars pouring into Austin may be increasing, that metric is only favorable to businesses that warrant those sized-rounds. Of these rounds, nearly every one was classified as a Series B or later-stage round, with the exception of a few debt and equity financing rounds. What does this information mean?

Austin 48

Austin Early Stage San Francisco Later Stage 48

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 17, 2018

." Revenue doesn't pay your bills, GM does  —  @msuster 2/ Founders obsess with revenue as a vanity metric. Payback periods on customer acquisition way more important to you in the near-term. Some even grow "bad" revenue just to show growth. Ultimately it matters a great deal.

Founder 242

Founder Dilution Software Review Later Stage 242

cdixon.org

AUGUST 3, 2012

For consumer startups with transactional models, e.g. e-commerce, the number of users required is often far lower because revenue is the more important metric. Hence, many early-stage consumer startups are switching to transactional models. - VCs are increasingly focusing on B2B for early-stage investments.

Bridge Financing 86

Bridge Financing Early Stage Valuation Later Stage 86

Berkonomics

MARCH 31, 2016

We can invent lots of metrics to measure progress for a leader, including revenue, profit, employee satisfaction, cost containment, percentage of available market, and more. There are many roads to Rio, so they say. But there is one overwhelming method of appraising the effectiveness of a business leader.

Later Stage 48

Later Stage Early Stage Valuation Acquisition 48

K9 Ventures

OCTOBER 10, 2017

If the Micro-VCs are looking for Series A-like metrics, what does a company do when it’s just getting started? In order for a company to attract a full Seed round ($2M – $3M), that company needs to show an almost completed product, an advanced prototype, or some kind of traction/demand metrics. Series A is the new Series B. (~6M-$15M

Seed Stage 82

Seed Stage Finance Later Stage Equity 82

ConversionXL

JUNE 2, 2022

For 90% of companies , the top goal for ABM is new business generation— new clients, new contracts, new logo acquisition, etc. Does your company clearly understand current CAC , LTV, CAC payback period, and other core growth metrics? For example, if one new acquisition is worth $10K, a pilot win could be 20 new acquisitions for $200K.

Customer 98

Customer Marketing Channel Acquisition 98

Feld Thoughts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

If private capital is no longer available in the future, these companies will seek a public offering or acquisition. “Indeed, contrary to Kupor’s argument at the Rosewood, it is this later-stage investing—with its shortage of regulation, tremendous envy, and Schadenfreude—that worries many bubble-watchers. “We

Liquidation Preference 70

Liquidation Preference Burn Rate Balance Sheet .Net 70

This is going to be BIG.

MARCH 30, 2015

Instead of paid acquisition fueling an up and to the right hockey stick, these companies would grow organically. Retention, referral and growth hacking experts would be in high demand, asked to squeeze blood from a stone in order to grow a userbase without paid acquisition. Each month, they''d tick up just a little bit.

Hockey Stick 60

Hockey Stick Valuation Startup Maryland 60

David Teten

DECEMBER 3, 2019

Data companies focused on early-stage startups include Aingel , fundsUP , Preseries , PredictLeads , and Sploda. Later stage investors are using for sourcing private company marketplace services focused on more established companies, listed below under “Step 11: Exit”. They read reviews of the products of target investments.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review Software Review Analytics Private Equity 78

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 24, 2017

While 20th century metrics were revenue and profit, today it’s common for companies to get acquired for their user base. Facebook’s ~$20 billion acquisition of WhatsApp, a 5-year-old startup that had $10 million in revenue, made no sense until you realized that Facebook was paying to acquire 300 million new users.).

Founder 245

Founder Technical Review CTO Hire IPO 245

Duct Tape Marketing

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

17:16] Is there a small set of metrics that you rely on? [19:43] It is in a way, because I think your core acquisition person that says these tools for this much and they know what those tools are. Is there a small set of metrics that you rely on as. We are responsible for bringing in new user acquisition, right.

SEO 85

SEO Channel Campaign Audience 85

Duct Tape Marketing

JANUARY 4, 2023

17:16] Is there a small set of metrics that you rely on? [19:43] John Jantsch (16:58): Yeah, you, I think you can almost make a case for saying it's targeting It is in a way because I think your core acquisition person that says this tools for this much and they know what those tools are, right? They want a path to grow themselves.

SEO 87

SEO Audience Channel Campaign 87

Austin Startup

JUNE 26, 2019

We tried, and opted out of, potentials for pivots; we pitched for game-changing partners and acquisitions that did not ultimately convert. Even though most of this message was already drafted, we also had a Hail Mary of a final acquisition conversation that closed the following morning. That’s a metric! Hello Chris Yeh!)

Silicon Valley 54

Silicon Valley Startup B2C Sweat Equity 54

Up and Running

DECEMBER 9, 2014

Maybe you are wondering which metrics to track, or whether or not you should take out a loan for your business. They cover funding for small businesses from the initial funding stage to later stages of growth, and other areas in between. Which metrics do you most rely on to understand your business itself.

Small Business 95

Small Business Finance Forecast Metrics 95

Seeing Both Sides

JANUARY 13, 2015

We pride ourselves on being lifecycle investors, which means we invest very early on (typically at the seed or Series A stage) and then stick with a company through exit. Some VCs prefer investing at the earliest stages and then cycle off the board of directors. Financing: holy crap - we are running out of money in 6 months!

Mezzanine 20

Mezzanine IPO Finance Business Model 20