Startups need funding to survive the initial product or service launch. Without funding, startups fail rapidly because there’s no money to spend on people, working spaces, and market research. It’s for these reasons that many startups fail within the first 5 years of launching. In fact, as many as 90% of all startups fail within the first 5 years.

To avoid potential problems, startups use funding rounds to connect with investors and secure capital. Funding rounds consist of raising large amounts of money through things like crowdfunding, angel investors, and venture capitalists. Most of the money startups raise during funding rounds convert to equity within the company. Therefore, many early-stage startup investors invest to secure partial ownership of the company.

Read on to learn more about each round of funding below.

What are the Funding Rounds for Startups?

There are a few essential rounds of funding for startups and dozens of others. Each round is important for a different stage of startup funding and development. For this reason, it’s important to know and understand each round of funding. Doing so will help you make the right choices.

We list the types of funding rounds for startups below.

Pre-Seed Funding

Pre-seed funding rounds occur before the seed round of funding. During pre-seed rounds, startup founders use bootstrapping methods to raise capital. This means that many startup founders invest their capital in the company.

The pre-seed round of funding also consists of small business loans for real estate and investments from friends and family. Additionally, some founders will use crowdfunding methods during the pre-seed round of funding.

During the pre-seed round of funding, startups raise between $0 and $50,000 from external investors.

Seed Round Funding

The Seed round of funding is one of the most important rounds of funding for startups. For many startups, seed round funding is the first period of connecting with investors. Many angel investors and some venture capitalists will invest during the seed round.

Still, there are some unique methods like incubators and accelerators that startups sign up for. These programs provide more than financial resources. For example, some accelerators will mentor founders, hire staff, and provide shared working spaces.

Ultimately, the goal of seed round funding is to raise enough capital to start growing a company. In the seed round of funding, the goal is to raise between $50 thousand and $2 million.

Series A Round Funding

Series A found funding is when startups begin to expand. Expanding startups need capital to hire more employees, research the market, and more.

Many startups also need to expand their property holdings when the company begins to earn money. Otherwise, sharing working spaces becomes cramped and uncomfortable. Startups that enter this round of funding are also more likely to enter new markets, test new products, and expand to new customers.

During the Series A round of funding, startups raise between $2 million and $15 million (on average). Series A funding is larger than seed round funding because venture capitalists like to invest in companies that have a plan in place and a strong proof of concept.

Series B Round Funding

Another round of funding is the Series B round of funding. Series B funding is reserved for startups with increasing demand. In this round, investors help startups expand by increasing manufacturing, updating technology to process more orders, and expanding into other markers.

Series B funding rounds consist of larger investments from venture capital firms. Other funding methods like business loans apply but these are typically corporate business loans by the time a startup reaches this round of funding.

In the Series B round, companies raise between $30 and $60 million. Most startups that make it to this funding round are also successful and have a proven history of success.

Series C Round Funding

Series C funding rounds are often the last round of funding that startups go through. In the Series C round, companies need capital to meet a rising demand they can’t manage without expanding their operations.

The best example is a company that has succeeded in the United States and wants to replicate that success in Europe. Purchasing real estate and other assets in Europe is expensive, which is why larger companies require Series C funding to do so.

Keep in mind that not all companies make it to the Series C round. Additionally, some companies choose to take on debt instead of capital from investors.

In the Series C round funding, companies raise upwards of $100 to $500 million. Many startups also use the Series C round to generate capital before a stock exchange listing.

Series D Round Funding

Series D round funding is an additional round that many startups use to raise capital for expansion. Only successful companies make it to Series D rounds of funding and the investment amounts fluctuate greatly – unlike the other rounds where funding amounts are similar across the board.

Series D rounds of funding aren’t the right approach for some startups. In fact, many companies will choose to increase debt before giving up more equity in the company. When it comes to the Series D round of funding, it depends on what your company needs.

Each round of funding plays an important role in the success of a startup. If you want to be successful, you need to connect with investors through each round of funding.

What are the Types of Funding for Startups?

Several types of funding for startups exist. Some options are more flexible than others but each method is viable. Overall, it depends on what funding round your startup is in and how much money you’re looking for.

We list the types of funding for startups below.

These are only a few of the types of funding for startups. Depending on your needs, your funding needs will vary. It’s also worth noting that you can try several of these methods to raise money for your startup.

Secure the Funding You Need Today

It’s challenging to find investors, especially when you don’t know where to look. Fortunately, AngelMatch has your back with an angel network full of angel investors and venture capitalists.

You don’t need a big network or insider information to connect with investors on AngelMatch either. All you need is some information about your startup and the desire to raise capital.

Let us do the rest.