With our June funding series, we will discuss all you need to know about grant funding, beginning with understanding the different tiers of funding sources and why they are important.
In some cases, many people aren't awarded the funding they need because they are pitching incorrect information towards the wrong funding types. We will eliminate these issues by sharing lots of helpful information beginning with the different types of funding, so let's begin.
The funding types listed above are equity financing. So, if you ever see a pitch, such as the Inbound 2023 Million Dollar Pitch, that lists any of these, they are considered types of equity investments. Equity financing involves raising capital by selling a portion of ownership in the company to investors in exchange for funds. The investors become shareholders and have an equity stake in the company. Here's the breakdown:
- Bootstrap: Bootstrapping refers to self-funding a business using personal savings, credit cards, or any other means without seeking external investments. Entrepreneurs often resort to bootstrapping during the initial stages when the business is just getting off the ground. This type of funding is generally limited and requires careful financial management to sustain and grow the business.
- Seed Funding: Seed funding is the first significant round of external funding that a startup raises. It typically occurs in the early stages when the business is still in the concept or prototype phase. Seed funding can come from various sources such as angel investors, friends and family, or early-stage venture capital firms. The purpose of seed funding is to validate the business idea, conduct market research, develop a minimum viable product (MVP), and lay the foundation for further growth.
- Series A: Series A funding is the next round of financing that follows seed funding. It is usually raised once the startup has achieved certain milestones, such as product development, market validation, and early customer adoption. Series A funding helps startups scale their operations, expand their team, and invest in marketing and customer acquisition. Venture capital firms typically lead series A funding rounds and provide larger amounts of capital compared to seed funding.
- Series B: Series B funding occurs when a startup has achieved a significant level of growth and wants to further expand its operations. At this stage, the business may have gained a substantial user base, generated revenue, and demonstrated its potential for continued growth. Series B funding is often used to scale the company's infrastructure, enhance the product or service offering, and potentially expand into new markets. Venture capital firms continue to play a major role in series B funding rounds, but other investors such as private equity firms may also participate.
- Series C: Series C funding is typically the next financing round that follows series B. By this stage, the startup is considered to be a more mature company, with a proven business model, strong revenue growth, and an established market presence. Series C funding is usually aimed at accelerating growth, entering new markets, and further expanding the team and product offering. In addition to venture capital firms, other institutional investors like hedge funds and investment banks may participate in series C funding rounds.
- Series D and Beyond: Following series C funding, subsequent funding rounds are typically labeled as series D, E, F, and so on. These later-stage funding rounds occur as the company continues to grow and requires additional capital to fuel its expansion. The specific labels for subsequent funding rounds may vary, and some companies may choose to skip certain series if they have successfully raised significant capital or opted for alternative financing options like debt financing or initial public offerings (IPOs).
Apart from the funding levels mentioned above, there are also other forms of funding available, such as mezzanine financing, bridge financing, and strategic investments. These types of funding can occur at various stages of a company's growth and are often tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of the business.