
Founders, get ready: April, May, and June are typically big months for closing fundraising rounds.
Chart below shows the percent of deals in a given year signed in each month. And we do mean 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱, as in the date on the term sheet, as opposed to when the deal is announced in the press which could be months later.
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝘆𝘀
Q1 is typically slower for deals after a rush to get things signed before year end.
Q2 has been the top quarter for deals the past 3 years.
Summer is a little slower, although still activity there.
Frenzy of negotiation in Oct/Nov leading to signed deals in Dec.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘄
Prep. Get that investor list in pristine shape, press play on that perfect email outreach, connect with the folks you'll need to generate warm intros.
Build. Better business = less need to fundraise and maybe you'll walk into the negotiations holding the cards.
Exercise patience. We are hearing that deals are taking longer to close, more due diligence, etc. And remember that the cash is not real until it hits the bank account!
Here's to a fruitful Q2!
#startups #founders #fundraising #venturecapital
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