Five Key Stats on How Much Is Raised in Each VC Round

How much money is actually raised in each venture round?

5 key stats around funding today:

1) Median VC round size has surpassed 2021 highs in early stages.

Seed and Series A companies are now raising more money than they did even in the peak of our most recent boom. Yes, it's mostly AI startups. Yes, the "round names" are kinda meaningless and always shifting. But still, it's true.

2) If you want to raise at the 95th or 99th percentile, move to SF.

Rounds of that size basically don't exist outside the Bay Area. A $100M Series A is an SF-phenomenon.

3) Bigger rounds don't always mean higher likelihood to raise the following one.

I realize that's not ALWAYS the goal (although cmon, it usually is). But the biggest rounds don't always make it to the next fundraise. However a tiny round is more likely to flop than the very biggest (correlation is weak here).

4) Round sizes are as much a product of the needs of the fund vs the needs of the company.

Why raise more than you need? There are some good arguments, but often the hidden reason is: because the VC wants to put in more money.

5) Comparison remains the thief of joy.

Always true, but particularly so when it comes to dollars.

#startups #founders #fundraising