Too late for venture fundraising?

Is there still time to raise a venture deal before year end?

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If there's one question that founders, VC, and assorted startup advisors LOVE to debate, it's this one: what is the best time of year to raise VC?

Data above is clear - December is typically the month in which the most venture deals are signed.

But of course most of those discussions began in the prior couple months. It's pretty tricky to start engaging in a full fundraising process after the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US.

That's why January is usually the slowest month for signed deals (and Feb not much better). Deal negotiations begun in the new year often culminate in March signatures.

So: can you raise VC before year end? Yes. But if you aren't already in the fundraising process, it may be prudent to wait until early 2025 to start sending those cold emails (or better yet tapping your network for those crucial warm introductions).

What to do with all this free time then? Prep your fundraising plan. Go heads down on product building. Line up those customer calls. So much to do.

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Peter Walker

Carta Insights