Startup Fundraising Glossary

Navigate the world of startup financing with confidence

Explore a glossary of essential terms in startups, startup fundraising, bootstrapping and entrepreneurship. Decode the terminology and jargon with ease.

  • Bridge to Series A

    Bridge to Series A is short-term financing intended to carry a startup through until it can secure a more substantial Series A funding round.

  • Budget Variance

    Budget Variance is the difference between the budgeted or baseline amount of expense or revenue, and the actual

  • Built to Scale

    Built to Scale describes startups designed from the outset to grow quickly and efficiently, often making them more attractive to investors seeking high-growth potential opportunities.

  • Burn Rate

    Burn Rate is the rate at which a startup spends its venture capital to finance overhead before generating positive cash flow from operations.

  • Burnout

    Burnout in the startup context refers to the point at which a company`s operating expenses exceed its capital, leading to a critical need for additional funding.

  • Business Accelerator

    Business Accelerator is a program that offers development resources, mentorship, and sometimes capital to startups to speed up their growth and success.

  • Business Angel

    Business Angel is an affluent individual who provides capital for a startup, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity.

  • Business Angels Network

    Business Angels Network is a collective of individual investors interested in financing promising startups in exchange for equity stakes.

  • Business Incubation

    Business Incubation is a support process that accelerates the successful development of startup and fledgling companies by providing entrepreneurs with an array of targeted resources and services.

  • Business Networking

    Business Networking refers to the process of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with other business people and potential clients or customers, critical for fundraising and growth.

  • Business Plan

    Business Plan is a detailed document that describes in detail how a business, usually a new one, is going to achieve its goals. It lays out a written plan from a marketing, financial, and operational viewpoint.

  • Business Traction

    Business Traction is evidence that a company`s products or services are gaining acceptance in the marketplace, often used to attract investors by demonstrating growth potential.

  • Business Valuation

    Business Valuation is the process of determining the economic value of a startup or an established business, often necessary for fundraising, investment analysis, and selling the business.

  • Buy-In

    Buy-In refers to the agreement by an investor to participate in a funding round, typically involving the purchase of a startup`s equity.

  • Buy-Sell Agreement

    Buy-Sell Agreement is a legally binding agreement between co-owners of a business that governs the situation if a co-owner dies, is forced to leave the

  • Buyback Agreement

    Buyback Agreement is a contract that allows a company to repurchase shares from shareholders, often used to consolidate ownership or provide an exit for early investors.

  • Buyout

    Buyout refers to the purchase of a company`s shares in which the acquiring party gains control of the targeted firm. It often involves purchasing a majority stake in the company.

  • C Corporation

    C Corporation is a legal structure for a corporation in which the owners, or shareholders, are taxed separately from the entity.

  • Cap Table

    Cap Table, short for capitalization table, is a spreadsheet or table that shows the equity capitalization for a company.

  • Capital Allocation

    Capital Allocation refers to the process of distributing financial resources among different departments, projects, or investments to maximize profitability and growth.

  • Capital Efficiency

    Capital Efficiency is the measure of how effectively a company uses its capital to generate revenue.

  • Capital Gains

    Capital Gains are the profits from the sale of an asset — shares of stock, a piece of land, a business — and are generally considered taxable income.

  • Capital Requirement

    Capital Requirement is the amount of capital a bank or financial institution must hold as required by its financial regulator. For startups, it refers to the minimum amount of capital needed to start and run the business efficiently.

  • Capital Structure

    Capital Structure is the composition of a company`s liabilities and equity, detailing how it finances its overall operations and growth through different sources of funds.

  • Capital Under Management

    Capital Under Management refers to the total amount of capital or assets that a management team is responsible for overseeing.

  • Capped Notes

    Capped Notes are a form of convertible note used in financing that has a maximum valuation at which the notes will convert into equity.

  • Capped Rate

    Capped Rate is an interest rate that has a maximum limit on the rate that can be charged, regardless of market fluctuations.

  • Cash Burn Rate

    Cash Burn Rate is the rate at which a startup expends its cash reserves before generating positive cash flow from operations.

  • Cash Flow Forecast

    Cash Flow Forecast is an estimation of the money expected to flow in and out of a business over a certain period, helping startups plan for future financial positions.

  • Cash Flow Positive

    Cash Flow Positive indicates that a company`s cash inflows exceed its cash outflows.

  • Cash Flow Statement

    Cash Flow Statement is a financial statement that shows how changes in balance sheet accounts and income affect cash and cash equivalents, breaking the analysis down to operating, investing, and financing activities.

  • Catalyst Funding

    Catalyst Funding refers to an initial investment meant to support and accelerate a startup`s growth until it can achieve self-sustainability or secure further funding.

  • Certification of Incorporation

    Certification of Incorporation is a legal document related to the formation of a corporation or company. It is a license to form a corporation issued by the state government.

  • Chapter 11

    Chapter 11 refers to a chapter of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that involves the reorganization of a debtor`s business affairs and assets.

  • Chapter 7

    Chapter 7, a part of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, deals with asset liquidation of a debtor company to repay creditors.

  • Charge-Off

    Charge-Off is the declaration by a creditor that an amount of debt is unlikely to be collected, indicating that it is considered "bad debt" and written off the books.

  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

    Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of a company, including tracking cash flow and financial planning.

  • Churn Prediction

    Churn Prediction is the process of identifying customers who are likely to cancel a subscription to a service. It`s vital for startups to minimize customer loss and maximize retention strategies.

  • Churn Rate

    Churn Rate is a business metric that calculates the number of customers who leave a product over a given period of time, divided by the remaining number of customers.

  • Class A Shares

    Class A Shares refer to a classification of common or preferred shares that typically carry specific privileges, such as more voting rights.

  • Clean Term Sheet

    Clean Term Sheet is a term sheet with straightforward, uncomplicated terms that all parties can agree on, often with fewer clauses that could potentially delay negotiations.

  • Client Acquisition

    Client Acquisition is the process of bringing new clients or customers to a business through various marketing and outreach strategies.

  • Cliff Vesting

    Cliff Vesting is a term used in stock compensation that refers to the practice of vesting employee stock options all at once after a certain period of service.

  • Co-founder Agreement

    Co-founder Agreement is a legal document that outlines the relationship among founders, including their roles, ownership, and what happens if someone leaves.

  • Co-Investment

    Co-Investment is a situation where two or more investment entities join together to invest in a particular project.

  • Collaborative Funding

    Collaborative Funding is a method where multiple entities come together to fund a project or venture, pooling resources for mutual benefit.

  • Collateral

    Collateral is an asset that a borrower offers to a lender to secure a loan.

  • Competitive Advantage

    Competitive Advantage is a condition or circumstance that puts a company in a favorable or superior business position.

  • Competitive Analysis

    Competitive Analysis is an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and potential competitors, providing both an offensive and defensive strategic context.

  • Conversion Rate

    Conversion Rate in the context of startups refers to the percentage of users who take a desired action, pivotal for evaluating the effectiveness of marketing strategies and product offerings.