If your business is in its early stages, you’re going to need funding to help it grow. At this stage, you are eligible for a series seed funding round. Seed investors essentially provide money that is given to a company in its very early stages, often by family, friends, or angel investors. This startup funding is used to help the company get off the ground and grow.
In order to successfully secure startup funding, you’re going to need to have a solid business plan and pitch. You’ll also need to do your research and find seed funding investors who are a good fit for your company. This guide will help you with all of that and more.
What is Pre Seed Funding?
Pre seed funding is a type of seed round startup funding, which is the earliest step in the fundraising process of venture capital financing. It is provided to early stage startups that have yet to launch a product or a service and has little or no revenue. Pre Seed funding is money raised, typically to be used to develop a product, investigate product market fit, build a team, and create a prototype, while offering equity funding for the early investors and founding team. Funds raised during the pre seed funding round tend to average between $100K-$1million, varying based on initial capital and market opportunity during the pre seed stage.
There are several sources of preseed or startup funding, including angel investors, friends and family, and crowdfunding platforms. Angel investors are individuals who invest their own money in early-stage startups in exchange for ownership stakes. Friends and family may provide financial support to a startup out of personal interest or because they believe in the company’s mission. Crowdfunding platforms allow startups to raise money from a large number of people online. Private equity firms or venture capital firms tend to wait for the official equity funding stage.
What is Seed Funding?
Seed funding is money that is given to a company in its early stages, often by family, friends, or angel investors. This seed money is used to help the company get off the ground and grow. Seed round funding is a relatively small amount of money when compared to other types of funding, such as venture capital.
The typical seed stage company raises between $500,000 and $3 million in their startup funding rounds. However, a seed round can be as small as $10,000 or as large as $10 million.
When Should You Consider Seed Funding?
Consider pursuing seed funding once you have a business idea and have started to work on it. You should also have a basic understanding of your target market and your business model. Additionally, it’s helpful to have a co-founder at this stage.
However, you will need more than just a business idea to secure seed funding. You will need a solid business plan and pitch. Investors will be looking for a team that they believe in and a business with high growth potential. Without a business plan and pitch, it will be difficult to find investors who will take your venture seriously.
Considerations For Seed Funding
There are a few things to keep in mind if you’re considering seed funding for your business.
- Risk for investors: One of the biggest considerations for seed funding is the risk involved for investors. Seed-stage businesses are high risk because they are often unproven and have not yet generated revenue. For this reason, seed funding rounds are typically smaller than later rounds of funding. You may also have difficulty finding investors who are willing to take on the high risk of seed funding.
- Amount of money needed: Another consideration is the amount of money that you will need to successfully get your business off the ground. Seed funding rounds are typically smaller than later rounds of funding, so you may need to pursue multiple rounds of seed funding before you are able to secure the amount of money that you need.
- Ownership: When you take on seed funding, you may give up a portion of ownership in your company, depending on the investors you choose. This is something to consider carefully, as it will dilute your equity.
- Control: In addition, you may give up some control of your company when you take on seed funding. This is something that you should discuss with your co-founder(s) before moving forward.
Finding Seed Funding Investors
Since raising money can significantly impact the growth of your business, you want to make sure you are choosing investors whose interests and values align with your company founders. Begin searching for potential investors by examining the investment space and shortlisting active investors whose portfolios align with your business and industry. This method will help you connect with seed funding investors efficiently.
There are a couple of ways that you can acquire seed funding:
- Debt financing: With debt financing, you are essentially taking out a loan from an investor. The benefit of this type of seed funding is that you will not have to give up any equity in your company. However, you will be responsible for repaying the loan, with interest.
- Angel investors: Angel investors are individuals who invest their own money in seed-stage companies. The benefit of working with an angel investor is that they can provide more than just financial support; they can also offer mentorship and advice. However, the downside is that you may have to give up equity in your company.
- Venture capitalists: Venture capitalists are firms that invest in seed-stage companies. The benefit of working with a venture capitalist is that they can provide significant financial support. However, the downside is that you will have to give up equity in your company.
Creating & Setting Up Your Pitch To Seed Funding Investors
Now that you understand seed funding and the types of investors you can work with, it’s time to start creating your pitch. A pitch is a presentation that you give to potential investors in order to convince them to invest in your company. When pitching your company, you need to be clear about your business model, your value proposition, your target market, and your competitive landscape. You should also have a solid understanding of your finances, including your revenue model and your burn rate.
A good pitch will include the following elements:
- An elevator pitch: An elevator pitch is a short, impactful statement that describes your business. It should be no more than a few sentences long.
- A slide deck: A slide deck is a series of slides that you use to present your business to investors. Your slide deck should include an overview of your business, your value proposition, your target market, your competitive landscape, and your financials.
- A demo: A demo is a live demonstration of your product or service. This is an opportunity to show investors what you have built and how it works.
- Financial projections: Financial projections are a forecast of your company’s future financial performance. They should include your revenue model, your burn rate, and your expected financial milestones.
How To Successfully Secure Seed Funding
Once you have created your pitch, it’s time to start meeting with potential investors. When meeting with investors, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Start early: The seed funding process can take several months, so you should start meeting with investors well in advance of when you need the money.
- Be prepared: Make sure you are well prepared for each meeting. This means having a clear understanding of your business and your financials. You should also be prepared to answer any questions that the investor may have.
- Do your research: Before meeting with an investor, make sure you have done your research. This includes understanding their investment portfolio, their investment thesis, and their ideal investment.
- Prepare a clear and concise pitch: You only have a limited amount of time to make an impression, so make sure your pitch is clear and concise. You should rehearse your pitch in advance and make sure you are comfortable with it.
- Follow up: After each meeting, make sure to follow up with the investor. This shows that you are interested in working with them and that you are serious about your business.
- Be patient: The seed funding process can be slow, so it is important to be patient. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t receive an offer immediately.
What’s Next? Other Series Funding Rounds
Once you have successfully secured seed funding, you will need to continue to raise money in order to grow your business. Once you get your business off the ground, you should seek out Series A funding, then Series B and Series C funding.
Series A Funding
Series A funding is the first round of institutional venture capital financing. The goal for this round of funding is to help your business scale and grow. At this point, your company should have a working product, a strong team, and initial traction. In order to secure Series A funding, you will need to have a strong business model and a proven track record of revenue growth.
Series B Funding
The Series B round of funding takes a business to the next level, beyond the development stage. Investors assist entrepreneurs in reaching that goal by broadening their market presence. Companies with seed and Series A financing have already built strong user bases and shown investors that they are ready for success on a larger scale. The company uses the funds to allow it to meet these business needs to continue to grow.
Series C Funding
Series C funding round is only for businesses that have already proven themselves to be quite successful. These organizations seek additional financing to help them develop new items, enter new markets, or even buy other firms. Investors provide funding to the core of successful companies in Series C rounds in the hopes of obtaining more than twice as much money back. The goal of Series C finance is to expand the company both rapidly and successfully.
For most businesses, the Series C round is usually the last significant funding they will require. Companies that have fallen short of expectations, want to stay private, or need assistance with going public may seek Series D funding and subsequent rounds of funding.
Seed funding is a vital part of starting and growing a business. This funding helps businesses to get off the ground and grow. In order to successfully secure seed funding, you need to be prepared and do your research. Investors are looking for businesses with a strong team, a clear pitch, and a proven track record of revenue growth. So make sure you are well prepared before meeting with an investor.
Seed Funding FAQs
What is seed funding used for?
Seed funding is typically used to cover a business's early expenses, such as seed capital, product development, and market research. The goal of the funding is to help the business get off the ground and grow.
How much money is included in seed funding?
The amount of seed funding can vary depending on the business and the investors. However, typically seed funding rounds range from $500,000 to $2 million.
How long does seed funding take to obtain?
The seed funding process can take anywhere from a few months to a year. It is important to be patient and not get discouraged if you don't receive an offer immediately.
Is seed funding the same as Series A?
No, seed funding is different from Series A. Seed funding is the earliest stage of venture capital financing, while Series A is the first round of institutional venture capital financing.
