Disrupting disruption with disruptive disruptions since 2010.
Later-stage funding rounds (C, D, E, F, etc.) for companies approaching profitability or dramatic growth. The venture capital equivalent of 'we've lost count.'
How much revenue from existing customers you retain (and grow through upsells) versus how much you lose to churn. The metric that determines if you're actually growing.
The third major funding round, usually $20M-$100M+, designed to accelerate growth and expand into new markets. When 'startup' starts sounding like 'real company' and the pressure becomes genuinely intense.
A venture fund's multiple of return—how much capital investors have received back for every dollar they invested. The VC equivalent of 'Did we make money?'
The right for existing investors to maintain their ownership percentage by investing in future rounds. It's investor speak for 'we get first dibs on new money.'
A situation where a startup with good metrics but bad unit economics keeps raising money from VCs who don't do the math. Also called 'raising on hope and a spreadsheet.'
To officially embark on a vessel, aircraft, or train after security clearance; also corporate-speak for officially joining a project or organization after onboarding procedures. The moment of no return, metaphorically speaking.
The amount of money a VC firm typically invests in a single startup. Larger firms write bigger checks, which shapes their investment thesis.
A person working inside a VC firm, usually a former founder, between startup gigs. The VC equivalent of being on a really well-paid bench.
Later-stage funding rounds where the valuations get absurd and the investor meetings become increasingly surreal.
The unofficial group of founders and investors who've experienced a billion-dollar valuation or exit. It's exclusive, pretentious, and they'll definitely mention it.
When a startup's growth is impressive but unit economics are terrible, making it simultaneously successful and fundamentally broken—named after investor Mark Cuban's famous critiques.
Developing within existing codebase and systems, guaranteed to be slower and more frustrating than greenfield development but somehow more realistic about constraints.
A specific niche market where you can dominate quickly before expanding to larger markets, the landing zone before the broader invasion.