Step 1: Find out your startup's stage
Please note that there is neither universal classification nor established terminology on startup stages. So we did our best to capture and categorize the stages and made it balanced and clear (at least less confusing) for you to use and evaluate where your startup stands.
Pre-Seed Stage
Characteristics:
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Pre-funding
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Pre-product
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Pre- product-market fit
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Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development
Typically corresponds to Pre-Seed funding round.
Seed Stage
Characteristics:
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Trace of product-market fit
“Product-Market fit (PMF) means being in a good market with a product that can satisfy that market”
— Marc Andreessen
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Product gets traction
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Testing and validating of market assumptions
Typically corresponds to Seed funding round.
Early-Stage
Characteristics:
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Working product/Product-market fit
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Paying reference customers and revenue growth
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Identified business model
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Proven product ROI
Typically corresponds to Series A/Series B funding rounds.
Mid-Stage
Characteristics:
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Ability to scale
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Profitable and scalable distribution model
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Expansion into different market segments
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Traction with users
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Well-defined business model
Typically corresponds to Series B/Series C funding rounds.
Late-Stage/Growth
Characteristics:
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Large-scale operations
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Acceleration of customer acquisition
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Release of new products and services to cover new segments and markets
Typically corresponds to Series C+ funding rounds.
Leverage Buyout
Characteristics:
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Exit opportunities on the near horizon (3-5 years)
Typically corresponds to Private Equity funding round.