01
Why Raise?
Capital should accelerate a valuable plan: building product, hiring critical talent, entering markets, purchasing equipment, funding research, or extending the runway required to reach the next meaningful milestone.
02
Typical Stages
- Bootstrapped or pre-seed.
- Seed.
- Series A.
- Series B and later growth rounds.
- Strategic investment.
- Debt or revenue financing where appropriate.
03
The Investor Narrative
- Problem.
- Customer.
- Product.
- Why now.
- Traction.
- Market.
- Business model.
- Competitive advantage.
- Team.
- Capital required.
- Use of funds.
04
YC's Public Standard Deal
YC's currently published standard deal is $500,000: $125,000 on a post-money SAFE for 7% and $375,000 on an uncapped MFN SAFE. YC also receives pro-rata rights under its published terms.