Who funds startups, and how they decide.
Angels, seed funds, family offices, corporate VCs, accelerators and grants. What each one wants, when they write checks and how to reach them.
Start here
Pick who to talk to
Nine kinds of startup money. Learn which ones invest at your stage.
Learn what they expect
What investors look for in your sector and stage, and the terms you will see.
Get matched
Investor matching is coming to your free account. Create it now and we match your round the day it opens.
Who invests at each stage
Angels
Pre-seed: core
Seed: sometimes
Series A: none
Series B and later: none
Growth: none
Angel groups
Pre-seed: core
Seed: sometimes
Series A: none
Series B and later: none
Growth: none
Accelerators
Pre-seed: core
Seed: sometimes
Series A: none
Series B and later: none
Growth: none
Pre-seed & seed funds
Pre-seed: core
Seed: core
Series A: sometimes
Series B and later: none
Growth: none
Grants & non-dilutive
Pre-seed: core
Seed: core
Series A: sometimes
Series B and later: none
Growth: none
University funds
Pre-seed: core
Seed: core
Series A: sometimes
Series B and later: none
Growth: none
Family offices
Pre-seed: sometimes
Seed: core
Series A: core
Series B and later: core
Growth: core
Corporate VCs
Pre-seed: none
Seed: sometimes
Series A: core
Series B and later: core
Growth: core
Multi-stage VCs
Pre-seed: none
Seed: sometimes
Series A: core
Series B and later: core
Growth: core
Questions founders ask
Do you publish lists of investors?
No. These guides explain how each kind of investor works. Matching to specific investors will happen inside your free account, where it can use your stage, sector and city.
Where do the patterns come from?
Public sources: regulator definitions, industry reports and investors' own published criteria. Each guide lists its sources at the bottom.
Is this financial or legal advice?
No. The guides explain how things usually work. Talk to a lawyer before you sign anything.
Investor types
Raising at Pre-seed
Raising at Seed
Raising at Series A
Raising at Series B and later
Raising at Growth
Raise in your city
Learn the terms
Inside Unicorn Factory
Free account
Investor matching is coming to your free account. Create it now and we will match your round the day it opens. Until then, get an honest read on your deck.