Seed Stage

Seed stage companies are at the very beginning of their journey. They typically have a founding team, an idea or early prototype, and are raising their first institutional capital. Seed rounds are where angel investors have the most impact — providing not just capital but mentorship, introductions, and validation. The risk is highest at this stage, but so is the potential return multiple.

Companies44

Total Funding$999M

Avg Value$83M

Markets17

Criteria

First institutional funding round
Typically $500K - $5M raised
Pre-revenue or very early revenue
Product in development or early launch
Team of 2-15 people

Implications for Investors

Highest risk, highest potential return
Company value typically $3M - $20M
Angel investors have significant influence
Follow-on funding critical for survival

Market Distribution

AI / ML12
Cleantech4
Robotics4
Biotech3
Finance3
Hardware3
Aerospace2
Developer Tools2
Logistics2
Other2

Value Distribution

<$100M38
$100M-$500M3
$500M-$1B1
$1B-$10B1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a typical seed round?

In 2024-2025, typical seed rounds range from $1M to $5M, with pre-seed rounds at $250K-$1M. AI/ML companies often raise larger seeds ($3M-$8M) due to compute costs.

What company value should I expect at seed?

Seed company values in 2024-2025 typically range from $5M to $20M pre-money, depending on the market, team pedigree, and traction. Hot sectors like AI command premium prices.

What percentage of seed companies reach Series A?

Approximately 20-30% of seed-funded companies successfully raise a Series A. The "Series A crunch" remains a significant filter in the startup ecosystem.