Data-Driven VC

What's the true state of fundraising? Here's what the data tells us: Carta’s latest analysis of funding rounds reveals what round sizes and valuations look like across stages: 1) Pre-Seed Snapshot: With post-money SAFEs, median valuations are around $11M, while typical raise sizes sit at $1.2M. The pre-seed segment remains highly active 2) Seed Rounds Rebound: Seed stage deals see $3.7M raised on a median $14.8M pre-money valuation, echoing the high valuations of 2021, even as deal volume remains lower 3) Growth in Series A, B, & C: Series A rounds report $10.8M raises on $43M valuations, though Series B funding has dipped, averaging $22.9M on $116M valuations. Series C rounds are scarce, with median raise sizes at $30M on $258M valuations In summary, majority of software companies see valuations climbing back to 2021 levels, especially at pre-seed and seed stages, while Series C rounds remain the hardest to secure in this capital climate. Read the full story and join 29k+ thought leaders from VCs like a16z, Accel, Index, Sequoia, and more via https://lnkd.in/dXFzFqBh

How valuable is your network? How to find the right people? Here's a simple guide to find out👇 1. Download Your LinkedIn Archive ⏬ “Download larger data archive, including connections, contacts, account history, and information we infer about you based on your profile and activity” 2. Get Basic Network Analytics 📊 “Give me a breakdown of who my connections are, where they work, and what they do?” returns below charts for my profile 3. Find the Right People in Your Network 🔍 “I want to learn more about AI agents for cyber security. Who are the top 10 contacts in my network for this?” Free guide in today's episode of Data-Driven VC. Join 29,030+ thought leaders from VCs like a16z, Accel, Index, Sequoia, and more to never miss an update. PS: Snapshot of my results below. Yes, I do like stealth founders ;)

How to find and measure Product-Market Fit?📈 Here's what the data tells: Earlier this summer, we published “Founder-Market Fit and How It Impact's Startup Success”, spotlighting one of the most crucial frameworks in the Pre-Seed and Seed stages. As companies mature and push their product to market, there comes another important framework into play: Product-Market Fit (PMF). In today's episode of Data-Driven VC, we aggregate the most relevant academic studies and practitioner reports covering what PMF actually is, how to measure it, how long it takes to get there, and a lot more. Join 28,920 thought leaders from VCs like a16z, Accel, Index, Sequoia, and more and read the episode here: https://lnkd.in/dZJtGzK8

How much time do startups need between funding rounds? Here's what the data tells us: Carta’s latest analysis of funding rounds reveals that startups follow diverse paths when raising funds: 1) Seed round movers: In 2024, 32% of startups raising a priced seed round were founded in 2023, but some date back to 2017 2) Series B spread: 16% of Series B fundraisers were from 2019 startups, while 4% came from companies founded in 2023 3) Older Series D rounds: 18% of Series D fundraisers this year trace back to 2016, showing how the venture landscape supports long-term growth In summary, the median is 1y from incorporation to Seed, 3y to Series A, 4.5y to Series B, and 6y to Series C. Said differently, one round every 18 months seems to be the rule of thumb. Read the full story and join 28k+ thought leaders from VCs like a16z, Accel, Index, Sequoia, and more via Data-Driven VC

Twitter Profiles ➡️ Personality Trades ➡️ Startup Outcomes📈 This is what new research from Columbia University achieved👇 1️⃣ The researchers used NLP to predict founder personality traits based on Twitter posts made in the two years before the startups were founded. This approach relied on the well-established Big Five personality model, which measures openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism 2️⃣ These personality estimates were paired with startup performance data from Crunchbase, which tracked key outcomes such as whether the startup raised funding, the amount raised in the earliest funding round, and whether the startup eventually exited Wondering which personality trades drive which outcomes? Read the full study and join 28k+ thought leaders from VCs like a16z, Accel, Index, Sequoia, and more via Data-Driven VC

How much $$ should founders pay themselves? Here's what the data tells us: Founder compensation benchmarks are among the most clicked links across all Data-Driven VC INSIGHTS episodes, indicating the importance for founders and investors alike. The problem with many studies, however, is that they only cover partial aspects, rarely painting the full picture. Therefore, we dedicated today's DDVC episode to bring it all together and created a comprehensive guide to founder compensation. Read the full story and join 28k+ thought leaders from VCs like a16z, Accel, Index, Sequoia, and more via https://lnkd.in/dXFzFqBh

Do celebrity angels help startups succeed?🌟 Here’s what the data tells us: The number of celebrities investing into startups has been exploding. But is it really worth getting them on your captable? A new study from Esade finds that having a celebrity investor on board can significantly boost a startup’s success, enhancing survival rates, web traffic, and sales—but there are potential downsides to consider. 1️⃣ Positive Impact on Growth: Celebrity-backed startups showed increased survival, web traffic, and sales compared to others. Using Google Trends, the study confirmed that celebrity visibility correlates with greater consumer trust and attention. 2️⃣ Sector Alignment Matters: The effect is stronger when a celebrity aligns with the startup’s industry. For example, Serena Williams investing in a tennis-related business is more impactful than if she invested in fintech. Familiarity and field expertise amplify trust and credibility. 3️⃣ Reputationsl Risk: If a celebrity investor faces bad press, startups can suffer by association. Still, the study suggests that the benefits outweigh the risks, with publicity and consumer trust often tilting the scale positively. Read the full story and join 28k+ thought leaders from VCs like a16z, Accel, Index, Sequoia, and more via https://lnkd.in/dXFzFqBh

After the event is before the event💥 Excited to give the opening keynote “Data-Driven VC Outlook 2025” at VESTBERRY Venture Intelligence Day 17th Oct! Amazing speaker lineup: - Keshvi Radia from Balderton Capital - Harry Uglow from Atomico - Atte Honkasalo from NGP Capital - Alex Patow from Inflection.xyz - Mustafa Torun from Invest-NL … and many more, including my Earlybird Venture Capital colleague Jochen Küst and the master of VC automations Georgiy Sekretaryuk from Overdrive AI! Join in-person or virtual and get 10% discount with “DDVC10” https://lnkd.in/dAZBugex

When data/AI trend accelerated among VCs about two years ago with the introduction of LLMs, majority of discussions were going around sourcing. I wrote in an article that the real data value for investment firms will shift to due diligence and evaluation (including portfolio management) activities very soon. Good to read aligned thoughts on today’s Data-Driven VC episode. “In the next phase of VC, the firms that will leapfrog their peers are those who can harness this holistic data approach, not just to discover investment opportunities but also to refine the due diligence and portfolio monitoring processes themselves.” - Henrik Landgren https://lnkd.in/e-prCRBz

Must read for investors👇 Henrik was an early data wizard at Spotify, one of the masterminds behind EQT Ventures' Motherbrain, and is now Co-Founder & CPTO at Gilion. In today's episode of Data-Driven VC, he shares his learnings from a decade of data innovation across startups and VC, and why the fusion of 1st and 3rd party data offers the next big opportunity for investors! https://lnkd.in/eSgHq_Xg "It is the next natural leap and it is what will keep VCs daring to make the even bolder bets we need them to do in the future."