Series-a

/ˈsɪriz eɪ/ noun

Definition

The first significant round of venture capital funding for a startup, typically occurring after seed funding when the company has proven its concept and needs capital to scale operations. Series A rounds usually range from $2-15 million and involve professional VC firms.

Etymology

Naming convention from corporate law where different classes of preferred stock are labeled alphabetically. Series A became standard terminology in Silicon Valley during the 1980s as the venture capital industry formalized its investment stages and documentation.

Kelly Says

Series A is where startups face their first real 'professionalization' shock! Angels might accept a handshake deal, but Series A VCs bring term sheets, board seats, liquidation preferences, and anti-dilution provisions—transforming a startup from a flexible venture into a formal corporation with serious governance.

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