Disrupting disruption with disruptive disruptions since 2010.
Starting with a narrow, focused product in a niche market, then expanding horizontally once you dominate that niche—the startup version of 'start small, think big.'
The average revenue generated per user, typically calculated monthly or annually. The easiest way to understand if your pricing actually matters.
A deal term that prevents certain actions without investor approval. The clause that prevents your CEO from going rogue.
When a startup's growth is impressive but unit economics are terrible, making it simultaneously successful and fundamentally broken—named after investor Mark Cuban's famous critiques.
The right for existing investors to maintain their ownership percentage by investing in future rounds. It's investor speak for 'we get first dibs on new money.'
Later-stage funding rounds where the valuations get absurd and the investor meetings become increasingly surreal.
Later-stage funding rounds (C, D, E, F, etc.) for companies approaching profitability or dramatic growth. The venture capital equivalent of 'we've lost count.'
How much revenue from existing customers you retain (and grow through upsells) versus how much you lose to churn. The metric that determines if you're actually growing.
The annualized percentage return on invested capital. How investors measure if they actually beat the S&P 500 by betting on your startup.
The practice of startups claiming metrics that are wildly inflated—counting beta users as paying customers, or DAU as monthly recurring. It's lying, but with venture capital.
The amount of money a VC firm typically invests in a single startup. Larger firms write bigger checks, which shapes their investment thesis.
A specific niche market where you can dominate quickly before expanding to larger markets, the landing zone before the broader invasion.
Distributed to Paid-In Capital—the ratio showing how much cash a VC fund has returned to investors relative to what was invested, the only metric VCs care about more than founders' happiness.
Developing within existing codebase and systems, guaranteed to be slower and more frustrating than greenfield development but somehow more realistic about constraints.
An acquisition primarily designed to hire the team rather than use the product—basically human trafficking with a legal framework.
A person working inside a VC firm, usually a former founder, between startup gigs. The VC equivalent of being on a really well-paid bench.
Sequential rounds of venture capital funding, each alphabetically closer to either massive success or spectacular failure.
The process of determining whether you've achieved product-market fit—usually involving delusional founders, skeptical board members, and contradictory metrics.
Simple Agreement for Future Equity—a legal document that converts to stock 'later,' making investors believe they're taking less risk than they are.
A shareholder or investor who has a formal seat on your board, allowing them to help make decisions and take credit when things go well, blame founders when they don't.
In startup circles, the delicate art of hand-holding your leads, customers, or portfolio companies through their developmental journey with strategic attention and resources—because apparently letting things grow naturally is for gardeners, not venture capitalists.
A philosophy where you validate ideas quickly through experimentation rather than careful planning—basically expensive trial and error with a catchy name.
A group of experienced people who provide strategic guidance to your startup in exchange for equity and the dubious honor of helping you avoid catastrophic mistakes.
See MVP—the leanest version of your product that teaches you what customers actually want rather than what you assume they want.