triple down

Definition

When a VC aggressively increases their investment in a portfolio company across multiple rounds, betting their career on being right. Conviction investing taken to its logical extreme.

Example Usage

After leading the Series A and B, the partner convinced his fund to triple down with a massive Series C check.

Origin

Gambling terminology adopted by VCs in the 2010s, escalating from 'double down'

Fun Fact

Sequoia's decision to triple down on Airbnb through multiple down rounds is now taught as a case study in conviction.

Source: Venture capital investment terminology

Related Terms

Beginner

graduation

When a startup 'grows up' from an accelerator program or moves from seed to institutional funding, like leaving college but with more awkward Demo Days. Implies you're now playing with the big kids.

🚀 Startup / VC

Advanced

unicorn hunting

The venture capital strategy of seeking only investments with potential to return the entire fund, requiring massive exits. A portfolio approach that ignores solid doubles and triples in favor of swinging for nonexistent fences.

🚀 Startup / VC

Advanced

shadow equity

Informal promises of future equity that aren't documented in legal agreements, often made to early advisors or contributors. A lawsuit waiting to happen, wrapped in a handshake.

🚀 Startup / VC

Intermediate

nail it then scale it

The strategy of perfecting product-market fit and unit economics in one market before expanding broadly. It's the anti-blitzscaling approach that prioritizes learning over land grabbing.

🚀 Startup / VC

Advanced

redemption rights

Contract provisions allowing investors to force the company to buy back their shares after a certain period, typically if there's no exit. A rarely exercised nuclear option that reminds founders who really has the power.

🚀 Startup / VC

Advanced

qualified financing

A minimum funding round size (typically $1-2 million) that triggers the automatic conversion of SAFEs or convertible notes into equity. It's the threshold that separates real funding rounds from friends-and-family pocket change.

🚀 Startup / VC

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