⏮️October's Highlights Across Startups, VC, Data & AI
Content, Research, Reports, Podcasts, Events, Jobs & More
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Welcome to our monthly wrap-up episode where we cover October’s most relevant content at the intersection of startups, VC, data & AI.
We read it all so you don’t need to - here we go👇
INTERESTING RESEARCH & REPORTS📈
What's the True State of Fundraising?
Carta’s latest analysis of funding rounds reveals what round sizes and valuations look like across stages:
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
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
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
✈️ KEY TAKEAWAYS
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.
Do Celebrity Angels Help Startups Succeed?
A new study from Esade Business School 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.
Positive Impacts 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.