Startup Dictionary
Series C
Definition
A round of financing for later-stage companies that are looking to scale up or acquire other companies.
Deep Dive
Series C funding represents a crucial late-stage venture capital round for established companies that have already demonstrated significant growth, market penetration, and often, a clear path to profitability. At this juncture, the business typically possesses a proven product, a strong customer base, and a robust revenue stream. The primary objective of a Series C round is often aggressive expansion, such as scaling into new domestic or international markets, developing new product lines, or executing strategic mergers and acquisitions to consolidate market share or acquire valuable technology.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1A successful SaaS company raises a Series C round to acquire a smaller competitor, integrating their complementary technology and expanding its user base
- 2A biotech firm secures Series C funding to finance extensive, late-stage clinical trials required for regulatory approval of its groundbreaking new drug
- 3An e-commerce platform leverages Series C capital to aggressively expand into several new international markets, investing heavily in localized marketing and logistics infrastructure.
Related Terms
Series ASeries BPrivate EquityIPO