Funding & Investment

Pre-seed

The earliest funding stage, often from founders, friends, family, or early angels.

Full Definition

Pre-seed is the earliest stage of startup funding, typically occurring before a startup has a fully developed product or significant traction. Pre-seed rounds usually range from $50,000 to $500,000 and come from founders' personal savings, friends and family, or early-stage angel investors. The capital is used to develop an MVP, conduct initial market research, and prepare for a seed round.

Examples

  • 1Many founders use personal savings for pre-seed before seeking outside investment
  • 2Pre-seed accelerators like Antler provide $100-150K for early-stage ideas