Series A
Series A on this site means a priced round with a cap table that has to survive it, plus the traction metrics a partner will actually diligence. I keep seed mechanics next to A because most failures I see are a hangover from the convertible stack, not a missing hockey-stick slide. If you cannot explain dilution and payback in the same sitting, you are not ready to price.
A priced round is where the convertible stack meets a new preference. These articles are traction, dilution, and the terms that show up in the A docs. If your seed paper is messy, fix that first. Partners will find it. So will a later buyer.
DeepTech Megachecks: CuspAI, Proxima Fusion, PsiQuantum, and Nearfield
Four DeepTech rounds that matter for AI and software operators: CuspAI at $2.6B, Proxima Fusion at €2.4B, PsiQuantum at $7B, and Nearfield at $1.6B. Materials, fusion, quantum, and chip inspection are getting infrastructure-scale capital.
July 2026 Frontier AI Deal Sheet: Kimi K3, SAP–Prior Labs, Fireworks, and the $262B YTD Wave
A concise deal sheet for the busiest frontier-AI fortnight of 2026. Model launches, strategic acquisitions, and infrastructure megarounds reshaping corp-dev timelines.
Fireworks AI Hits $17.5B Valuation on $1.5B Series D. Inference Still Owns the Cap Table
Fireworks AI closed a $1.5B Series D at a $17.5B valuation with NVIDIA participating. Crossing $1B ARR as daily token volume jumps from 15T to 40T+.
Infrastructure's Billion-Dollar Fortnight: Baseten's $1.5B and Together AI's $800M
Baseten's $1.5B Series F and Together AI's $800M Series C confirm the serving layer is where AI infrastructure capital now concentrates, and inference is a margin-structure bet.
Founder Vesting Schedules: Why They Matter and How to Structure Them
Why founder vesting protects all parties, standard structures (4-year / 1-year cliff), acceleration clauses, and common negotiation points with investors.
Series A Traction Metrics: What Investors Actually Want to See
The specific metrics and milestones that Series A investors evaluate. MRR thresholds, growth rates, retention benchmarks, and market signals by vertical.
Anti-Dilution Provisions: What Founders Need to Know
How anti-dilution provisions work, the difference between full ratchet and weighted average, and how they affect founders in a down round.
Bridge Rounds: When to Use Them and How to Structure Them
When bridge financing makes sense, how to structure it to avoid unfavorable terms, and the signals investors look for before participating.
Startup Runway: How to Calculate It and How to Extend It
How to calculate your startup's runway, what benchmarks matter at each stage, and tactical strategies for extending it without sacrificing growth.
The Investor Pitch Deck: Structure, Content, and Common Mistakes
How to structure a pitch deck that gets meetings. The 12 essential slides, what investors scan first, and the mistakes that get decks rejected.
How to Build a Financial Model for Your Startup
A step-by-step guide to building a startup financial model that investors take seriously. Revenue projections, unit economics, and scenario planning.
Startup Valuation Methods: How Investors Value Early-Stage Companies
An overview of the most common startup valuation methods. From comparable analysis to DCF, scorecard, and venture capital method. With examples and when to use each.
Pre-Money vs. Post-Money Valuation: The Math Every Founder Must Know
The essential math behind pre-money and post-money valuations. With clear examples, dilution calculations, and common mistakes that cost founders equity.
Cap Table Management: Best Practices for Startups
How to manage your cap table correctly from day one. Common pitfalls, dilution math, and tools that help founders stay on top of their equity structure.