This Is How Early-Stage Launch Screening Works [2024]

Early Stage -It is a known fact that fundraising is an inevitable part of every startup’s journey and in order to build a successful business, startups have to go through different fundraising rounds which are pre-seed, seed rounds and series. When we talk about the seed phase, the timing of the fundraiser and the actual amount one is willing to raise are crucial.

However, the main problem arises when a startup cannot raise funds from the founder’s savings or from internal sources and has to turn to external avenues such as micro-VCs, angel investors or groups and incubators. To contact any of the above external sources, new businesses need to determine the amount of seed required. This is where the assessment of start-up funding comes into play. Before we continue, let’s discuss this process in detail.

What Is The Starting Rating? For Early Stage Startup

In short, startup valuation is the process of quantifying a company’s value, also known as valuation. During the seed funding round, an investor invests in a startup in return for a portion of the company’s equity. This is why valuation is important for entrepreneurs, as it helps determine the amount of capital they should give to a first-time investor in exchange for money. It is also of great importance for an investor because they need to know what part of the business they are getting instead of the funds invested in the seed stage. In principle, the startup rating can turn out to be a real decision-making criterion, so the rating does not contain any assumptions based on the evaluation of other similar startups.

Also, before starting to calculate the true value of a company, founders should have a proper understanding of how the entire startup valuation process works. Give inexperienced investors an absurdly high number, even though no revenue will be generated and expectations will be quite high, and if a startup fails to meet its lofty goals, it may have to raise funds at a lower valuation over the next year. .

This can prove negative in the long run, and the startup or founder may have a hard time convincing other investors or seed companies to seek seed funding. Conversely, insufficient supply can result in the startup making more capital available to investors, which in turn backfires.

Evaluation Factors For Early-Stage Startups

Now that we’ve seen how a correct or incorrect score can be a determining or determining factor, this brings us to the next logical question, which is how the initial score will calculate . But before we learn how that happens, let’s take a look at the factors that affect a company’s valuation:

Traction

This is one of the main factors influencing the evaluation at the seed stage. Mostly quantitative evidence of customer demand, traction shows that a startup is taking off. Simply put, traction means development and growth, which is why it’s the most important aspect that convinces investors to invest money in a company.

Call

Before the start of the evaluation cycle, the founders must ensure a positive image on the market. The founder’s image and skills are one of the most important things an investor looks for before investing.

Prototype

The development of a prototype is a key factor that can influence an investor’s decision. So make sure the prototype is ready before you plan to pitch it to an investor.

Pre-Listing Income

Earnings are certainly important for any company as they make it easier for investors to make an assessment. So if a product  is launch and is already generating revenue, it could sway an investor’s decision in favor of that startup and turn out to be a real winner.

Distribution Channel

In the early stages of any startup, it is very likely that the product/service is also in pre-stage. Therefore, founders should be careful with the sales channel used, as this can have a direct impact on the rating.

Industry

If the startup is in a booming industry, investors are likely to pay a premium. This implies that it is important to choose the right sector as it increases the value of a company.

Let’s move on to the next point, how to calculate the value of a startup. First, conduct a self-assessment, which includes making an asset list. This step also includes identifying KPIs or key indicators of progress, such as: B. Success Rate, User Growth Rate, and Referral Rate.

Also, assemble a good team as it will go a long way in attracting investors.

The second step is to choose a startup valuation model. Such as the Berkus method, the sum of the risk factors method, the scorecard method, or the Cayenne Consulting calculator.

The third step is to understand the difference between upstream and downstream monetary valuations and make adjustments for reverse factoring.

Importance of Startup Rating In Early Stage

Now that we’ve discussed what exactly startup valuation is and what factors influence an investor’s decision. It’s important to understand why it’s critical to any startup.

Valuation is important for all startups as it helps in deciding how much capital an entrepreneur should give an investor in exchange for the required funds.

This means that a higher rated company must give an investor a smaller amount of capital or stock in exchange for an initial investment. Not only for entrepreneurs. But also from the perspective of investors. The valuation of startups is crucial as it helps them estimate the amount of return they will get for the amount invested.

We saw why valuation is important for startups and investors and how it can calculate. So, before proceeding with seed funding. You should follow the points above to analyze which valuation method is best for each specific startup. In addition to all the algorithms, models and evaluation factors, founders must be flexible, maintain realistic expectations and use all resources efficiently.