Definition
What is pre-seed round?
A pre-seed round is the earliest outside funding a startup raises, usually from angels, friends and small funds, often before the product has meaningful traction. It is commonly raised on SAFEs or convertible notes.
Pre-seed money typically funds building the first version and finding early customers. What counts as pre-seed versus seed varies by market and year.
Common questions
Pre-seed vs seed: what's the difference?
Pre-seed is usually the first outside money, often before real traction; seed typically follows early traction and funds the search for product–market fit. The boundary varies by market.
General information, not legal, tax or investment advice.