Mediarun Glossary
Startups
From idea to funding round and exit
14 terms in this section
BURN RATEMonthly cash usage: expenses minus revenue.ELEVATOR PITCHA 30–60 second description of your company: what you do, for whom, why it works, and why you specifically.ESOPA pool of shares set aside to compensate employees with stock options — giving them ownership in the company instead of higher salaries.PITCH DECKAn investor presentation covering the problem, solution, market, business model, team, key metrics, and the funding amount requested.PRE-SEEDThe earliest funding round, typically 50–500 thousand PLN. Funds come from the founders themselves, family, friends, or angel investors — before any institutional venture capital.RUNWAYThe number of months a company can sustain itself at its current rate of spending.SAFEA simple agreement under which funds are converted into equity only at a future funding round—typically with a valuation cap or discount.SCALE-UPA company that has already found a working business model and is growing rapidly — conventionally, more than 20% annually for three years, starting with at least ten employees.SEEDThe first formal funding round involving a venture fund or a group of angel investors, typically 0.5–3 million USD. Funds reaching product-market fit and initial scaling.SERIES AThe first major venture capital funding round, typically 5–20 million USD, after validating that the product has a market.SERIES BA growth round, typically ranging from 15 to 50 million USD or more, aimed at market expansion and building infrastructure.SERIES C+Subsequent funding rounds, from $50 million to $200 million and more, aimed at market consolidation, acquisitions, and preparing for an IPO.START-UPA young company seeking a repeatable and scalable business model, operating under conditions of high uncertainty.VESTINGThe time-based release of stock or stock options — typically over four years, with a one-year cliff at the beginning.