4 Key Metrics to Raise a Series A

January 19, 2023

Series A is a type of funding round for start-up companies. It follows the seed round and is used to raise capital for growth and expansion. The estimate of the company is typically higher than in the seed round, but lower than in later rounds of funding. In Series A investors typically receive equity in the company against their investment. The estimate of the company is typically higher than in the seed round, but lower than in later rounds of funding. Only 30-40% of the start-up companies reach this stage of funding.

CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate ( CAGR) is a financial metric that is commonly used to calculate the annual growth rate of an investment over a specific period of time. CAGR is an effective way to compare investments with different timeframes and to smooth out short-term fluctuations in returns.

When it comes to raising a Series A round of funding, CAGR is an important metric for investors to consider. It helps them to evaluate a start-up's performance and potential for growth over the long-term. For start-ups, a high CAGR can indicate a strong track record of consistent growth and a solid business model.

To calculate CAGR, you first need to determine the initial investment, the ending investment value, and the number of years in the investment period. The formula for CAGR is:

((Ending Investment Value / Initial Investment)^(1/n)) -1

Where n is the number of years in the investment period.

It's important to note that CAGR is not a measure of the absolute performance of an investment, but rather the relative performance over a period of time. It also assumes that all growth is compounded annually, which may not be the case in reality.

CAC:  When raising Series A, Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) represents the average expenses incurred in acquiring a new customer. It can include a variety of costs such as incentives for signing up, discounts, marketing, and advertising expenses. A low CAC indicates that a company is able to acquire customers efficiently, which is crucial for scaling the business. On the other hand, a high CAC can indicate that a company is spending too much money on acquiring new customers, which can be a red flag for investors.

To calculate CAC, you need to take the total cost of acquiring new customers over a specific period of time, such as a month or a quarter, and divide it by the number of new customers acquired during that period. Formula is as follows:

(Cost of Sales + Cost of Marketing) / New Customers Acquired

It's important to note that CAC can vary depending on the industry, the stage of the company, and the marketing channels used. For example, a company that relies heavily on paid advertising will likely have a higher CAC than a company that relies on organic growth through word-of-mouth recommendations.

LTV: When evaluating a start-up’s CAC, it's also important to consider the lifetime value (LTV)of a customer. LTV is a metric that measures the total revenue that a customer generates for a company over the lifetime of their relationship. It takes into account the initial purchase and revenue such as subscriptions, renewals, and upsells. A high LTV is an indicator of a company's ability to retain customers and generate recurring revenue, which is crucial for achieving long-term profitability and also can offset a higher CAC. To calculate LTV, you need to determine the average revenue per customer, the average customer lifespan, and the customer retention rate. The formula for LTV is:

LTV = Average Revenue per Customer * Average Customer Lifespan *Customer Retention Rate

It's important to note that LTV can vary depending on the industry and the business model. For example, a company that sells a one-time product will have a lower LTV than a company that sells a subscription service. Additionally, LTV is a forward-looking metric, so it's important to also consider historical data and trends to gain a more complete picture of a company's performance.

NRR: Net Retention Rate (NRR) is one of the key metrics to evaluate a start-up’s potential. NRR measures the rate at which a company is able to retain and expand its customer base over time. It is calculated by subtracting the percentage of customers that are lost from the percentage of customers that are added, and it's commonly used to track the growth of a subscription-based business. The formula for NRR is:

NRR = ((New Customers + Existing Customers) - Lost Customers) /Existing Customers

A high NRR means that a company is able to retain and grow its customer base, which is crucial for achieving long-term profitability. When evaluating a start-up's NRR, it's also important to consider the customer acquisition cost (CAC) and lifetime value (LTV). A high NRR can offset a higher CAC, indicating that the company has a strongproduct-market fit and is able to retain customers over the long-term, making the business more attractive for investors. High LTV and NRR together indicatestrong growth potential and long-term profitability.

MVP Bakery: At MVP Bakery we provide start-ups with the insight with our expertise and best practise tools to take the ventures to the next level. Therefore MVP bakery is undoubtedly the best choice to scale the business, expand the team, and invest in product development and marketing.