Full Definition
Series C is a later-stage funding round typically raised by companies that have already achieved significant scale and are looking to accelerate growth further, make strategic acquisitions, expand globally, or prepare for a public offering.
Series C rounds often range from $30 million to $100+ million, with company valuations commonly exceeding $200 million. Investors at this stage include late-stage VC firms, growth equity funds, hedge funds, and sometimes sovereign wealth funds.
Common Uses
- Acquiring smaller competitors or complementary businesses
- Massive international expansion
- Building out enterprise sales infrastructure
- Pre-IPO balance sheet strengthening
Real-World Example
A logistics company raises $75M Series C led by a growth equity firm to fund acquisitions across Southeast Asia.
Related Terms
The second major round of venture funding, focused on scaling the business to a larger market.
The process of offering shares of a private company to the public for the first time on a stock exchange.
The phase where a startup has proven product-market fit and focuses on rapidly scaling revenue and operations.
Investment firms that acquire stakes in or buy out mature companies to improve operations and resell at a profit.
The estimated monetary worth of a company, determined through various methods and negotiations.
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