Series A Needs to Change
October 6, 2025
I’ve been in Silicon Valley for almost 20 years and during that time the Series A round has barely changed.
Hello Everybody. Today we’re talking about the harsh reality of acquisitions. Many founders see acquisition as the next logical step if fundraising isn’t going well. The reality is pretty tough:
1. Unless you have strong demand from a very interested potential buyer, the vast majority of startups are not acquired; they simply fail.
2. Acquisitions take at least 6 months, usually 9. If you don’t have that kind of runway, the acquisition will likely fail taking your company with it.
3. Without a competitive process, most acquisitions are for less than what the startup raised. If you’re lucky you and your team get jobs.
Headlines often give a rose tinted view of startup acquisitions. The reality is usually very different.
Thanks a lot for watching and best of luck out there.
