The most complete founder glossary
- 200+
- Terms defined
- 12
- Languages supported
- 1,000+
- Term sheets analyzed
- Free
- No credit card required
Free fundraising glossary
Every fundraising term, in plain English
200+ terms VCs and lawyers use, decoded by founders who already raised. Search what you do not understand and never sound like a beginner.
- 200+ fundraising terms, plain English, no legalese
- Covers SAFEs, term sheets, cap tables, exits, and economics
- Free, localized in 12 languages
Compiled from 1,000+ term sheets, SAFEs, and investor conversations.
Created by founders from top global accelerators
How it works
One search. 200+ terms. Zero confused nodding in meetings.
- 01
Search the term
Type what you heard in a meeting, a term sheet, or a tweet. We find the matching entry.
- 02
Get the plain-English definition
What it means, why it matters, and the founder-friendly versus founder-hostile versions of each clause.
- 03
See related terms
Every term links to the related ones (pre-money links to post-money, liquidation pref links to participation). Build a real model of how the pieces fit.
Three terms every founder needs to know cold
These three come up in nearly every term-sheet negotiation. Sign up to unlock the full 200+ term glossary.
Pre-money valuation
What investors say your company is worth BEFORE their check lands. If pre-money is $5M and they invest $1M, post-money is $6M and they own 16.7%.
Liquidation preference
The investor's right to get their money back first in an exit. "1x non-participating" is standard and fair. "2x participating" means they double-dip and you lose at moderate exits.
Pro-rata rights
The investor's right to keep their ownership percentage in future rounds. Standard for seed and Series A investors. Founders should grant them but cap at major rounds only.
Sign up to unlock the full 200+ term glossary.
How to use a glossary in real fundraising
Reading definitions is one thing. Using them to negotiate is another. Four moves to turn glossary knowledge into leverage.
01
Look up every term before signing anything
Term sheets are full of words with very specific meanings. "Anti-dilution" sounds protective until you realize "full ratchet" can wipe out founder equity in a down round. Look up every term in any document before signing. Five minutes of glossary saves seven figures.
02
Ask investors to define terms in their own words
If an investor uses a term and you are not sure what they mean, ask them to define it. The honest ones will. The ones who get defensive are the ones using vague terms as leverage. Both signals matter.
03
Track the standard versus the offered
Many terms have a market standard (1x non-participating liquidation pref, 4-year vest with 1-year cliff). When an investor offers something off-market, ask why. Sometimes it is reasonable. Sometimes it is a test.
04
Translate every term to dollars
Glossary definitions are abstract. The impact is dollars. Build a quick spreadsheet that shows what the term means in your specific cap table at three different exit scenarios. Numbers beat definitions every time.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from Investopedia?
Investopedia defines terms for analysts. We define them for founders raising. Same words, different framing: what it means for your cap table, your control, and your equity.
Does this replace a lawyer?
No. The glossary helps you understand what your lawyer is talking about. For specific terms in your actual term sheet, always have a startup-focused lawyer review. Glossary is education, not advice.
What if a term is missing?
Tell us. We add new terms monthly based on what founders in our database are asking about. Cap tables and term sheets keep evolving and the glossary keeps up.
Is the glossary the same in every language?
Yes, every term is translated into all 12 supported languages with locale-appropriate startup vocabulary, so a fundraising term in Russian uses startup-Russian, not academic-Russian.
Can I use the glossary in my next pitch?
You should not use jargon in pitches. Use the glossary to UNDERSTAND what investors say to you, then respond in plain English. Jargon-heavy pitches read as inexperienced, not sophisticated.
Keep going
Vocabulary is just the start. Use it to actually raise.
Round Funded
Speak the language. Close the round.
Round Funded gives you the glossary, the investor list, and the outreach templates so you raise smart. Track every send and reply in one pipeline.