Hockey Stick Growth
Definition
Hockey stick growth is the pattern of flat or slow progress followed by a sharp upward inflection, resembling the blade and shaft of a hockey stick.
How it comes up in fundraising
The term appears both sincerely (a real inflection after product-market fit) and skeptically (financial projections that conveniently inflect right after the fundraise).
Frequently asked questions
Do investors believe hockey stick projections?
Not on faith; a projected inflection needs a mechanism, like a proven channel scaling or a launched product line, or it reads as spreadsheet optimism.
What causes real hockey stick growth?
Compounding loops: network effects, word of mouth kicking in, or a repeatable sales motion suddenly fed with capital.
Related terms
Put this term to work
Definitions win negotiations only when you are in one. Find the investors who fund your stage and start the conversation.
Browse the investor database