Founders - here's the full span of valuations for US software startups in 2024.
Obviously the headlines are full of figures from the right side of this table. Valuations at the 90th and 95th percentiles ("Wild" and "Bonkers", in the technical terms) are more likely to get press and Twitter plaudits.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗢𝘂𝘁
• Median figures are quite robust - higher in basically every stage than they were last year and rivaling the peak values in early stages (though of course on lower round volume).
• The Bonkers column looks like we never left 2021.
• The Bonkers column is also full of AI startups.
• The very low figures in 10th and 25th percentiles at Series D reflect some major down rounds over the past 12 months.
• Unicorns are still being minted (67 new ones in the first 3 quarters of 2024).
• Hardware and Biotech companies tend to lag on valuation in early stages but catch up in later ones.
• Comparison remains the thief of joy!
Of course getting a Wild valuation in one round is no guarantee of anything in the next. Companies bounce around these percentiles all the time.
Just thought a full view would be more reassuring than the next Fortune headline figure 🙏
Here's to a healthy startup 2025!
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Peter Walker
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