Startup Fundraising Glossary

Navigate the world of startup financing with confidence

Explore a glossary of essential terms in startups, startup fundraising, bootstrapping and entrepreneurship. Decode the terminology and jargon with ease.

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Option PoolThe Option Pool is shares of stock reserved for future issuance to employees and consultants as part of their compensation.Option Vesting ScheduleThe Option Vesting Schedule is the timetable over which startup employees or founders earn the rights to exercise their stock options.Order FulfillmentOrder Fulfillment is the complete process from the point of sale to delivery of a product to the customer.Order-to-Cash ProcessThe Order-to-Cash Process is the complete process involved in receiving and fulfilling customer orders, crucial for managing cash flow.Organic Customer AcquisitionOrganic Customer Acquisition is the process of gaining customers naturally over time through word of mouth, customer satisfaction, and organic search traffic.Organic GrowthOrganic Growth is expansion from a company`s own business activity, without acquisitions or significant external investment.Organic Reach ExpansionOrganic Reach Expansion involves efforts to naturally increase the number of potential customers or users who encounter a startup`s marketing without paid promotion.Organic User AcquisitionOrganic User Acquisition involves gaining new users through non-paid efforts, such as word-of-mouth, social media sharing, and search engine optimization.Organizational AgilityOrganizational Agility is the capability of a company to rapidly change or adapt in response to market changes.Organizational CapitalOrganizational Capital refers to intangible assets related to the workforce, including knowledge, skills, and experience that contribute to a company`s value.Organizational DesignOrganizational Design is the process of shaping a company`s structure and roles to align with its business strategy and goals.Organizational RestructuringOrganizational Restructuring is the process of changing the organizational structure or business model of a startup to improve efficiency, focus, or growth potential.Organizational Scalability PlanAn Organizational Scalability Plan is a strategic blueprint for growing a startup`s structure, resources, and processes to accommodate future expansion.Original Issue Discount (OID)The Original Issue Discount (OID) is the difference between the original face value and the actual price paid for a bond or other debt instrument.Out-licensingOut-licensing is the practice of licensing proprietary technology, processes, or products to other companies for use.Out-of-Box Thinking in FinancingOut-of-Box Thinking in Financing involves innovative or unconventional approaches to raising capital that diverge from traditional methods, such as crowdfunding or token sales.Out-of-the-Box SolutionsOut-of-the-Box Solutions are innovative and creative solutions that deviate from conventional strategies or methods.Out-of-the-Money OptionAn Out-of-the-Money Option is an option with an exercise price that is not favorable compared to the current market price of the underlying asset.Outbound Investor OutreachOutbound Investor Outreach involves proactive efforts by a startup to connect with potential investors through direct communication channels.Outbound MarketingOutbound Marketing involves traditional marketing methods such as TV ads, direct mail, and cold calling to reach potential customers.Outbound SalesOutbound Sales involves the practice of sales teams initiating customer engagement through direct outreach methods like cold calling or emailing.Outbound Sales StrategyAn Outbound Sales Strategy is a proactive approach to selling where a company initiates customer contact through methods like cold calling or emailing.Outgrowth Expansion StrategyAn Outgrowth Expansion Strategy involves planning and executing the expansion of a startup`s products, services, or market presence beyond its original scope.Outperformance BenchmarkingOutperformance Benchmarking involves setting performance targets for a startup that exceed industry averages or competitor achievements to attract investment.Output-driven FundingOutput-driven Funding involves investment strategies focused on achieving specific business outcomes or milestones before additional funding is released.Outreach Strategy OptimizationOutreach Strategy Optimization is the process of refining methods and channels used to connect with potential investors, customers, or partners to maximize engagement.Outright PurchaseAn Outright Purchase involves acquiring an asset by paying the full amount upfront without financing.Outsource Partner EvaluationOutsource Partner Evaluation is the process of assessing potential third-party vendors or partners for outsourcing specific business functions.Outsourced DevelopmentOutsourced Development refers to using external resources or firms to perform business or project tasks, often to reduce costs or access specialized skills.Outsourcing EfficiencyOutsourcing Efficiency assesses the effectiveness of using external service providers to perform tasks, often to reduce costs or access specialized skills.Outsourcing Efficiency AssessmentOutsourcing Efficiency Assessment involves evaluating the cost-effectiveness and productivity of outsourcing various business functions or projects.Outsourcing StrategyAn Outsourcing Strategy is the plan for utilizing external organizations to perform tasks or functions traditionally handled internally.Over-the-Counter (OTC) TradingOver-the-Counter (OTC) Trading is trading that occurs directly between parties without the use of a formal exchange.OvercapitalizationOvercapitalization is the condition where a company has issued more debt and equity than its assets are worth, leading to diluted earnings per share or financial strain.OverfundingOverfunding occurs when a crowdfunding campaign raises more money than the initially stated goal.Overhead Cost AllocationOverhead Cost Allocation is the method used to distribute overhead costs to different departments or products based on relevant criteria.Overhead Cost AnalysisOverhead Cost Analysis involves examining a startup`s fixed costs not directly linked to product or service production to identify savings or efficiencies.Overhead ExpensesOverhead Expenses are ongoing expenses of operating a business that are not directly associated with producing goods or services.Overhead RateThe Overhead Rate is the ratio of overhead costs to the revenue or labor hours, used to allocate overhead to products or projects.Overhead ReductionOverhead Reduction involves strategies implemented to decrease the ongoing expenses not directly tied to the production of goods or services.OversubscribedOversubscribed occurs when the demand for a company`s stock offering or investment opportunity exceeds the available supply.Owner Financing AgreementAn Owner Financing Agreement is a financing arrangement where the seller of a business provides a loan to the buyer, often used in the sale of small businesses.Owner`s EquityOwner`s Equity is the total value of assets owned by the entrepreneur after all liabilities have been subtracted.Ownership ConcentrationOwnership Concentration is the extent to which a company`s shares are held by a small number of shareholders, potentially influencing control and decisions.Ownership Concentration RiskOwnership Concentration Risk is the potential for issues arising from a startup having a large percentage of its equity held by a small number of investors.Ownership DilutionOwnership Dilution is the reduction in existing shareholders` ownership percentage due to the issuance of new shares.Ownership Equity AnalysisOwnership Equity Analysis involves the examination of the distribution of company equity among founders, investors, and employees to ensure fairness and motivation.Ownership RightsOwnership Rights are the legal rights that come with owning shares in a company, including profit entitlement and voting in shareholder meetings.Ownership StructureThe Ownership Structure is the arrangement of a company`s ownership, including the distribution of shares and voting rights among shareholders.Ownership Structure OptimizationOwnership Structure Optimization involves adjusting the distribution of equity to balance control, incentive, and financial returns among founders and investors.