Startup & Tech Glossary

Plain-English definitions of startup, funding, AI, and tech terms — with Philippine examples where possible.

Angel Investor

Funding Investment

An angel investor is a wealthy individual who invests their own money into an early startup in exchange for equity.

Bridge Round

Funding Investment

A bridge round is a smaller, quicker round of funding that helps a startup last long enough to reach its next big priced round.

Cap Table

Funding Investment

A cap table is a spreadsheet showing exactly who owns what percentage of a startup, including founders, employees, and investors.

Convertible Note

Funding Investment

A convertible note is a short-term loan to a startup that converts into equity later, usually at the next priced funding round.

Dilution

Funding Investment

Dilution is the drop in a founder's or existing shareholder's ownership percentage that happens when a startup issues new shares.

Due Diligence

Funding Investment

Due diligence is the detailed check an investor does on a startup's finances, legal status, and team before finalizing an investment.

Exit

Funding Investment

An exit is the event where founders and investors finally turn their startup ownership into real cash, usually via acquisition or IPO.

Post-Money

Funding Investment

Post-money valuation is a startup's estimated worth right after new investor money has been added, so it always includes that new cash.

Pre-Money

Funding Investment

Pre-money valuation is what a startup is estimated to be worth right before new investor money is added in a funding round.

Seed Round

Funding Investment

A seed round is usually a startup's first real outside funding round, meant to help it build a product and find its first customers.

Series A

Funding Investment

A Series A is typically a startup's first big round led by professional VC firms, raised once there's real evidence the product works.