AAA Analysis: Median size of corporate-backed rounds grow

Analysis: Median size of corporate-backed rounds grow

The chart below, provided by GCV Analytics, summarises the size evolution of different corporate backed venturing rounds. On the whole, later rounds seem to have grown in size more considerably than earlier stage rounds.

Seed rounds´ median size has fluctuated between $1m and $2m, indicating no significant changes, either upward or downward, over the past six years.

This is likely because such rounds are often not the most interesting to corporate venturers due to the relatively higher risk involved and the more unclear and uncertain strategic fit of a given enterprise. Corporate participants in such rounds, when they do participate, often prefer to go undisclosed.

The series A rounds on the other hand, have experienced noticeable growth: their median size was between $7m and $8m in 2015 and 2016, up from a range of $4-6m during previous years.

In the case of series B rounds, the growth was even more ostensible – the median size remained stable at $16m through 2015-2016, up 60% from $10m back in 2011-2012.

Series C rounds registered an almost two-fold increase: the median C round indicator stood at $30m last year, almost twice as much as the $17m back in 2012.

Series D rounds also experienced a 100% growth in size. The median D round was sized at $41m in 2016, up from $20m six years prior.

In the case of series E & beyond, similar growth levels were observed from $22 to $26m in 2011 and 2012 all the way up to $55 in 2015. The figure, however, went down to $43m in 2016.  

By Kaloyan Andonov

Kaloyan Andonov is head of analytics at Global Corporate Venturing.

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