BusinessJune 14, 2026

pre-seed

/priːsiːd/

Definition

The very earliest stage of venture capital funding for a startup, occurring before a formal seed round when the business is often still just an idea or in the initial development phase.

Etymology

Derived from the prefix 'pre-' meaning 'before' combined with 'seed,' a term established in finance during the 1980s to describe the 'planting' of capital to help a business grow from a germinal state.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the $5M in initial funding raised by the company Orbital to develop its satellite constellation, highlighting early-stage investment in the space sector.

VCs Predict the SpaceX IPO Will Lift the Entire Industry

Read the full article ↗

Payload Space

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