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    APP GROWTH RESOURCES

    Raising Funds for Your App

    A Complete Guide from Angel to Series C and Beyond

    Building a successful app requires more than just a great idea; it demands funding at various stages to refine the product, scale operations, and ultimately dominate the market. This guide will walk you through each stage of the funding journey—from Angel to Series C and beyond—detailing key metrics, team expectations, notable examples, relevant venture capitalists, and even government grants in the UK, US, and EU.

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    • App Growth Agency 2023
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    Funding Stages and Key Metrics

    → From Idea to Category Leader

    1. Angel Stage

    At the Angel stage, startups seek initial funding to turn a concept into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Investors focus on the founding team's background, industry insights, and the potential for the idea to solve a pressing market problem.

    Key Metrics:

    • Concept Validation: A well-researched idea with a clear value proposition.
    • Market Research: Evidence of a market need and understanding of target users.
    • Initial Traction: Early prototype feedback or user interest.

     

    What Investors Look For:

    • Strong Founders: Investors prioritize the team’s insights and competitive advantage.
    • Vision: A compelling story about why this problem matters and why this team is uniquely positioned to solve it.

     

    Example:

    • Company: Airbnb
    • Round: In 2008, Airbnb raised $20,000 from Y Combinator to develop their platform for connecting hosts and travelers.
    • Pitch Deck: Airbnb's Early Pitch Deck

     

    Notable Angel Investors:

    2. Seed Stage

    The Seed stage is where startups secure funding to finalize their MVP, conduct market testing, and validate product-market fit.

    Key Metrics:

    • MVP Development: A functional MVP ready for user testing.
    • User Feedback: Positive responses from early adopters.
    • Revenue (if applicable): Early signs of monetization.

    What Investors Look For:

    • Team Growth: The transition from a scrappy founder-led effort to assembling a competent early team.
    • Market Insights: A deeper understanding of customer needs and market dynamics.

    Example:

     

    Relevant VCs:

    3. Series A

    Series A funding aims to scale the product, optimize the business model, and expand the user base.

    Key Metrics:

    • Revenue Generation: Consistent revenue streams and signs of scalability.
    • User Growth: A growing active user base with improving retention.
    • Market Penetration: Evidence of market share gains.

     

    What Investors Look For:

    • Product-Market Fit: Clear signs that the product solves a critical problem for users.
    • Scalable Model: Demonstrated ability to grow while maintaining or improving unit economics.

     

    Example:

     

    Relevant VCs:

    4. Series B

    Series B funding focuses on scaling operations, enhancing product offerings, and expanding into new markets.

    Key Metrics:

    • Revenue Growth: Accelerating revenues and efficient scaling.
    • Market Expansion: Entering new geographies or verticals.
    • Team Expansion: Building out departments like sales, marketing, and customer success.

     

    What Investors Look For:

    • Market Leadership: Evidence that the company is on track to become a category leader.
    • Strong Financials: Clear unit economics and profitability path.

     

    Example:

    • Company: Dott
    • Round: In 2021, Dott raised $85 million in its Series B round to expand its e-scooter sharing services across Europe.
    • Pitch Deck: Dott's Series B Pitch Deck

     

    Relevant VCs:

    5. Series C and Beyond

    Series C and subsequent rounds focus on scaling globally, launching new products, and preparing for IPO or acquisition.

    Key Metrics:

    • Global Presence: Operations across multiple countries.
    • Revenue Milestones: Large-scale revenues demonstrating market dominance.
    • Product Diversification: Expanding the product line to address adjacent markets.

     

    What Investors Look For:

    • Sustainability: A clear strategy for long-term growth and profitability.
    • Exit Strategy: Evidence of preparation for IPO or acquisition.

     

    Example:

    • Company: Spotify
    • Round: In 2012, Spotify raised $100 million in a Series C round to expand globally and improve its streaming platform.

     

    Relevant VCs:

    Our Clients

    • BT
    • Lenovo
    • Canon
    • Investec
    • HomeServe
    • accurx
    • lansweeper
    • huggg
    • WhoCanFixMyCar
    • Coconut.
    • Lick
    • sweatcoin
    • treecard
    • WeGift
    • barbri global
    • Peakon
    • packed.co
    • Fat Llama
    • fing
    • Lifecake
    • Funding Circle
    • Super Carers
    • Mori
    • nutmeg
    • touchlocal.com
    • DAD

    Government Grants for App Funding Process

    Secure Non-Dilutive Funding While Building Credibility and Trust

    🇬🇧 United Kingdom:

    1. Innovate UK Grants: Funding for technology and innovation-focused startups.

    2. Smart Grants: For game-changing projects in science and technology.

    🇺🇸 United States:

    1. SBIR/STTR Programs: Federal grants for research and development-focused startups.

    2. EDA Grants: Supports innovation and regional economic development.

    🇪🇺 European Union:

    1. Horizon Europe: EU’s largest funding program for research and innovation.

    2. EIC Accelerator: Supports high-risk, high-impact innovations.

    Case studies

    BackThen-Logo
    Case study
    BackThen

    BackThen partnered with Kurve to overcome a plateau and skyrocket their user base from 600,000 to...

    sweatcoin
    Case study
    Sweatcoin

    Kurve played an instrumental role in making Sweatcoin the fastest-growing health and fitness app in...

    treecard-logo
    Case study
    Tree Card

    Kurve leveraged TikTok SparkAds to drive a 1,027% increase in Treecard app installs and reduce...

    Key Takeaways for Founders

    Key Takeaways for Founders

    At every stage, investors are not just looking at metrics but also at the team’s vision, insights, and ability to execute. Whether you’re building your MVP or scaling globally, a clear narrative and strategic approach to funding can make all the difference.

     

    Cem Eyi

    Cem Eyi

    Co-Founder, Beanstalk

    Working with Kurve on TikTok influencer outreach has been great. We are targeting the “mumtok” sphere to introduce Beanstalk – our award winning Junior ISA app. Kurve’s outreach strategy, onboarding of talent and managing of paid media were all instrumental in helping make the channel successful for us.

    Bogdana Orzu

    Bogdana Orzu

    Growth Campaign Manager, Sweatcoin

    The testing and scaling we did with Kurve really validated our channels, and we’re really looking forward to accelerating this going forward.

    Jamie Cox

    Jamie Cox

    Co-founder & CEO, Treecard

    Results have been astonishing, and orders of magnitude better than other agencies we’ve worked with.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    App funding typically progresses through stages: Angel, Seed, Series A, Series B, and beyond. Each stage reflects the maturity of the app and focuses on milestones like MVP development, product-market fit, scaling growth, and market expansion.

    • Angel Stage: Strong team, unique insights, MVP potential.
    • Seed Stage: Early traction, validated MVP, and scalable market opportunity.
    • Series A: Proven product-market fit, significant user growth, and revenue generation.
    • Series B and Beyond: Scaled operations, strong financials, and demonstrated market leadership.

    Yes, there are government grants like Innovate UK in the UK, SBIR in the US, and Horizon Europe in the EU. These grants provide non-dilutive funding, helping you grow while retaining equity.

    To access these grants:

    • Identify relevant opportunities for your region or industry.
      Prepare a strong application, including business plans, technical details, and market validation.
    • Consider working with an agency experienced in grant applications for increased success rates.

    A strong pitch deck includes:

    • A compelling story about the problem your app solves.
    • Clear metrics showing traction and growth potential.
    • A standout team with industry insights and a competitive edge.
    • A roadmap with specific funding usage and milestones.
    Kurve offers growth strategies and actionable insights that highlight your app’s potential to investors. We help refine your metrics, build a data-driven growth story, and create the credibility needed for successful funding rounds.
    Yes, we assist in identifying and preparing applications for government grants and other non-dilutive funding options, helping you retain full control of your business while securing capital.





    Talk to Our Growth Experts For More
    • Samuel Olsson, App Growth Specialist

      Samuel Olsson

      App Growth Specialist

    Sweatcoin’s successful growth strategy

    Sweatcoin’s successful growth strategy

    Business growth comes from product traction, market appeal, and further growth potential. Working with Kurve helped Sweatcoin become the Number 1 Health and Fitness app in the UK and the fastest-growing Health and Fitness app in history.

    App Growth Awards Winners

    App Growth Awards Winners

    The App Growth Awards are the global barometer for app growth and marketing excellence, celebrating innovation and success within the industry. Kurve was awarded winner in the category App Marketing Agency of the Year 2023.

    Shorty Impact Awards Winners

    Shorty Impact Awards Winners

    The Shorty Impact Awards are an international program that celebrates organisations making the world a better place. Kurve’s submission was shortlisted in the TikTok category – alongside industry giants Al Jazeera English TikTok and TEDToks – and won the Silver Honor prize. Read our full submission and learn more about how we can help your business make a positive impact in the world: Kurve x Treecard: TikTok for Green Impact.

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