"A" Round Financing
"A" Round Financing is the first main round of business financing through private equity investors or venture capitalists. In private equity investing, an "A" round, or Series A financing, is generally in the form of convertible preferred stock. An "A" round by outside investors usually takes place after the founders have utilized their seed money to give a "proof of concept" representing that their business concept is a feasible - and ultimately profitable - one
When investing in companies, private equity investors characteristically favor convertible preferred stock to common stock for a variety of rounds of financing, like Series A, Series B etc., because of the particular features of the security. Convertible preferred stock have characteristics like dividend accrual and convertibility into common stock, which can become very profitable. As well, preferred stock will owns a higher degree of rights as compared to a common shareholder.