All terms
Investment & FinanceStartup Lifecycle
Down Round
Financing at a lower per-share price than the previous round.
Reviewed by Christian Espinosa, Founder, Blue Goat CyberLast reviewed May 5, 2026
Definition
A down round prices new shares below the prior round's price per share, typically triggering anti-dilution adjustments and signaling that the company has missed expectations.What this means in practice
MedTech down rounds frequently follow failed pivotal trials, FDA non-clearances, or post-market safety signals. A well-structured 'pay-to-play' can keep insiders engaged and prevent worst-case dilution math.Primary references
3 sourcesLink health: 2 verified 1 bot-blocked· last checked 2026-05-09
Cooley GO·1NVCA·1SVB·1
- 1
Cooley GO: down roundsBot-blockedCooley GOcooleygo.com
- 2
NVCA Model DocumentsVerifiedNVCAnvca.org
- 3
Silicon Valley Bank - Healthcare ReportsVerifiedSVBsvb.com
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