Watch the Replay: Fall 2025 SaaS Accelerator Q&A Session
The TinySeed accelerator team (Rob Walling, Tracy Osborn, and Alex McQuade) hosted a live application info session to answer questions about the Fall 2025 application round.
New to TinySeed? Check out the recording above, read more about the program, or check out our FAQ.
Questions Answered:
(Click the timestamp to jump straight to the question on YouTube)
12:10 - Do you have a preference for or against regulated sectors (e.g., healthcare, legal)?
13:20 - Is there a maximum team size restriction? We are transitioning from an agency to a SaaS provider. Our total team is 8, but 4 are dedicated to the SaaS and our SaaS MRR is around $4k.
16:45 - For MRR numbers, do you want gross, or net (ie reduced by refunds) MRR?
17:20 - I got to the final round last year Rob and you had a justified objection about the rigidity of our framework. I've taken the feedback and we have full framework flexibility which we're getting great feedback on. Is it worth applying again?
17:50 - Is your selection affected by AI tools? Do you focus more on AI startups? Or do you avoid it?
22:00 - When is your target date to select the members of the Fall 2025 cohort?
22:30 - Having listened to many of your podcasts, you talk with great enthusiasm for product led growth. Is that your preference, or do you also consider sales led growth as a worthy investment?
24:30 - Do you consider pre-revenue projects?
27:00 - We had our first customer on a previous business model, but since then we have pivoted. Should we add the date of our first customer on the current model?
27:45 - Should sales pipeline play any role in our revenue story in the application or should we stay completely focused on closed won deals/MRR?
28:45 - What would you say is the ratio of American to non-American applications that move forward?
31:10 - How do you feel about non-subscription if it's 50% from all revenue?
33:15 - What is your take on a SaaS that is similar to something you have already invested in? Is that a no-go or can you have 2 competitive companies in your portfolio?
34:10 - Do you still aim for the startup to incorporate as a Delaware C corp or is a European entity ok? Such as a Dutch BV.
36:15 - I live in the US, but my market is in South America since I’m South American and started the SaaS while living there almost 4 years ago. Could this be a potential problem?
37:15 - If I'm pre-revenue, building the product, would that disqualify me or represent a disadvantage? What would help raise the chances of my application?
37:45 - Are you ok with a founding team where everybody is part-time with the startup but willing to go full time once we have the investment?
38:30 - Our software revenue includes subscriptions and one-time project fees. Should recurring project revenue from repeat customers count toward MRR or do you want that as just subscriptions?
40:00 - We have money as a SAFE. Converting to the TinySeed terms is no problem. Is it a red flag?
42:30 - I know you don't invest in companies with more than 4 founders, but what's your take in companies with multiple founders but most of the work is put in by 1 or 2?
44:15 - From the application form, I got the impression that TinySeed focuses on B2B with monthly tickets in the hundreds. Are B2G companies, with higher tickets, also in your thesis?
45:15 - I am working with customers directly, as soon as the product is live, I am expecting sales from them. If I reach $500MRR before September 9th, then will I be in a position to get funding?
46:45 - Should joining MicroConf Connect be a first step prior to applying to TinySeed if already over $1K MRR?
48:30 - If I have a possibility to get funding from an angel and plan to get into TinySeed later, what are the angel's terms that I should avoid?
52:45 - I've 2 products. Both doing revenue. How do you see that?
53:45 - Can you expand on your comment about two sided markets?
54:30 - Some AI based companies are moving to outcome based, or consumption based pricing - it's not a subscription, but it's not traditional one-time either - how should we account for this?
55:00 - How much do you invest in the startup? Does it depend on the valuation and TAM?
55:30 - Does the investment amount scale with the equity stake ($120k for 10%, $170k for 11%)? Or does it vary by company - for example, one company might get $120k for 10% while another gets $120k for 12%?
55:45 - What's the percentage of startups that you have accepted that have already raised angel funding?