At Series A, fintech investors expect proven revenue, clear regulatory pathway, and a team that can navigate compliance. Unlike other sectors, fintech has an extra dimension: regulation can be your moat or your death.
Fintech investors are evaluating a different risk profile than typical tech investors:
What licenses do you have? What do you need? What is the timeline?
Can you make money on each transaction after compliance costs?
Has anyone on the team navigated financial regulation before?
Does regulation create a moat that protects you from competitors?
Beyond standard SaaS metrics, fintech investors look for industry-specific indicators:
Annualized recurring revenue from subscriptions or fees
Benchmark: $1M-$3M+ for Series A, growing 3x+ year-over-year
Revenue kept from existing customers including expansion
Benchmark: 110%+ shows customers spending more over time
Total value of transactions processed
Benchmark: Depends on model, but should show consistent growth
Your fee as percentage of transaction value
Benchmark: 0.5-3% for payments, higher for lending/insurance
Months to recover customer acquisition cost
Benchmark: Under 12 months for Series A
Compliance spend as percentage of revenue
Benchmark: Should decrease as you scale, show the trend
Evidence needed: Quantified pain point with regulatory or structural market failure
Show the specific friction in financial services. Cost of current solutions, time wasted, money left on table.
Evidence needed: Working product with regulatory pathway clear
Explain how you solve the problem AND how you navigate compliance. Both matter equally.
Evidence needed: Transaction volume, addressable accounts, regulatory TAM
Fintech markets are often constrained by regulation. Show you understand the actual addressable market.
Evidence needed: Revenue, transaction volume, customer count, regulatory milestones
Series A fintech needs real revenue. Show growth rate and path to profitability.
Fintech Series A decks need a dedicated regulatory slide. This is not optional. Here is what to include:
Investors will find out. Be upfront about challenges and your plan to address them.
Compliance is expensive. Budget 15-25% of operating costs for early-stage fintech.
If no one on the team has fintech regulatory experience, that is a red flag.
Many fintech products require state-level licensing. Show you understand the patchwork.
Pitchkit helps you structure your fintech pitch with industry-specific guidance.
Get startedEvidence needed: Fintech experience, regulatory expertise, technical depth
Investors want to see someone who has navigated compliance before. Former regulators are gold.
Evidence needed: Current licenses, pending applications, compliance roadmap
Dedicated slide for regulatory status. This is non-negotiable for fintech Series A.
Evidence needed: Incumbent banks, other fintechs, regulatory moats
Show how regulation creates barriers to entry that protect your position.
Evidence needed: Revenue streams, take rate, unit economics per transaction
Fintech unit economics are scrutinized heavily. Show you can make money on each transaction.
Evidence needed: 18-month actuals, 3-year projections, path to profitability
Series A investors want to see real numbers. Show revenue growth, burn rate, and runway.
Evidence needed: Specific amount, use of funds including compliance costs, 18-month milestones
Typically $10M-$25M at Series A. Be explicit about regulatory costs in use of funds.