Inside Starcloud's Funding: Space Data Center Startup's Tranche Deal Reveals 4x Valuation Gap
NYCounihan · x · 2026-08-13
When space data center startup Starcloud announced a $170 million raise at a $1.1 billion valuation in March, the deal was actually structured in two tranches. The first tranche, led solely by Benchmark, closed at a $250 million valuation. Just days later, the second tranche closed at more than four times that price.
This deal highlights a growing practice in the VC world where prestige firms secure significantly better pricing than smaller investors. Industry watchers expect that next-round investors will likely push back, demanding to pay the same lower price as the previous tranche rather than accepting a markup.
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