seed money

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seed money" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to initial funding used to start a business or project. Example: "The entrepreneur secured seed money from investors to launch her tech startup."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"That was my seed money," he said.

The New York Times

They also gave seed money to entrepreneurs.

The Economist

The seed money came in.

The New York Times - Magazine

Is there seed money available from the college/university?

Cornell University

(Parents and others chipped in $10,000 in seed money).

The New York Times

The village plans to donate $10,000 in seed money.

The New York Times

Indeed, the business's initial seed money came from her father.

The New York Times

He bootstrapped Trademarkia with about $25,000 in seed money.

The New York Times

Investors can provide seed money for clean technologies.

The New York Times

The couple wanted to donate seed money for various projects in China.

University of California, Berkeley

The Review Committee will look favorably on matching funds or seed money requests.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or research contexts, use "seed money" to refer to initial grants or funding that enable preliminary research or project development.

Common error

Avoid using "seed money" to describe later stages of funding or large investments. "Seed money" specifically refers to the initial capital used to start a venture, not subsequent rounds of financing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seed money" functions as a noun, specifically a compound noun, referring to capital or funds used to initiate a new business or project. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in sentences where initial funding is discussed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

23%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Seed money" is a common and grammatically correct term referring to the initial capital required to start a business or project. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe the funds that enable a venture to begin and grow. Found most frequently in news and media sources, it's also prevalent in academia and formal business contexts. To ensure clarity, remember that "seed money" refers specifically to the early-stage funding, distinct from later rounds of investment or loans. Alternatives like "startup capital" or "initial investment" can be used, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

startup capital

Focuses on the purpose of the money as initial investment for a startup.

initial investment

Highlights the action of investing funds at the beginning of a project.

venture capital

Refers to capital specifically invested in startups and small businesses with growth potential.

early stage funding

Emphasizes the timing of the funding in the project lifecycle.

start-up funds

Uses a slight variation in word choice while maintaining the core meaning.

preliminary financing

Indicates funding that comes before later, more substantial financing.

foundation funding

Suggests funding that builds a base or foundation for a project.

launch capital

Focuses on using capital to launch a new venture.

development funding

Highlights funding allocated to develop or grow something.

first round investment

Specifies the investment as the first in a series of funding rounds.

FAQs

How is "seed money" typically used in a sentence?

"Seed money" is usually used to describe the initial investment used to start a business or project. For example, "They needed "seed money" to get the project off the ground".

What are some synonyms for "seed money"?

Alternatives for "seed money" include "startup capital", "initial investment", or "early stage funding", depending on the context.

Is "seed money" the same as "venture capital"?

While both terms relate to funding, "seed money" refers specifically to the initial capital to start a venture, while "venture capital" typically refers to larger investments in startups and small businesses with significant growth potential.

What's the difference between "seed money" and a "loan"?

"Seed money" often comes from investors or grants and may not require repayment, while a "loan" is a debt that must be repaid with interest. "Seed money" is generally used for equity, while a loan is for debt.