Reserve capital
Also called: reserves
ELI5
Money saved for later rounds in current investments.
Used in conversation
“Reserve capital limits how many new companies the fund can back.”
Definition
Fund capital held back for future investments in existing portfolio companies.
Here “Reserve capital” means: Fund capital held back for future investments in existing portfolio companies.
Pitch context
You will see “Reserve capital” in fundraising decks, data rooms, term sheets and investor conversations when the discussion reaches fundraising process & investor pipeline.
Why it matters: In fundraising process & investor pipeline, a loose definition can change rights, obligations, approval, disclosure or enforceability.
Caution
Meaning, enforceability and required process vary by jurisdiction and agreement; this definition is not legal advice.
Sources & evidence · 6
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- Y Combinator — The Handshake Deal ProtocolDirect source · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- National Venture Capital Association — Model Legal DocumentsDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Small Business Capital Formation GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Exempt OfferingsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Safe financing documentsSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Series A Term Sheet TemplateSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16