Tips for Successful Series a Fundraising

This year, eight of my CEOs successfully closed Series A rounds, ranging from $9M to $45M. Here are 10 key takeaways from their experiences that can help you navigate your own fundraising journey: 1) Rounds took longer than anticipated. On average, they took twice as long as initially planned, largely because VCs are moving much slower than before. 2) There's no pressure for a VC to commit, allowing them to draw out the process. Many VCs strung founders along. My most effective CEOs leveraged backchanneling from existing investors and relationships to cut through the noise and focus on genuine interest. 3) VCs wait for signals. Don't expect a quick "yes." VCs often hold out until they see strong signals of other investors committing. Each CEO effectively had to build a coalition of interested parties. 4) Craft your FOMO. Every CEO found a unique way to create a sense of urgency and healthy competition among potential investors. This is a delicate balance; you don't want to push too hard and risk a "no." 5) Relationships matter. Every single Series A was led by a VC with whom the founders had a prior relationship from their seed round. Nurture those connections! 6) Prior investor validation is key. All rounds included follow-on investments from prior investors, serving as a powerful signal of confidence. 7) Two years of runway is essential. Be prepared to demonstrate a clear path to at least two years of runway. This shows stability and thoughtful planning. VCs are wary of short turnaround times and want to avoid emergency financing situations. 8) The bar for PMF is high. The bar for product-market fit and traction is higher than ever. Show strong, undeniable evidence of your market validation. 9) Be ready to adjust expectations. Some CEOs had to adjust down their original Series A expectation. They were able to put together operating plans that cut down on costs to stretch runway and do more with the original capital, thereby reducing their overall ask. 10) Your network is your net worth. The power of existing relationships and warm introductions cannot be overstated in this competitive landscape. The VCs who went deep didn't come from cold emails or random LinkedIn lists; they came from warm intros from investors or relationships the CEOs had personally cultivated. Good luck to everyone raising. It is possible! You just need to be thoughtful and have a strong support network behind you. Any other fundraising advice or challenges to share? #startups #venturecapital #founderstories #seriesA #siliconvalley

Series A is not a bigger Seed round, it’s a different game. And yes I know it after raising $456M for our clients. At Seed, investors bet on potential. At Series A, they bet on proof. This is where many founders get stuck. They expect the same narrative to work, just with higher numbers. But Series A investors want answers to very different questions: - Are you growing efficiently or just burning cash? - Is there real product-market fit, not just hype? - Can this team scale and lead a category? To raise a fast, confident Series A, you need a system that: 1) Tracks your key metrics consistently Especially burn multiple, growth rate, and retention. No more vanity metrics. 2) Shows how capital will unlock the next inflection point Not just spend plans, but outcomes. 3) Builds investor trust months before you raise Updates. Milestones. Warm intros. Consistency builds conviction. Series A rounds get done in weeks, because the founders behind them started prepping months ago. Set the foundation now so you don’t stall when it’s time to scale. #seriesa #capitalraising #startups #venturecapital #founders #capwave

My team and I raised $11M for our Series A as first-time founders. 5 things I wish I knew ahead of time: (1) The "best advice" is often wrong We spent countless hours getting feedback and advice on how to raise, but every business and raise is different. At the end of the day, investors want to feel the conviction and clarity in your voice, not that you followed the ideal advice (2) Silence is good Don’t rush to fill awkward silences during investor meetings. Those moments force investors to process—and often, they talk themselves into agreeing. The power is in the pause. (3) Don't be afraid to walk out of meetings Walking away from the wrong investor attracts the right ones. If something isn’t sitting well with you, there’s no shame in cutting a meeting short. This is not rude, it respects everyones’ time, including theirs. (4) “Stories not spreadsheets” is false Know thy numbers. Sure, investors might like your story and vision, but they like your numbers better. (5) Your intuition will be wrong Sometimes your intuition can be right, but fundraising is quite a counterintuitive thing. Running a process is more important than your gut reaction on an investor. I hope this helps another founder out there today! #founders #fundraising #venturecapital

Seed round took 3 months. Series A closed in 3 weeks. Here’s what changed: It wasn’t just traction. It was how we told our story. During the Seed round, I focused on proving why we wouldn’t fail. But by the time we raised our Series A, I realized investors don’t care about why you’ll survive. They care about how massive you’ll become if you succeed. Here’s how we approached Series A differently: 1/ Prioritizing vision I focused on painting a clear picture of where the world was heading and how Recall.ai was going to make it happen. Investors want to see the future you’re building, not just where you are today. 2/ Creating momentum In the Series A, I ran a tight process. Every meeting happened in a two-week window, creating urgency and competition. 3/ Finding believers I didn’t waste time convincing skeptics. Instead, I leaned into investors already aligned with our mission and vision. Fundraising isn’t about pleasing everyone. It’s about finding the right believers and showing them why you’re the one to build the future. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about fundraising?