TL;DR
- - Focus on structuring your raise to build lasting partnerships
- - $600 million AUM firms share winning strategies (Marlon Nichols, MaC Venture Capital)
- - Gain insights from VCs with stellar funding track records
- - Attending this event can optimize your investment approach
Do you know what it takes to successfully raise a seed round? At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, seasoned investors will share the insider tips you need to stand out. As investor competition heats up, founders must leverage actionable strategies to secure funding. Join us to gain precise step-by-step guidance from top VCs, ensuring you're equipped for success in this challenging landscape.
Opening Analysis
Raising capital as an emerging startup is increasingly competitive, with venture capitalists receiving hundreds of pitches daily. TechCrunch Disrupt's panel discussion titled From Pitch to Partnership offers critical insights for entrepreneurs aiming to stand out. This session will help you navigate the complexities of early-stage funding with advice from elite investors Maria Palma, Gabby Cazeau, and Marlon Nichols. The session marks an essential opportunity for founders to learn from those who have mastered seed-stage investment.
Market Dynamics
The panelists—Maria Palma from Freestyle Capital, Gabby Cazeau from Harlem Capital, and Marlon Nichols from MaC Venture Capital—highlight a shifting landscape where understanding investor priorities can make or break a seed round. As VCs increasingly prioritize strategic partnerships over quick wins, accessing insights from those deeply embedded in multiple sectors, like enterprise software and applied AI, becomes invaluable.
Technical Innovation
The conversation will delve into crafting pitches that resonate with tech-driven VCs. Gabby Cazeau, known for her work in applied AI, underscores the demands for startups to integrate innovation into their funding narratives. This involves moving beyond just technology to connect it with clear market benefits.
Financial Analysis
Marlon Nichols, with over $600 million in assets under management at MaC Venture Capital, will share metrics and growth trajectories crucial to compelling VC interest. His insights could help founders refine financial models that stand up to intense scrutiny and demonstrate scalable potential.
Strategic Outlook
The panel discussion is designed to present a forward-looking perspective, identifying potential winners in the seed-stage race. Risks such as market saturation, and opportunities like unmet niches in AI and SaaS, will be discussed. For VC firms like Freestyle Capital and Harlem Capital, fostering ongoing relationships with startups is as vital as their initial investment.
