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What does it take to raise Series A in today\u2019s market?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The goalposts have moved, the stakes are higher, and investors seem pickier than ever as the AI boom reshapes the industry. At TechCrunch Disrupt, three investors \u2014 Thomas Green of Insight Partners,\u00a0Moxxie Ventures\u2019 Katie Stanton, and GV\u2019s Sangeen Zeb \u2014 broke down what they\u2019ll be looking for in the new year.<\/p>\n
The numbers tell a clear story. Fewer rounds are getting funded but deal sizes have grown, said Green citing a study. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has never been easier to start a\u00a0company,\u00a0and it has never been harder to build something that is defensible,\u201d Stanton said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Zeb, GV uses a specific formula to evaluate companies. The firm analyzes whether startups have achieved product-market fit, examining demand patterns to ensure every quarter outperforms the last. \u201cThat sequence should be happening\u00a0consistently,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stanton echoed this priority. \u201cCan you prove that you can repeatedly\u00a0sell? Can you prove that you can repeatedly\u00a0grow in a big and growing market?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Green cautioned that not every company should pursue venture-scale growth. \u201cIt\u2019s not worth even taking this money unless you think it can be a really big business, right?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said. \u201cMost companies should not [pursue] venture scale. They should not take hundreds of millions of dollars.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Techcrunch event<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco<\/span> Beyond metrics, all three investors emphasized founder quality. Stanton said she is looking for passionate founders who can endure the long journey of building a company. Zeb agreed. \u201cPassion is still the most important thing,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The panel inevitably turned to AI.\u00a0Green assured non-AI companies: \u201cJust because you\u2019re not AI doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t have a very attractive asset, intrinsic quality to you,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n For AI companies trying to differentiate in a crowded market, Green returns to first principles. \u201cWe try to understand, if it\u2019s a market with a lot of competition \u2014 [including] both incumbents and\u00a0next-gen\u00a0competitors\u00a0and platform players \u2014 what is going to be the standout path?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Stanton said she looks founders who combine industry and technical\u00a0expertise, while Zeb prioritizes relentless drive, seeking founders who are constantly asking how to move faster than the competition. <\/p>\n Despite market fluctuations, the panel suggested that core investor priorities remain consistent. \u201cThe bar is high, but if the outcome can be\u00a0impossibly huge,\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0take that [bet],\u201d Green said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 13-15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n