Investors break down how founders can raise a Series A today
Investors share advice on raising a Series A, warning of market dysfunction and market froth.
Intelligence analysis by Qwen 2.5 (3B)
Three investors discuss how to raise a Series A, warning of market issues and offering advice on pitching and metrics.
Founders need to tell a good story and be honest about their company. Investors look for strong teams and areas like defense and AI. They also want to see real numbers, not just pretend ones.
Analysis
{"heading_1":"The Current State of Series A Raising","subheading_1":"Shailendra Singh's Warning","content_1":"Managing Director at Peak XV, Shailendra Singh, warns that the current market is one of the hardest to raise in his experience. He describes the burden of convincing top firms and the dispersion of terms and capital.","subheading_2":"Jahanvi Sardana's Perspective","content_2":"Partner at Index Ventures, Jahanvi Sardana, notes that capital is flowing into areas like defense, robotics, and AI infrastructure. She also mentions foundational model companies moving toward vertical integration.","subheading_3":"Jenelle Teng Wade's Advice","content_3":"Partner at Bessemer, Jenelle Teng Wade, advises founders to be honest in a market where inflated metrics are common. She emphasizes the importance of intellectual honesty and warns against showing cumulative revenue charts."}
Key points
- Founders need to tell a strong story and be honest about their company
- Investors look for strong teams and areas like defense and AI
- Real numbers are important, not just inflated ones
The market could still see growth, but with a correction in 2027, founders should be prepared for a more challenging environment.
The market is currently dysfunctional, and founders need to be cautious about their projections and product-market fit.
