The fundraising crunch starts at the exit. Slow M&A and IPOs mean no distributions to LPs. No LP distributions means no "dry powder" for VCs to invest. This chain reaction is one reason why raising capital is so difficult right now.
Founders obsess over ownership percentage. Wrong metric. Your 20% stake could be worthless if the preference stack is too high.
1 in 5 venture rounds since 2023 has been a down round. A down round isn't failure. It's a strategic reset, reflecting a market that has fundamentally changed and now demands stronger fundamentals.
In 2020, 39% of SaaS startups raised a Series A within 2 years of their seed round. That number has now fallen to just 13%. This is what the Series A squeeze looks like.
Most founders treat board meetings like status updates. That’s a mistake. It’s your chance to lead with a clear narrative—build conviction before you ask for help. Investor support must be constantly earned.
Wondering why the M&A and IPO markets are so tight? No surprise that VCs are pointing to high interest rates and tariff uncertainty as key blocks to an exit. In a tight exit market, focus on what you can control.
VC fundraising hit a decade low pace in Q1 2025 ($10.0B via 87 funds). For founders, this signals one of the toughest fundraising climates in years. Your metrics should be undeniable. Prepare for a marathon, not a sprint.
71.1% of all VC deal value last quarter went to AI. If you're building here, focus on PMF, not hype. If you're not in AI, fundraising keeps getting harder—your story needs to be sharper than ever.
Thinking about launching your fundraise now? November & December are the worst months to start, with just 6.4% of deals closing in January. Here's what you should do.
As an investment vehicle for LPs, venture capital is broken. As a founder, you need to understand this dynamic. Choose your investors wisely.
It's taking longer to raise a round of venture funding. This is a healthy change. Let me explain why.
Zombie VCs are surging: 25% fewer active investors in 2024 vs 2023, and 50% down from 2021's peak. These funds can't make new investments, but their short-term focus can still cause major problems for founders in their portfolio.
