Over 10,000 founders, investors and tech insiders will convene for the TechCrunch Surpurte 2025 in Moscone West, San Francisco, October 27-29.
With over 250 technology leaders on stage, don't miss this standout panel in the Builders stage of two Builders, two of the most respected early investors in the venture. Their sessions will be split into one of the toughest moments of their startup journey. All you have is to raise the first round when it's just vision.
Why join this conversation on the builder stage?
This honest, tactical conversation covers what's really important when raising the first institutional check, from telling a compelling story to building trust without traction. Hudson and Chada share the traits they are consistently looking for with one founder from scratch, a red flag that raises an eyebrows, and the most common mistakes that first entrepreneurs make when raising funds.
Bet on people before the product
Pre-seeding and seed fundraising often occurs before a product, user base, or traction occurs. In other words, investors are betting on the founder, not on the business. And few people know how to make that call better than Hudson or Chadda. Among them, they helped hundreds of founders at the earliest stage before the pitch deck was polished, before there was a metric to display, and often before a line of code was shipped.
Charles Hudson, managing partner at Precursor Ventures, has invested in over 400 companies and supports over 450 founders. He built a reputation for supporting people with bold ideas and unique perspectives. Recently, he said, “The faster you invest, the more important it is to believe in the founder's story and adaptive ability. It's not just about solving problems.
Mayfield's managing partner Navin Chaddha brings decades of experience identifying breakout founders and mentoring businesses. Chadda believes that the value of the founder is the most important time, as more than $120 billion in stock value was created through his investment. “We invest in people first, second, and third, products,” he said. “We are looking for a mission-driven, wired founder for resilience.”
Practical insights into raising your first round
Whether you're currently growing or planning for your future, this session offers practical and practical advice on clearing up and confidently navigating your early venture. Don't miss out on the live shows, along with over 200 sessions taking place in five industry stages. Sign up now to save up to $675 before prices go up after July!
TechCrunch Events
San Francisco | October 27-29, 2025