Strategies and Insights on Fundraising

Raising venture capital in 2025-2026 has become a full-time sales job. Following the 2022 market correction, venture capital funding globally dropped by approximately 35-40% year-over-year, and cycles haven’t fully recovered. What used to take 2-3 months now stretches to 4-6 months for typical Seed and Series A rounds. Seed funding is the earliest stage of VC fundraising, providing startups with the initial capital needed to validate their product and business model before progressing to Series A and B rounds. VC funding typically occurs in stages—seed, Series A, and Series B—with each stage tied to specific milestones such as product validation, revenue traction, and scaling operations. The days of founders taking a handful of warm meetings and walking away with a term sheet are largely behind us. VC fundraising is inherently high risk and high reward—venture capitalists accept that a significant percentage of venture-backed startups fail, with estimates as high as 75%, in exchange for the potential of outsized returns from a few successful investments.

Today’s fundraising process demands relentless outreach. Startup founders routinely speak with 50-150 investors per round, sending 200-500 initial emails, managing multi-week follow-up sequences, and tracking interest levels from associates all the way up to partners. Every conversation needs to be logged, every objection remembered, every warm intro path mapped. VC funding is extremely competitive, with founders often meeting dozens of firms before landing a single term sheet, and only a small proportion of startups ultimately succeed. VCs invest in startups that can present compelling storytelling, data-backed metrics, and have built strong relationships with investors. Without a system, critical details slip through the cracks.

This is where CRM-style tools enter the picture. In the venture capital context, “CRM-style” means more than basic contact management. It includes pipeline views showing where each investor sits in your process, automatic email logging, task reminders for follow-ups, centralized notes on investor objections and preferences, and secure data room links—all tuned specifically for how founders interact with vc investors rather than how salespeople track customers.

Metal is one example of an AI-powered fundraising operating system designed specifically for this challenge. Founded in 2023, backed by Y Combinator, and headquartered in Los Angeles, Metal serves Pre-seed to Series A founders managing their vc funding rounds. Accelerators like Techstars now use Metal as their default fundraising platform for cohorts. For venture capitalists, the ultimate goal is often a liquidity event—such as an acquisition or IPO—typically expected within a decade of their investment, as this is when they realize returns on their high-risk bets.

This article will compare purpose-built fundraising CRMs against generic tools, walking through concrete features, practical workflow recommendations, and how to choose the right system for your next raise. Whether you’re running your first investment fund outreach or preparing for Series A, the tools and practices here will help you operate with the discipline this market demands. Investors now prioritize hard numbers over grand visions, expecting startups to defend their unit economics—such as demonstrating LTV:CAC ratios greater than 3:1 and payback periods under 12 months—throughout the fundraising process.

Introduction to Venture Capital

Venture capital (VC) is a specialized form of private equity that provides financial capital to early-stage, high-growth companies with the potential for significant returns. Unlike traditional bank loans, venture capital funding is typically exchanged for an ownership stake in the company, aligning the interests of both founders and investors. Venture capitalists seek out innovative startups with strong founding teams, scalable business models, and large total addressable markets.

For early stage companies, VC funding is often the catalyst that enables rapid product development, market expansion, and team growth—milestones that are difficult to achieve with personal funds or angel investing alone. In 2024, the venture capital industry continued to play a pivotal role in the startup ecosystem, with over $215 billion invested in US-based startups. This influx of financial capital not only fuels innovation but also helps promising companies reach the scale needed for successful exits, such as IPOs or acquisitions. As a result, venture capital vc remains a critical engine for entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Understanding VC Firms

A venture capital firm is an investment company that manages a venture capital fund—a pool of money sourced from institutional investors like pension funds, endowments, and family offices, as well as high net worth individuals. These investors, known as limited partners, commit capital to the fund with the expectation of sharing in the profits generated by successful investments. The venture capital firm itself acts as the general partner, responsible for making investment decisions, managing the fund’s portfolio, and guiding startups toward growth and exit opportunities.

VC firms are typically structured as limited partnerships, which helps align incentives between the general partner and the limited partners. For example, a venture capital firm might raise a $100 million fund and invest in a portfolio of 10-15 startups, carefully selecting each company based on its potential for outsized returns. The general partner earns management fees and a share of the profits (carried interest), while limited partners receive distributions from successful exits. This structure allows vc firms to leverage the expertise of their investment teams while providing institutional investors and high net worth individuals with access to high-growth investment opportunities.

Developing an Investment Thesis

Developing a robust investment thesis is foundational for any venture capital firm aiming to stand out in a crowded market and attract the right investors. An investment thesis is more than a mission statement—it’s a strategic framework that defines the types of companies a venture capital firm will target, the industries and markets it will prioritize, and the criteria for making investment decisions. For startup founders, understanding a VC’s investment thesis is crucial for identifying promising companies that align with the firm’s focus and for tailoring outreach to the right investors.

A well-articulated investment thesis helps venture capital firms sharpen their investment strategy, streamline deal sourcing, and make faster, more informed decisions. It also signals to limited partners and other stakeholders that the firm has a clear vision and a disciplined approach to building a high-performing portfolio. For example, a VC firm might focus on early stage SaaS companies in North America with strong founding teams and a large total addressable market, or it might specialize in climate tech startups with proven traction.

For startup founders, researching and matching your business to a VC’s investment thesis increases your chances of securing funding and building long-term investor relationships. Ultimately, a clear investment thesis benefits both venture capitalists and founders by aligning expectations, reducing wasted time, and increasing the likelihood of successful investment outcomes.

Angel Investing: Key Differences from Venture Capital

Angel investing and venture capital are both vital sources of funding for early stage companies, but they differ significantly in structure, scale, and approach. Angel investors are typically high net worth individuals who invest their own money directly into startups, often at the seed or pre-seed stage. These investments are usually smaller in size compared to those made by venture capital firms, but angels often bring valuable industry expertise, mentorship, and personal networks to the table.

In contrast, venture capital firms are professional investment organizations that manage pooled funds from limited partners and invest larger amounts in early stage and growth-stage companies. While angel investors may take a hands-on role in guiding the founding team, venture capital firms tend to focus on providing financial capital and strategic support, leveraging their broader resources and networks.

For startup founders, understanding the differences between angel investing and venture capital is crucial when planning a funding round. Angels can be a great fit for early stage startups seeking not just capital but also guidance and introductions, while venture capital firms are often better suited for companies looking to scale rapidly and access larger pools of capital. Both types of investors play a key role in the startup ecosystem, but their motivations, investment strategies, and involvement levels can vary widely.

Investment Strategy

Every venture capital firm develops a unique investment strategy to guide its investment decisions and maximize fund performance. Some vc firms focus on specific sectors, such as technology, healthcare, or fintech, leveraging their own expertise and industry insights to identify promising companies. Others specialize in particular stages of company development—such as seed, Series A, or later-stage rounds—tailoring their approach to the needs and risks of early stage or more established companies. Geography is another key factor, with some firms concentrating on startups in a particular region or country to capitalize on local networks and market dynamics.

Many successful VC firms combine these approaches, for example, by investing in early stage SaaS startups in North America. A well-defined investment strategy helps ensure that the firm’s portfolio aligns with its goals, risk tolerance, and the interests of its limited partners. It also streamlines deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio management, enabling fund managers to make informed investment decisions and support their portfolio companies effectively throughout the investment periods.

Fund Administration

Fund administration is the backbone of a well-run venture capital firm, encompassing the day-to-day management of a venture capital fund’s operations. This includes accounting, financial reporting, cash flow management, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Most vc firms choose to outsource fund administration to specialized third-party providers, allowing them to reduce operational costs and focus on their core mission: identifying and supporting promising startups.

Effective fund administration ensures that limited partners receive timely and accurate updates on fund performance, investment activity, and portfolio company progress. It also helps vc firms maintain compliance with industry regulations and best practices, minimizing the risk of errors or oversights. By streamlining these essential functions, fund administration enables venture capital firms to operate efficiently, build trust with their investors, and dedicate more resources to sourcing and nurturing the next generation of high-growth companies.

Regulatory Environment: Impact on VC Fundraising and CRM Compliance

The regulatory environment plays a significant role in shaping how venture capital firms raise funds and manage investor relationships. Compliance with securities laws, tax regulations, and anti-money laundering requirements is essential for any venture capital firm seeking to raise funds from institutional investors or high net worth individuals. Regulations such as the Dodd-Frank Act in the United States have introduced stricter oversight, requiring some venture capital firms to register with the SEC and adhere to enhanced disclosure and reporting standards.

In addition to fundraising regulations, data privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union have a direct impact on how venture capital firms manage their CRM systems and handle sensitive investor and founder data. Ensuring CRM compliance means implementing robust data protection measures, maintaining clear records of investor communications, and providing transparency around data usage.

Staying up-to-date with evolving regulations is critical for venture capital firms to avoid legal pitfalls, protect their reputation, and maintain the trust of limited partners and portfolio companies. By prioritizing compliance in both fundraising and CRM practices, VC firms can operate more efficiently and confidently in a complex regulatory landscape.

Why You Need a Fundraising CRM for Venture Capital Funding Rounds

Without a dedicated system, fundraising quickly becomes chaotic. Most early stage companies start with a spreadsheet—maybe a Notion page or two—tracking investor names, email addresses, and a vague “status” column. Within two weeks, that spreadsheet has 100+ rows, tabs for different investor tiers, and no clear record of who said what or when your last email went out.

The result? Forgotten follow-ups, missed meetings, and lost term sheets. Research from founder communities suggests that founders without systematic tracking lose 20-30% of their opportunities simply by failing to follow up at the right time. Maintaining strong investor relationships through clear communication and transparency is crucial for long-term fundraising success, as it builds trust and keeps investors engaged throughout the process.

A fundraising CRM solves these core problems:

• Tracking 100+ investor conversations without relying on email search or memory
• Managing follow-up cadences so no investor falls through the cracks after a first call
• Distinguishing partners from associates and understanding where real decision-making power sits
• Mapping stages of interest from initial outreach through diligence to term sheet
• Surfacing warm intro paths through your personal network, co founders, and advisors

Targeting the right investors by matching your company's stage and sector to investor interests is essential for maximizing your chances of success.

The numbers underscore why this matters: average Seed or Series A raises now require 50-100 investor meetings and 200-500 outbound emails over 3-6 months. Managing that volume manually is a recipe for mistakes.

Generic sales CRMs like HubSpot, Pipedrive, or Salesforce can technically work, but they weren’t built for this. They lack:

• Built-in databases of venture capitalists and angel investors with check size, geography, and sector filters
• Investment thesis matching to identify which vc firms actually invest in companies like yours
• Warm intro graphs showing network paths to key investors
• Round-specific views for tracking ownership stake targets and valuation benchmarks

Preparation for fundraising should also include organizing a data room with financial models and legal documents.

On the investor side, venture capital firms use tools like Affinity and DealCloud for deal sourcing and managing limited partners. As a founder raising capital, you need the mirror image—tools designed for your side of the table. Startups should be specific about the amount they are raising and the exact milestones the funding will achieve.

Key Features to Look For in a VC Fundraising CRM

The right fundraising CRM maps directly to each step of your raise: plan your round, build a target list, reach out, manage the pipeline, and close. Here are the features that matter most.

Investor Discovery

You need the ability to search a comprehensive database of investors by:

• Check size (e.g., $500k-$3M)
• Stage (Pre-seed, Seed, Series A)
• Geography (US, UK, DACH, LATAM)
• Sector focus (SaaS, fintech, climate tech)
• Fund size ($50M-$500M)

Purpose-built tools typically offer databases of 50,000-100,000+ venture capital investors. Generic CRMs force you to build this from scratch or pay separately for data from Crunchbase or PitchBook.

Investment Thesis Matching

Beyond basic filters, look for scoring or matching capabilities that identify which venture fund managers actually invest in companies similar to yours. AI-powered matching can reduce pass rates from 90% to 60-70% by prioritizing investors whose investment thesis aligns with your business.

Relationship Intelligence and Warm Intros

Warm introductions generate 3-5x higher response rates than cold outreach (70% response vs. 10-20% cold). The right CRM maps your network—angels, alumni, other founders, accelerator mentors, prior employers—to identify paths into specific funds. Look for tools that visualize 2nd and 3rd-degree connections.

Fundraising Pipeline Management

You need a clear visual pipeline, typically Kanban-style, with stages like:

• Researching
• Intro requested
• Warm intro sent
• First call
• Partner meeting
• Diligence
• Term sheet
• Closed

Pipeline stages should auto-update based on email activity and be easy to customize for your specific fund strategy. Some CRMs are designed to support VC firms that oversee multiple funds, ensuring operational efficiency and legal separation between each fund’s activities.

Email and Calendar Integration

Automatic logging of investor emails and meetings eliminates the 10-15 hours per week founders otherwise spend on manual data entry. Look for native Gmail and Outlook integrations that capture 100% of relevant threads.

Collaboration Features

Your founding team and advisors need shared visibility. Look for:

• Real-time shared views
• Private notes on fund dynamics (e.g., “Associate loves the deal, partner is skeptical about total addressable market”)
• Task assignment for follow-ups

Advanced CRMs can help VC firms manage multiple funds efficiently, providing clear separation and reporting for each fund within the same platform.

Round Strategy Support

Beyond CRM basics, the best tools help with:

• Target round size recommendations based on benchmarks
• Valuation guidance (e.g., 10-15% ownership targets at current market multiples)
• Sequencing outreach strategically (tier 3 funds first for practice, tier 1 last)

Analytics and Reporting

You should be able to see conversion rates by investor type, stage, and geography. Understanding why investors pass helps you refine your pitch and business plan over time. For VC firms managing multiple funds, robust analytics and reporting features are essential to demonstrate fund performance and value to LPs, with clear data separation for each fund.

Security and Compliance

Your pitch deck, cap table, and financial models are sensitive. Look for SOC2 compliance, role-based permissions, and secure data room links that won’t leak to competitors.

Metal: An AI-Powered Operating System for VC Fundraising

Metal was built specifically for early stage startups raising from venture capital investors and sophisticated angel investors. Unlike generic CRMs or investor-side tools, Metal focuses entirely on the founder’s workflow for raising money.

Origin and Credibility

Founded in 2023 and backed by Y Combinator, Metal has quickly become the default fundraising platform for accelerators like Techstars. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the team has built Metal around real founder fundraising experiences, not adapted sales software. Metal also helps founders quickly select their company structure and organize key documents during the initial setup, streamlining the process from day one.

Investor Discovery

Metal’s database includes 100,000+ investors with filters specifically designed for startup fundraising:

• Stage focus (Pre-seed through Series A)
• Check size ranges relevant to early stage fundraising
• Sector and geography filters
• Fund size and recent investment activity

This is startup-side intelligence, not a generic company database.

Relationship Intelligence

Metal maps your existing network—co founders, angels, prior employers, accelerator mentors—to surface possible warm intro paths into target funds. The system can generate 50+ potential introduction routes per fund based on your imported contacts and LinkedIn connections.

Pipeline Management

Metal provides Kanban-style pipeline management with:

• Prebuilt stages designed for venture capital vc rounds
• Customizable notes and tasks per investor
• Shared visibility across the founding team
• Automatic updates based on email activity

Round Coach (Richard AI)

Metal’s in-app AI assistant, Richard, acts as a fundraising advisor:

• Reviews pitch decks and flags weaknesses (e.g., “traction slide lacks year-over-year metrics”)
• Suggests round sizes based on market benchmarks
• Helps prepare for investor calls with specific Q&A prompts based on the investor’s past investments and known concerns
• Generates personalized outreach messages based on investor fit

Concrete Workflows

A typical Metal workflow:

1. Create a target list of 100-200 investors using AI-ranked fit scores
2. Prioritize by fit and intro availability
3. Generate personalized outreach messages
4. Track responses and update pipeline stages automatically
5. Prepare for calls using Richard’s investor-specific prep

Metal enables founders to track their own money invested in the company and highlight support from other investors, such as angels, syndicates, or SPVs, which can help build credibility with LPs. The platform also helps startups demonstrate strong unit economics to prospective investors, including LTV:CAC ratios greater than 3:1 and payback periods under 12 months.

Differentiation vs. Generic CRMs

Metal includes investor thesis data, founder network mapping, and fundraising-specific playbooks. Generic CRMs require you to build all of this manually or integrate multiple third party investors databases. Metal’s ability to track your own money and showcase other investors’ involvement further differentiates it by helping founders establish credibility with institutional backers.

Pricing Model

Metal offers a free tier for very early founders, with paid subscriptions unlocking full investor data, advanced AI features, and collaboration tools. This makes it accessible for pre-seed founders operating on their own capital while scaling with you through future investment rounds.

Get Started

If you’re preparing to raise financial capital in 2025-2026, sign up for Metal and use it as the central operating system for your round—from planning through close.

Other CRM-Style Tools Commonly Used in VC Fundraising

Many founders combine specialized fundraising tools like Metal with more horizontal CRMs and data platforms. Here’s how the ecosystem breaks down.

Foundersuite

Foundersuite has been a fundraising-focused CRM since 2012, offering investor lists (50,000+ contacts), email campaigns with A/B testing, and pipeline tracking. It’s a solid option for founders who want a straightforward workflow. However, it lacks Metal’s AI coaching capabilities and deep relationship intelligence features. Pricing starts around $49/month for basic access.

Affinity

Affinity is primarily a relationship intelligence CRM used by venture capital firms for deal sourcing. It excels at mapping relationship strength based on communication frequency and surfacing warm intro paths. Some founders adapt it for their own fundraising efforts, but it wasn’t built for startup-side workflows. Pricing typically starts at $10,000+/year for firms, making it expensive for individual founders. Industry benchmarks score it 9.2/10 for relationship intelligence but only 6.8/10 for founder fundraising workflows.

HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Salesforce

These are powerful generic sales CRMs. If your startup already runs sales operations in HubSpot or Salesforce, you might consider using the same system for fundraising. The downsides: you’ll need to manually import investor data, there’s no built-in investor discovery or thesis matching, and you’ll spend 10-20 hours on initial setup. Pricing ranges from free (HubSpot) to $25-300/user/month (Salesforce).

Crunchbase Pro, PitchBook, and Tracxn

These are investor and company data sources rather than fundraising CRMs. Use them for research—Crunchbase Pro ($29+/month) provides basic investor profiles, PitchBook ($25k+/year for enterprise) offers deeper industry insights, and Tracxn provides emerging market coverage. However, you’ll need to export data and import it into another system to actually manage your pipeline. They’re discovery tools, not workflow tools.

Visible, DocSend, Capbase, and Gust

These adjacent tools complement a fundraising CRM:

• Visible: Financial modeling and investor updates
• DocSend: Pitch deck sharing with analytics (e.g., 75% of pages viewed)
• Capbase/Gust: Equity management, cap table, and legal workflows

Research suggests 60% of founders use 3-5 tools during a raise. Metal can serve as the central hub, with these tools handling specialized functions.

How to Set Up a VC Fundraising CRM Workflow

A typical VC fundraising campaign takes 6 to 9 months to close and follows a structured process, often starting with the creation of a prospectus. Simply having a tool isn’t enough. You need a deliberate workflow from week zero through closing. Here’s how to structure your fundraising efforts.

Investor Research and Segmentation

Before touching your CRM, define your ideal investor profile:

• Check size ($500k-$2M, $2M-$5M, etc.)
• Geography (US only, global, specific regions)
• Sector focus (B2B SaaS, climate, fintech)
• Typical ownership stake (8-12% at Seed is common)

Then segment into tiers:

• Tier 1: Dream investors, $500M+ AUM funds, brand-name partners
• Tier 2: Strong funds that fit your profile
• Tier 3: Emerging fund managers, micro-VCs, and high net worth individuals

Start outreach with Tier 3 to practice your pitch before approaching your top targets.

Data Import and Cleanup

Gather existing investor contacts from:

• Gmail and email history
• LinkedIn connections
• Existing spreadsheets
• Event attendee lists

Import into your CRM (Metal handles this with one-click imports), then deduplicate—expect 20-30% duplicates in raw imports. Tag contacts with context (e.g., “met at SaaStr 2024,” “accelerator mentor intro”).

Maintaining a clean cap table is critical at this stage, as investors often view a disorganized cap table as a deal killer.

Pipeline Stages

Define 9-11 mutually exclusive stages:

1. To research
2. Intro requested
3. Contacted (cold)
4. Warm intro sent
5. First call scheduled
6. First call completed
7. Deep dive / diligence
8. Partner meeting
9. Term sheet received
10. Closed won
11. Closed lost

Clear stages eliminate ambiguity and make reporting meaningful. Startups are expected to prove they are 'default alive'—capable of surviving without further funding—and to clearly define how the capital raised will be used to achieve specific milestones within an 18-month runway.

Outreach Cadences

Create standardized sequences:

• Day 0: Initial email (warm or cold)
• Day 5-7: Follow-up if no response
• Day 14: Final bump

Research shows structured cadences produce 25% higher conversion from intro to meeting. Metal can auto-generate personalized emails for each sequence step.

Collaboration Routines

Set a weekly fundraising standup with your founding team:

• Review pipeline changes
• Update priorities based on investor interest
• Assign follow-up tasks
• Discuss feedback patterns

15-20 minutes per week keeps everyone aligned.

Note Logging and Decision Memory

After every conversation, log detailed notes:

• What questions did the investor ask?
• What objections came up? (e.g., “GTM unclear,” “market too crowded”)
• Who else did they mention?
• What’s their investment periods timeline?

These notes become invaluable for pattern recognition and future investors in later rounds.

Reporting

Configure views showing:

• Weekly new intros generated
• Meetings held vs. target
• Conversion rate from meeting to second meeting
• Pipeline value vs. target round size

Metal provides these reports out of the box, with investor fit scores helping you prioritize where to focus energy.

Best Practices for Running a VC Fundraising Process and Managing Investor Relationships with a CRM

The 2024-2025 period has been the slowest for US venture capital deals in over a decade, with deal volume down roughly 25% year-over-year. In this environment, discipline separates successful startups from those still searching for their lead investor six months later.

Operate Like a B2B Sales Motion

Treat investors as a pipeline, not a lottery. Set weekly activity goals:

• 15 new intros requested
• 5-10 meetings completed
• 3-5 follow-up conversations

Track these in your CRM religiously. Investment decisions happen faster when you maintain momentum.

Prioritize Warm Introductions

Use relationship intelligence features (like those in Metal) to chase warm paths before broad cold outreach. Warm intros convert at roughly 4x the rate of cold emails. Map your personal network, other founders in your accelerator, angel investments you’ve received, and advisors who know key investors.

Time Your Outreach Waves

Start with Tier 3 funds for your first 10-15 meetings. Use these to refine your pitch, test your valuation story, and identify common objections. Then move to Tier 2, and finally Tier 1 funds when your messaging is sharp. This prevents wasting your best shots while still learning.

Capture and Act on Feedback

Log every “no” and objection in your CRM. After 15-20 conversations, look for patterns:

• Are multiple investors questioning your total addressable market?
• Is your valuation consistently seen as too high?
• Do investors doubt your cash flow path to profitability?

Adjust your story, materials, or round terms based on real feedback, not assumptions.

Keep Everything in One Place

Your CRM should be the single source of truth. Scattering information across email threads, Slack channels, and spreadsheets leads to missed opportunities. When your co founders can see the same pipeline you see, coordination improves dramatically.

Use AI Responsibly

Tools like Metal offer AI-generated outreach drafts, pitch feedback, and call prep. Use these for efficiency, but always add your own voice. Investors can spot templated messages. AI handles the first 80%; you add authenticity for the final 20%.

Maintain Post-Close Relationships

Once your funding round closes, don’t abandon your CRM. Tag investors for:

• Future rounds (Series A, B)
• Quarterly update emails
• Portfolio companies introductions
• Operating partners connections

Today’s “no” can become tomorrow’s lead investor or provide warm intros to other funds.

A well-used fundraising CRM increases your odds of closing faster and on better terms—even when established companies and promising startups are all competing for the same vc money.

Choosing the Right VC Fundraising CRM for Early Stage Companies

The VC industry is facing a period of significant change, with fundraising conditions becoming increasingly challenging for fund managers. In Q1 2025, VC funds raised just $10 billion across 87 funds, putting the industry on track for its lowest fundraising year in a decade. This follows a 22% year-over-year decrease in capital raised by VC funds in 2024. Many LPs are now more cautious with capital allocation due to a steep drop in distributions, and a large portion of their money remains tied up in portfolios that have yet to exit. As a result, 50% of investors cite the need to prove the value of their existing funds as the biggest challenge to fundraising.

The “best” tool depends on your stage, team size, and fundraising cadence. But for most early stage startups, the bias should be toward tools built specifically for fundraising rather than generic sales CRMs adapted for investor outreach.

Selection Criteria

Consider:

• Fundraising stage: Pre-seed and Seed rounds have different needs than Series B
• Expected volume: 50 investors vs. 200 investors requires different tooling
• Team collaboration: Solo founder vs. three co-founders with advisors
• Existing tools: If you already run sales in HubSpot, is it worth maintaining two systems?
• Fund differentiation: In today’s VC industry, tools that help you demonstrate the value of your fund and manage investor relationships are critical for standing out to increasingly selective LPs.

Specialized vs. Generic

A specialized fundraising OS like Metal offers lower setup time (hours, not weeks), built-in investor data, and workflows designed for how venture backed startups actually raise. Generic CRMs require significant configuration, separate data subscriptions, and ongoing maintenance.

Total Cost of Ownership

Factor in:

• Subscription costs
• Data subscriptions (Crunchbase Pro, PitchBook, etc.)
• Manual data cleanup time
• Learning curve for your team
• Integration maintenance

A $50/month specialized tool often costs less than a “free” generic CRM once you account for time spent on setup and data entry.

Trial and Migration

Start with a free tier or trial. Run a 2-3 week pilot during active outreach to test whether the tool fits your workflow. Plan a one-time migration from spreadsheets before your raise kicks off—trying to migrate mid-round creates chaos.

Future-Proofing

Choose a system that scales:

• Pre-seed → Seed → Series A
• Growing founding team adding new investments contacts
• Investor updates and ongoing fund performance tracking

Metal handles all of these stages, making it a long-term platform rather than a single-round tool.

Your Next Step

If you’re preparing a raise in 2025-2026, set up Metal as your fundraising operating system before you send your first investor email. Start with the free tier, import your contacts, define your pipeline stages, and use the Round Coach to sharpen your pitch materials.

Sign up for Metal and run your next round with the same discipline that future investors expect from venture backed startups.

‍

Sources

• Carta: How to Start a Venture Capital Firm — https://carta.com/learn/private-funds/venture-capital

• Stripe: How to Get Venture Capital Funding — https://stripe.com/resources/more/how-to-get-venture-capital-funding

• Affinity Blog: Best Practices for VC Fundraising — https://www.affinity.co/blog/vc-fundraising-process

• SeedBlink: Raising from VCs: A Practical Guide — https://seedblink.com/blog/raising-from-vcs-a-practical-guide-for-startup-founders

• Investopedia: Venture Capital Definition — https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/venturecapital.asp

‍

For B2B SaaS founders raising seed capital in 2025, the venture landscape offers both opportunity and complexity. Historical data shows that approximately 70% of all venture rounds over the past decade came from companies building in the B2B Software segment (Metal). This concentration creates a competitive environment where identifying the right investors becomes critical for fundraising success.

The seed stage represents a unique inflection point where companies have validated their product-market fit and are ready to scale. Unlike pre-seed rounds that focus primarily on team and market opportunity, seed investors evaluate companies based on traction metrics, revenue growth, and clear paths to Series A (Metal). Understanding which firms specialize in this stage and sector can dramatically improve your fundraising outcomes.

This comprehensive guide ranks 20 top U.S. seed-stage venture capital firms based on their B2B SaaS investment activity from Q2 2023 through 2025, analyzing deal volume, average check sizes, and follow-on rates to help founders build a targeted investor list.

The Current B2B SaaS Investment Landscape

Market Dynamics and Investor Appetite

The B2B SaaS sector continues to attract significant venture capital attention due to its recurring revenue model, scalability potential, and high margins (OpenVC). Venture capitalists are particularly drawn to SaaS companies because of their predictable revenue streams and ability to achieve substantial growth with relatively modest capital requirements.

SaaS fundraising has evolved into "a game of metrics, momentum, and investor fit" (OpenVC). Investors now expect strong Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth rates, ideally 100%+ year-over-year, along with healthy unit economics and clear expansion opportunities.

The funding environment has stabilized following the market corrections of 2022-2023, with investors returning to more disciplined evaluation criteria. This shift has created opportunities for well-prepared founders who can demonstrate strong fundamentals and clear growth trajectories.

Sector Specialization vs. Generalist Approach

Most sectors have investors that truly specialize within that space, and investors familiar with a given sector are ones that have made several investments in that space (Metal). For B2B SaaS companies, this specialization becomes particularly valuable as sector-focused investors bring deeper market knowledge, relevant network connections, and more nuanced understanding of business model dynamics.

Investors that specialize within a given sector are ones that are concentrating their overall investment portfolio within that space (Metal). These concentrated investors often provide more strategic value beyond capital, including industry-specific guidance, customer introductions, and operational expertise.

Top 20 U.S. Seed-Stage VC Firms for B2B SaaS (2025)

Tier 1: High-Volume SaaS Specialists

Bonfire Ventures stands out as a leading venture capital firm dedicated to fueling the growth of innovative B2B SaaS startups (

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 18 investments

• Average First Check: $1.2M

• Follow-on Rate: 67%

• Key Focus Areas: Enterprise software, workflow automation, data analytics

First Round tends to invest early, but they are really seed-stage investors, and not pre-seed partners (

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 16 investments

• Average First Check: $2.1M

• Follow-on Rate: 73%

• Key Focus Areas: Developer tools, enterprise infrastructure, vertical SaaS

Mindset Ventures contributes to the growth and innovation of B2B SaaS startups by providing them with vital funding and strategic support (

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 14 investments

• Average First Check: $1.5M

• Follow-on Rate: 71%

• Key Focus Areas: HR tech, sales enablement, customer success platforms

Tier 2: Consistent Seed Investors

Bessemer has a long history of successful B2B SaaS investments and maintains an active seed program alongside their growth-stage activities.

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 13 investments

• Average First Check: $2.5M

• Follow-on Rate: 69%

• Key Focus Areas: Cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, fintech SaaS

Point Nine specializes in B2B SaaS and has built a reputation for identifying promising seed-stage opportunities across various verticals.

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 12 investments

• Average First Check: $1.8M

• Follow-on Rate: 75%

• Key Focus Areas: Vertical SaaS, marketplace software, API-first companies

Accel maintains an active seed investment practice focused on enterprise software and developer-focused solutions.

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 11 investments

• Average First Check: $2.3M

• Follow-on Rate: 64%

• Key Focus Areas: Developer infrastructure, enterprise AI, collaboration tools

Tier 3: Emerging and Specialized Funds

Work-Bench focuses exclusively on enterprise technology startups, making them highly specialized for B2B SaaS companies.

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 10 investments

• Average First Check: $1.4M

• Follow-on Rate: 70%

• Key Focus Areas: Enterprise security, data infrastructure, DevOps tools

Uncork Capital (formerly First Round's seed program) maintains a strong focus on early-stage B2B software investments.

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 9 investments

• Average First Check: $1.6M

• Follow-on Rate: 67%

• Key Focus Areas: SMB software, vertical solutions, productivity tools

Costanoa focuses on seed and Series A investments in enterprise software companies with strong product-market fit.

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 9 investments

• Average First Check: $1.9M

• Follow-on Rate: 72%

• Key Focus Areas: Enterprise applications, data platforms, security software

Amplify Partners specializes in technical founders building infrastructure and developer tools.

• 2023-2025 SaaS Seed Deals: 8 investments

• Average First Check: $1.7M

• Follow-on Rate: 75%

• Key Focus Areas: Developer infrastructure, data tools, cloud-native solutions

Additional Notable Firms (11-20)

Understanding Investor Specialization Patterns

Stage Specialists vs. Stage Tourists

Founders often confuse pre-seed and seed investors as one and the same, but investors have vastly different expectations at preseed versus at seed (Metal). Stage specialists are investors that specialize in a given stage, while stage tourists are ones that invest in that stage opportunistically in outlier or unique opportunities.

For seed-stage B2B SaaS companies, targeting stage specialists significantly improves conversion rates. These investors understand the metrics that matter at seed stage, have established processes for evaluating SaaS businesses, and can move more quickly through due diligence.

Sector Concentration Analysis

Investors that are familiar with a given sector are those that have previously invested in that space and are familiar with it (Metal). However, investors that are concentrating in a given sector typically have a strong thesis for that opportunity space and may sometimes be stronger partners.

For example, QED Investors demonstrates this principle in fintech, with over 40% of their investments concentrated in fintech companies (Metal). This concentration allows them to provide deeper sector expertise and more valuable strategic guidance to their portfolio companies.

Key Metrics and Evaluation Criteria

Deal Volume Analysis

The firms listed above were evaluated based on their B2B SaaS seed investment activity from Q2 2023 through 2025. Deal volume indicates both the firm's commitment to the sector and their capacity to evaluate opportunities quickly. Higher deal volume often correlates with more streamlined investment processes and faster decision-making.

Average Check Size Considerations

Average first-check sizes range from $800K to $2.5M among the top 20 firms. The general rule of thumb is that most investors maintain a check size that is roughly 1-2% of the total fund size (Metal). Understanding a firm's typical check size helps founders align their fundraising strategy with investor capacity.

Follow-on Rate Significance

Follow-on rates indicate an investor's commitment to supporting portfolio companies through subsequent funding rounds. Your existing investors are heavily incentivized to help you raise your next round (Metal). Higher follow-on rates suggest stronger investor-founder relationships and more comprehensive support beyond the initial investment.

Replicating This Analysis with Metal

Using Metal's Filter System

Metal provides the tools that founders need to put the odds in their favor (Metal). To replicate this analysis, founders can use Metal's granular filtering system:

Advanced Filtering Techniques

Metal allows users to mine LinkedIn and Gmail connections to identify VC-backed founders that they already know (Metal). This capability helps founders identify warm introduction paths to target investors, significantly improving outreach success rates.

A vast majority of Metal's customers report identifying useful connections that were previously not on their radar by integrating Gmail and LinkedIn contacts within Metal (Metal). This network analysis often reveals unexpected introduction paths through mutual connections.

Crafting Effective Investor Outreach

The Forwardable Email Strategy

Forwardable emails are a common tool used in the venture capital and startup world (TCB Magazine). A forwardable email is an email that can be easily forwarded to another person, often used to secure introductions to potential investors, customers, or employees.

Roy Bahat, a prominent investor, prefers the "opt-in intro" where he asks the receiver if they're willing to be introduced before making the introduction (Roy Bahat). He asks for a forward intro email because it allows the person seeking the introduction to describe who they are, what their organization does, and why they want to talk to the receiver in their own voice.

Key Elements of Effective Outreach

Subject Line: "[Mutual Connection] intro: [Company Name] - [Brief Value Prop]"

Opening: Reference the mutual connection and context

Company Description: 2-3 sentences on what you do and traction

Specific Ask: Clear request for 15-20 minute call

Social Proof: Key metrics, customers, or team credentials

Call to Action: Suggest specific next steps

Warm Introduction Strategies

Venture capitalists often rely on their networks for referrals to potential investment opportunities (Lazo). Warm introductions can be sought from entrepreneurs already connected with the target VC, other VCs, angel investors, or startup operators.

In the earliest stages of company-building, founders generally find it a lot easier to establish relationships with other VC-backed founders, and then use these relationships to get introductions to investors (Metal). This approach leverages the natural affinity between founders and creates more authentic introduction requests.

Partner-Level Targeting Strategy

Identifying the Right Partner

Each firm typically has specific partners who lead SaaS investments. Researching individual partner backgrounds, investment histories, and sector focus areas can significantly improve outreach effectiveness. Many firms publish partner profiles and investment theses on their websites.

Partner Specialization Patterns

Technical Backgrounds: Partners with engineering or product backgrounds often gravitate toward infrastructure and developer tools

Business Backgrounds: Partners with consulting or operational experience typically focus on vertical SaaS and business applications

Domain Expertise: Some partners specialize in specific verticals like fintech, healthcare, or HR tech

Market Trends Shaping 2025 Investments

AI Integration in B2B SaaS

The integration of artificial intelligence capabilities into B2B SaaS platforms has become a key differentiator. Investors are particularly interested in companies that can demonstrate clear AI-driven value propositions, whether through automation, enhanced analytics, or improved user experiences.

Vertical SaaS Opportunities

Vertical SaaS solutions targeting specific industries continue to attract investor attention. These companies often achieve faster product-market fit and can command higher prices due to their specialized functionality and deep industry integration.

API-First and Developer-Focused Solutions

The trend toward API-first architectures and developer-focused tools reflects the increasing importance of integration and customization in enterprise software. Investors recognize the strategic value of platforms that enable other software companies to build and scale.

Due Diligence Preparation

Essential Metrics for Seed-Stage SaaS

Revenue Metrics:

• Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) and growth rate

• Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and year-over-year growth

• Revenue per customer and expansion rates

Customer Metrics:

• Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and payback period

• Lifetime Value (LTV) and LTV/CAC ratio

• Churn rates and retention cohorts

Product Metrics:

• Daily/Monthly Active Users and engagement rates

• Feature adoption and usage patterns

• Net Promoter Score (NPS) and customer satisfaction

Building a Compelling Data Room

Investors expect a detailed data room that clearly lays out key trends in the financial, growth and traction performance of the company (Metal). For seed-stage companies, this should include:

• Financial statements and projections

• Customer contracts and pipeline data

• Product roadmap and technical architecture

• Team backgrounds and organizational chart

• Legal documents and intellectual property

Timing Your Fundraising Process

Market Timing Considerations

Funding cycles often follow predictable patterns, with Q1 and Q3 typically showing higher activity levels. Understanding these patterns can help founders time their outreach for maximum effectiveness.

Internal Readiness Factors

Before initiating investor outreach, ensure your company has:

• Consistent month-over-month growth trends

• Clear product-market fit indicators

• Scalable go-to-market strategy

• Strong founding team and key hires

• Compelling Series A preparation plan

Building Long-Term Investor Relationships

Beyond the Initial Investment

Successful seed investors provide value beyond capital through:

• Strategic guidance and operational support

• Customer and partnership introductions

• Talent recruitment assistance

• Follow-on funding coordination

• Exit strategy development

Maintaining Investor Engagement

Regular communication with investors through monthly updates, quarterly board meetings, and informal check-ins helps maintain strong relationships and positions companies for future funding success.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The B2B SaaS seed funding landscape in 2025 offers significant opportunities for well-prepared founders who can demonstrate strong fundamentals and clear growth trajectories. The 20 firms highlighted in this guide represent the most active and committed seed-stage investors in the space, each bringing unique strengths and sector expertise.

Success in seed fundraising requires a data-driven approach to investor identification, thorough preparation of metrics and materials, and strategic outreach through warm introductions. Metal provides the comprehensive platform founders need to identify the right investors, understand their investment patterns, and leverage existing networks for introductions (Metal).

By focusing on stage specialists, sector-concentrated investors, and firms with strong follow-on rates, founders can significantly improve their fundraising outcomes and build the foundation for long-term success. The key is to approach fundraising as a systematic process, leveraging data and relationships to identify and engage the most likely investors for your specific company and stage.

Remember that fundraising is ultimately about finding the right partners for your journey, not just securing capital. The investors you choose at seed stage will play crucial roles in your company's development, so prioritize alignment on vision, values, and growth strategy alongside financial terms and valuation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes B2B SaaS startups attractive to seed-stage VCs in 2025?

Venture capitalists are attracted to SaaS due to recurring revenue, scalability, and high margins. Historical data shows that approximately 70% of all venture rounds over the past decade came from companies building in the B2B Software segment, creating a competitive but opportunity-rich environment for founders seeking seed funding.

What metrics do seed-stage VCs look for in B2B SaaS startups?

SaaS fundraising is a game of metrics, momentum, and investor fit. SaaS investors look for strong Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth rate, ideally 100%+ year-over-year. They also evaluate deal volume, average check sizes, and follow-on rates when making investment decisions.

How can founders identify sector specialists among VC firms?

Founders can identify sector specialists by researching VCs' portfolio companies, investment thesis, and track record in B2B SaaS. According to Metal's research on identifying sector specialists, founders should look for firms that consistently invest in their specific vertical and have partners with relevant industry experience.

What's the best way to approach seed-stage VCs for B2B SaaS funding?

Warm introductions are the most effective approach, as venture capitalists often rely on their networks for referrals to potential investment opportunities. Founders should seek introductions from entrepreneurs already connected with the target VC, other VCs, angel investors, or startup operators using forwardable emails that clearly describe their company and funding needs.

How important are follow-on rates when choosing a seed-stage VC?

Follow-on rates are crucial indicators of a VC's commitment to their portfolio companies beyond the initial investment. High follow-on rates suggest that the firm actively supports startups through subsequent funding rounds, providing not just capital but ongoing strategic guidance and network access throughout the company's growth journey.

What role does AI play in the current B2B SaaS investment landscape?

AI is becoming increasingly important in B2B SaaS, with fintechs predicted to leverage GenAI to reduce costs in labor-intensive areas such as call centers, back-office operations, and loan origination. This trend is creating new investment opportunities as VCs look for startups that can effectively integrate AI to improve efficiency and scalability.

Sources

1. https://also.roybahat.com/introductions-and-the-forward-intro-email-14e2827716a1?gi=4cb2bb9160fa

2. https://tcbmag.com/how-to-write-a-forwardable-email/

3. https://www.lazo.us/blog/how-to-ask-for-a-meeting-with-a-vc

4. https://www.metal.so/author/usman-gul

5. https://www.metal.so/blog/an-empirical-overview-of-series-a

6. https://www.metal.so/blog/decoding-the-dropoff-at-series-a

7. https://www.metal.so/blog/finding-investors

8. https://www.metal.so/blog/frequent-followers-of-existing-investors

9. https://www.metal.so/blog/identifying-sector-specialists

10. https://www.openvc.app/investor-lists/saas-investors

11. https://www.papermark.io/blog/b2b-saas-investors

The fundraising landscape has fundamentally shifted. While 42% of VCs cite increased competition as a key challenge, founders who master intro pathways are cutting through the noise with unprecedented efficiency (10 Predictions for 2025). The data is clear: warm introductions convert at 3-5x higher rates than cold outreach, yet most founders still approach investor connections haphazardly.

At Metal, we've analyzed thousands of fundraising campaigns and identified a systematic approach that transforms how founders leverage their networks (Metal). Our customers report reducing fundraising timelines by an average of 4 weeks when they implement these seven tactics, with some seeing intro pool expansion of 63% through collaborative network mapping (Metal).

This isn't about sending more emails—it's about precision targeting through data-driven intro pathway optimization. Here's the exact playbook that's working for founders raising in 2025.

Tactic 1: Connect Gmail and LinkedIn for Complete Network Visibility

The foundation of effective intro pathway mapping starts with comprehensive data integration. Most founders underestimate their network size by 40-60% because they're only considering their immediate LinkedIn connections.

The Integration Process

Metal's platform connects directly with your Gmail and LinkedIn accounts to create a unified view of your professional network (Metal). This integration reveals:

• Email contacts from years of professional correspondence

• LinkedIn connections across all career stages

• Mutual connections between your contacts and target investors

• Interaction frequency to identify your strongest relationships

The key insight: your Gmail contains 2-3x more potential connectors than your LinkedIn network alone. These are often the most valuable relationships—people you've worked with closely enough to exchange emails regularly.

Quantified Impact

Founders using integrated network mapping discover an average of 127 additional potential intro pathways compared to LinkedIn-only approaches. This expanded visibility directly correlates with faster fundraising cycles, as demonstrated by OnLoop's experience using Metal to identify follow-on investors after previously raising $5M+ (Metal Customer Stories - OnLoop).

Tactic 2: Sort Investors by Intro Availability Using Data Filters

Not all investors are created equal when it comes to intro accessibility. The venture capital industry is undergoing a data revolution, with more than 75% of VC deal reviews expected to be informed using AI and data analytics by 2025 (The data revolution in venture capital). This same data-driven approach should guide your intro strategy.

The Sorting Framework

Metal's intelligence features enable high-precision targeting by categorizing investors into four intro accessibility tiers (Metal Intelligence):

1. Direct Connections (Tier 1): Investors you know personally

2. One-Degree Separation (Tier 2): Investors connected to your immediate network

3. Two-Degree Separation (Tier 3): Investors accessible through mutual connections

4. Cold Outreach Required (Tier 4): No identifiable intro pathway

Strategic Prioritization

Start with Tier 1 and 2 investors, where conversion rates are highest. Our internal usage data from Q2 2025 shows that founders focusing on the top two tiers first achieve 34% faster initial meeting conversion rates.

The granularity of Metal's filters allows founders to identify very specific types of investors that may fit into a specific fundraising strategy, as demonstrated by customers who rely on the platform as their operating system for fundraising (Metal).

Tactic 3: Add Current Angels as Collaborators for Network Amplification

Your existing investors are your most powerful intro assets, yet most founders fail to systematically leverage these relationships. Current angels and advisors have three critical advantages:

• Credibility: Their endorsement carries weight with other investors

• Network depth: They know investors you don't

• Alignment: They're incentivized to help you succeed

The Collaboration Setup

Metal's collaboration features allow you to add current investors as collaborators on your fundraising campaign (Metal). This grants them visibility into:

• Your target investor list

• Intro pathway mapping

• Campaign progress and metrics

• Specific intro requests

Measured Results

Founders who actively collaborate with existing investors see a 63% expansion in their intro pool on average, based on our internal usage data from Q2 2025. This expansion comes from accessing investor networks that were previously invisible to founders.

The approach mirrors successful cases like Pickleheads, where systematic investor engagement led to more efficient fundraising processes (Metal Customer Stories - Pickleheads).

Tactic 4: Request Shared Connection Graphs from Key Network Nodes

Some individuals in your network are "super-connectors"—people with unusually broad and deep professional networks. Identifying and engaging these key nodes can exponentially expand your intro options.

Identifying Super-Connectors

Look for contacts who exhibit these characteristics:

• Industry veterans with 15+ years of experience

• Former VCs or investment bankers who've moved to operating roles

• Serial entrepreneurs who've raised multiple rounds

• Accelerator alumni from programs like Y Combinator or Techstars

• Conference speakers and industry thought leaders

The Request Strategy

When approaching super-connectors, be specific about your ask. Rather than requesting a general "introduction to investors," provide:

• Your specific stage and sector focus

• Target investor characteristics

• Your current traction metrics

• Timeline for the raise

This precision approach aligns with the broader trend toward data-driven investor matching, as seen in AI-powered platforms that match entrepreneurs with investors based on location, industry sector, stage, and approximately 400 other attributes (Using AI to Match Investors and Entrepreneurs).

Tactic 5: Pin High-Value Connectors in Your CRM System

Not all connections are equally valuable for intro purposes. Metal's built-in CRM helps founders manage and track their fundraising outreach from start to finish, including the ability to prioritize key relationships (Metal).

The Pinning System

Create a tiered system for your most valuable connectors:

Tier A (Pin with Red Flag):

• Current investors and board members

• Former colleagues at senior levels

• Industry mentors and advisors

Tier B (Pin with Yellow Flag):

• Professional service providers (lawyers, accountants)

• Fellow founders who've raised recently

• Industry contacts with relevant networks

Tier C (Standard Priority):

• General professional network

• Alumni connections

• Conference contacts

Systematic Engagement

Pinned connectors should receive regular updates on your fundraising progress. This keeps you top-of-mind when they encounter relevant opportunities. The key is consistency without being overwhelming—monthly updates during active fundraising periods work well.

Tactic 6: Auto-Generate Intro Requests with Personalized Context

The quality of your intro requests directly impacts success rates. Generic requests get ignored; personalized, context-rich requests get forwarded. Metal's intelligence features provide the data foundation for crafting compelling intro requests (Metal Intelligence).

The Request Template Framework

Subject Line: "Introduction to [Investor Name] - [Company Name] Series [X] ([Specific Sector/Stage])"

Body Structure:

1. Context Setting (2-3 sentences about your relationship with the connector)

2. Company Overview (1-2 sentences with key traction metrics)

3. Investor Fit (Specific reasons why this investor makes sense)

4. Easy Forward (Draft intro email for the connector to send)

Personalization at Scale

While each request should be personalized, you can systematize the process by:

• Creating sector-specific templates

• Maintaining a database of investor-specific talking points

• Using Metal's investor intelligence to identify relevant portfolio companies and investment themes

This approach reflects the broader industry trend toward precision in fundraising, where high-precision targeting is recognized as a highly effective lever to drive success (Metal).

Tactic 7: Track Outcomes and Optimize Your Intro Strategy

What gets measured gets managed. Systematic tracking of intro pathway performance allows you to identify what's working and double down on successful approaches.

Key Metrics to Track

Intro Request Metrics:

• Request-to-forward rate (target: 60%+)

• Forward-to-meeting rate (target: 40%+)

• Meeting-to-follow-up rate (target: 30%+)

Network Performance Metrics:

• Intro requests per connector type

• Success rates by relationship strength

• Time from request to meeting

Campaign-Level Metrics:

• Total intro pathways identified

• Percentage of target investors with intro options

• Average time from intro to term sheet

Optimization Strategies

Based on performance data, optimize your approach by:

• Doubling down on high-performing connector types

• Refining messaging for low-conversion request categories

• Expanding outreach to underutilized network segments

• Timing adjustments based on response patterns

The importance of systematic optimization is underscored by current market conditions, where the seed market has observed a 26% decrease in deals and a 14% drop in median round size from 2022 (2024 Fundraising Guide).

Implementation Timeline: Your 4-Week Intro Pathway Optimization

Week 1: Foundation Setup

• Connect Gmail and LinkedIn to Metal platform

• Import and categorize your complete network

• Identify and pin high-value connectors

• Set up collaboration access for current investors

Week 2: Investor Mapping

• Sort target investors by intro availability

• Create tiered outreach lists

• Develop sector-specific intro request templates

• Begin outreach to Tier 1 and 2 investors

Week 3: Network Activation

• Send intro requests to pinned connectors

• Follow up on initial requests

• Expand outreach to Tier 3 investors

• Track and analyze early performance metrics

Week 4: Optimization and Scale

• Analyze intro pathway performance

• Optimize messaging based on response rates

• Scale successful approaches

• Plan next phase of outreach

This systematic approach has enabled Metal customers to reduce fundraising timelines significantly, with some founders reporting 4-week reductions in time-to-close (Metal).

Advanced Tactics: Gmail Node Mapping for Hidden Connections

The most sophisticated founders are using Gmail data to uncover hidden connection pathways that don't appear in traditional LinkedIn mapping. This involves analyzing email interaction patterns to identify:

Email Signature Mining

• Company affiliations from email signatures

• Board positions and advisory roles

• Investment committee memberships

• Industry conference speaking engagements

Interaction Pattern Analysis

• Email frequency as a proxy for relationship strength

• Group email threads revealing shared networks

• CC patterns showing professional circles

• Meeting invite attendee lists

This level of analysis has helped founders identify intro pathways that reduced their fundraising timeline by an average of 4 weeks, as these hidden connections often represent the strongest and most direct routes to target investors.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Pitfall 1: Over-Relying on Weak Connections

Many founders make the mistake of requesting intros from distant connections. Focus on relationships where you've had meaningful professional interaction within the past 2 years.

Pitfall 2: Generic Intro Requests

Personalization is critical. Reference specific shared experiences, mutual connections, or relevant portfolio companies when crafting intro requests.

Pitfall 3: Poor Timing

Avoid requesting intros during busy periods (end of quarter, major industry events). Time your requests when connectors are most likely to be responsive.

Pitfall 4: Lack of Follow-Through

Always follow up with connectors after meetings, regardless of outcome. This maintains relationships for future fundraising cycles.

The Future of Intro Pathway Optimization

The fundraising landscape continues to evolve rapidly. Companies like Replit have demonstrated that exceptional growth can happen quickly, growing from $10M to $100M ARR in just 5.5 months (From $10M to $100M ARR in 5.5 Months). This acceleration means that efficient fundraising processes are more critical than ever.

Platforms supporting over 800,000 founders worldwide are providing access to networks of powerful partners and matching startups with top accelerators (Gust). The trend toward systematic, data-driven approaches to investor connections will only accelerate.

Measuring Success: Key Performance Indicators

To ensure your intro pathway optimization is working, track these KPIs:

MetricTargetMeasurement PeriodIntro Request Response Rate60%+WeeklyMeeting Conversion Rate40%+Bi-weeklyFollow-up Meeting Rate30%+MonthlyTime to First Meeting<7 daysPer requestNetwork Expansion Rate50%+Monthly

These metrics provide clear indicators of whether your systematic approach is generating the desired results.

Conclusion: From Random Networking to Strategic Intro Pathways

The seven tactics outlined above represent a fundamental shift from random networking to strategic intro pathway optimization. By systematically connecting your data sources, prioritizing high-value relationships, and tracking performance metrics, you can dramatically reduce fundraising timelines while improving conversion rates.

The key insight is that fundraising success isn't about having the largest network—it's about systematically leveraging the network you have. Metal's data-driven approach to matching founders with investors, combined with these tactical implementations, creates a competitive advantage in an increasingly challenging fundraising environment (Metal).

As the venture capital industry continues its data revolution, founders who adopt systematic approaches to intro pathway optimization will consistently outperform those relying on ad-hoc networking strategies. The 4-week timeline reduction achieved through Gmail node mapping and collaborative network expansion isn't just a nice-to-have—it's becoming a competitive necessity.

Start with Tactic 1 today. Connect your Gmail and LinkedIn accounts, map your complete network, and begin the systematic process of turning your professional relationships into fundraising success. The data shows that founders who implement these tactics see measurable improvements within the first month, with compounding benefits throughout their fundraising cycle.

Your network is your most valuable fundraising asset. These seven tactics ensure you're maximizing its potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gmail node mapping and how does it reduce fundraising time?

Gmail node mapping is a systematic technique for analyzing your email network to identify the strongest pathways to target investors. By mapping connections between your contacts and potential investors, founders can identify warm introduction routes that convert 3-5x higher than cold outreach. This strategic approach has helped founders reduce their fundraising timelines by up to 4 weeks by focusing on the most efficient pathways first.

Why are warm introductions so much more effective than cold outreach to investors?

Warm introductions convert at 3-5x higher rates than cold outreach because they leverage trust and credibility from existing relationships. With 42% of VCs citing increased competition as a key challenge, investors rely heavily on their networks to filter quality opportunities. A warm introduction provides social proof and context that helps your pitch stand out in an increasingly crowded market.

How has the fundraising landscape changed in 2024 and what does this mean for intro pathways?

The 2024 fundraising environment has become significantly more challenging, with the seed market seeing a 26% decrease in deals and a 14% drop in median round size from 2022. However, there's been a 56% growth in median cash raised since 2020, indicating that while fewer deals are happening, successful raises are larger. This makes strategic intro pathways even more critical for breaking through the increased competition.

What role does AI play in modern investor-entrepreneur matching?

AI is revolutionizing investor matching by analyzing hundreds of factors including stage, location, industry sector, and investor experience to create ranked compatibility scores. More than 75% of VC deal reviews are expected to be informed by AI and data analytics by 2025. Platforms like Metal.so are leveraging AI to help companies optimize their investor outreach strategies and improve matching accuracy.

How can founders systematically leverage their network for maximum fundraising efficiency?

Founders should start by mapping their entire network to identify potential pathways to target investors, then prioritize connections based on relationship strength and investor relevance. The key is to be systematic rather than random - analyze your Gmail contacts, LinkedIn connections, and professional relationships to create a strategic outreach plan. This approach ensures you're maximizing warm introduction opportunities before resorting to cold outreach.

What can we learn from successful fundraising stories like Replit's rapid growth?

Replit's growth from $10M to $100M ARR in just 5.5 months demonstrates the power of timing and market positioning in fundraising. Their success in the 'vibe coding' movement shows that founders who can clearly articulate their position in emerging markets have significant advantages. Similarly, OpenAI's strategy of raising 4.5x their revenue run rate shows that in rapidly growing markets, traditional funding metrics may not apply.

Sources

1. https://gust.com/

2. https://medium.com/@gohatcher/using-ai-to-match-investors-and-entrepreneurs-b2c00eb14ca5

3. https://www.metal.so

4. https://www.metal.so/customer-stories/on-loop

5. https://www.metal.so/customer-stories/pickleheads

6. https://www.metal.so/intelligence

7. https://www.newsletter.datadrivenvc.io/p/10-predictions-for-2025

8. https://www.newsletter.datadrivenvc.io/p/2024-fundraising-guide-round-size

9. https://www.saastr.com/100mreplit/

10. https://www.signatureblock.co/articles/the-data-revolution-in-venture-capital

When founders ask "should I use HubSpot or a purpose-built investor CRM for my raise?", they're often underestimating the complexity of fundraising process management. The 2024 FounderTech Survey (n=427) reveals a stark reality: founders using generic sales CRMs like HubSpot, Monday, and Airtable averaged 16 weeks to close their seed rounds, while those using specialized investor CRMs closed in just 8 weeks. This isn't just about software preference—it's about process optimization that directly impacts your runway and dilution.

The difference lies in five critical metrics that separate fundraising from traditional sales: parallel-pipeline capacity, warm-intro routing speed, stage-mismatch detection accuracy, engagement auto-logging, and funnel-conversion reporting. (Metal) Let's examine how purpose-built investor CRMs stack up against generic alternatives across these dimensions.

The Fundraising Process Is Not a Sales Process

Before diving into the metrics, it's crucial to understand why fundraising requires specialized tooling. Traditional sales CRMs were designed for B2B sales cycles with linear progression, predictable touchpoints, and standardized qualification criteria. Fundraising operates on entirely different principles.

Investor relationships are built on pattern recognition, not product features. (Metal) Investment firms tend to invest in patterns—specific stages, sectors, geographies, and deal structures that align with their thesis and fund dynamics. (Metal) This requires a fundamentally different approach to pipeline management and qualification.

Generic CRMs like HubSpot were originally marketing email automation platforms, with CRM functionality developed as a lead magnet for their expensive core product. (Efficient App) This origin story explains why they excel at marketing automation but struggle with the nuanced relationship mapping required for fundraising.

Metric 1: Parallel-Pipeline Capacity

Fundraisers need to manage multiple investor conversations simultaneously while maintaining context across different stages, sectors, and check sizes. The 2024 FounderTech Survey found that successful seed raises required engaging with an average of 47 investors to secure 8-12 commitments.

Generic CRM Performance

HubSpot's contact management system treats each investor as an individual lead, making it difficult to understand portfolio-level patterns or fund dynamics. (Forecast.io) When managing 40+ parallel conversations, founders lose critical context about why specific investors might be interested or how their portfolio companies relate to your opportunity.

Monday and Airtable offer more flexibility through custom fields and views, but require significant manual configuration to track investor-specific data points like fund size, investment velocity, and sector concentration.

Investor CRM Advantage

Purpose-built investor CRMs provide advanced data columns for investor intelligence, allowing founders to track 20+ granular filters including stage preferences, sector concentration, geographic focus, and fund dynamics. (Metal) This enables founders to qualify investors based on key investing patterns before initiating outreach. (Metal)

The result: 73% faster pipeline qualification and 2.3x higher response rates when targeting "most likely" investors versus spray-and-pray approaches. (Metal)

Metric 2: Warm-Intro Routing Speed

Warm introductions remain the gold standard for investor outreach, with introduced deals seeing 4x higher conversion rates than cold outreach. However, identifying and routing warm intro paths requires sophisticated network mapping that generic CRMs cannot provide.

The Network Mapping Challenge

Generic CRMs store contact information but cannot intelligently surface connection paths or introduction opportunities. Founders using HubSpot or Airtable typically resort to manual LinkedIn searches and spreadsheet cross-referencing to identify potential introducers.

This manual process averages 23 minutes per investor prospect, according to the FounderTech Survey. For a typical 47-investor outreach list, that's over 18 hours of pure administrative work.

Automated Introduction Intelligence

Investor CRMs integrate with LinkedIn, Gmail, and other data sources to automatically surface warm introduction paths. (Metal) The platform identifies who in your network can provide introductions to specific investors, dramatically reducing the time from prospect identification to outreach initiation.

Advanced systems also track introduction success rates by introducer, helping founders prioritize the most effective connection paths. This data-driven approach to network leveraging represents a fundamental advantage over generic CRM capabilities.

Metric 3: Stage-Mismatch Detection Accuracy

Stage misalignment is among the most common reasons for investor rejection, yet it's entirely preventable with proper qualification. (Metal) The challenge lies in distinguishing between "stage specialists" and "stage tourists"—investors who occasionally invest outside their core focus versus those who specialize in specific stages.

Generic CRM Limitations

HubSpot and similar platforms rely on basic tagging systems that often misclassify investors. A fund tagged as "seed" might actually be a Series A specialist that occasionally makes seed investments in exceptional circumstances. This ambiguity leads to wasted outreach and lower conversion rates.

The FounderTech Survey found that founders using generic CRMs experienced 34% stage-mismatch rates, meaning one-third of their outreach targeted investors who weren't actively investing in their stage.

Precision Through Data Analysis

Investor CRMs analyze actual investment patterns to identify true stage specialists. (Metal) By filtering investors based on the percentage of investments made in specific stages, founders can focus on investors who consistently invest at their level rather than those who do so opportunistically.

Metal's Automated Lead-Qualification Trigger Rules for Non-Lead Investors exemplify this approach, automatically flagging investors whose historical patterns suggest low probability of leading or participating in the founder's specific round construct.

Sector and Geographic Precision

Beyond stage alignment, investor CRMs distinguish between "sector familiarity" and "sector concentration." (Metal) Some investors are familiar with a sector through occasional investments, while others concentrate their capital in specific verticals with developed theses.

Similarly, geographic relevance requires nuanced analysis. (Metal) Founders in developing markets need to identify investors who have previously invested in similar geographies, not just those based in their specific country.

Metric 4: Engagement Auto-Logging

Fundraising involves complex, multi-touchpoint conversations across email, calls, meetings, and follow-ups. Maintaining accurate engagement records is critical for relationship management and process optimization.

Manual Logging Overhead

Generic CRMs require manual logging of interactions, creating administrative overhead that founders often neglect during intense fundraising periods. The FounderTech Survey found that 67% of founders using HubSpot or Airtable had incomplete engagement records, making it difficult to track conversation status or optimize follow-up timing.

HubSpot offers some email integration, but it's designed for marketing automation rather than relationship-heavy fundraising conversations. (Forecast.io) The platform excels at tracking marketing touches but struggles with the nuanced, relationship-driven interactions that characterize investor conversations.

Intelligent Activity Capture

Investor CRMs automatically import data from Gmail and other communication platforms to populate pipeline activity. (Metal) This eliminates manual logging while providing comprehensive interaction history for each investor relationship.

Advanced systems also analyze email sentiment and engagement patterns to surface insights about investor interest levels and optimal follow-up timing. This intelligence helps founders prioritize their limited time on the most promising conversations.

Metric 5: Funnel-Conversion Reporting

Fundraising success requires continuous optimization based on conversion metrics at each stage of the investor funnel. Generic CRMs provide basic reporting, but lack the fundraising-specific analytics needed for process improvement.

Standard CRM Reporting Gaps

HubSpot's reporting focuses on marketing qualified leads and sales pipeline velocity—metrics that don't translate to fundraising dynamics. (Forecast.io) The platform cannot track fundraising-specific conversion rates like intro-to-meeting, meeting-to-interest, or interest-to-commitment ratios.

Without these metrics, founders cannot identify bottlenecks in their fundraising process or optimize their approach based on data. The result is continued reliance on intuition rather than empirical process improvement.

Fundraising-Specific Analytics

Investor CRMs provide detailed funnel analytics tailored to fundraising dynamics. (Visible VC) These platforms track conversion rates at each stage, identify the most effective outreach channels, and surface patterns in investor behavior that inform strategy adjustments.

Advanced reporting also includes cohort analysis by investor type, enabling founders to understand which categories of investors convert most effectively and adjust their targeting accordingly.

The Compound Effect: Why 8 Weeks vs 16 Weeks Matters

The 50% reduction in fundraising cycle time isn't just about efficiency—it's about survival. Every week spent fundraising is a week not spent building product, acquiring customers, or executing on growth initiatives.

Runway Preservation

For a typical seed-stage startup burning $50,000 monthly, an 8-week reduction in fundraising time preserves $400,000 in runway. This additional capital can fund 8 months of operations or enable strategic hires that accelerate growth.

Reduced Dilution Risk

Longer fundraising cycles often force founders to accept less favorable terms as runway dwindles. The FounderTech Survey found that founders who closed rounds in under 10 weeks achieved valuations 23% higher than those requiring 16+ weeks, purely due to negotiating from a position of strength rather than desperation.

Market Timing Advantages

Venture markets can shift rapidly, with funding availability fluctuating based on macroeconomic conditions and sector sentiment. Faster fundraising cycles enable founders to capitalize on favorable market windows rather than risk missing opportunities due to process inefficiencies.

Implementation Framework: Choosing the Right Tool

The choice between generic and specialized CRMs depends on your fundraising complexity and growth stage. Here's a decision framework based on the five metrics analyzed:

When Generic CRMs Suffice

• Pre-seed rounds under $500K: Limited investor universe may not justify specialized tooling

• Founder-led rounds: When raising primarily from angels and existing relationships

• Follow-on rounds: When the investor base is largely predetermined

When Investor CRMs Become Essential

• Seed rounds $1M+: Requires systematic approach to investor identification and qualification

• Competitive fundraising environments: When process efficiency directly impacts success probability

• Complex round structures: Multiple investor types, staged closings, or international components

Advanced Strategies: Maximizing Investor CRM Value

Beyond basic functionality, sophisticated founders leverage investor CRMs for strategic advantages that generic tools cannot provide.

Pattern Recognition at Scale

Investor CRMs enable analysis of investment patterns across thousands of firms, surfacing insights about sector trends, stage preferences, and fund deployment cycles. (Metal) This intelligence informs not just current fundraising but long-term investor relationship strategy.

Competitive Intelligence

By tracking investor activity across portfolio companies, founders can identify which firms are actively deploying capital, recently closed funds, or showing increased activity in specific sectors. (Metal) This real-time market intelligence provides significant advantages in targeting and timing.

Network Effect Amplification

Advanced investor CRMs identify not just direct connections but second and third-degree introduction paths, dramatically expanding the accessible investor universe. (Metal) This network amplification effect becomes increasingly valuable as founders build relationships across multiple fundraising cycles.

The Future of Fundraising Technology

As AI capabilities advance, the gap between generic and specialized fundraising tools will likely widen further. (Metal AI) Large Language Models are already being deployed to analyze investor communications, predict funding likelihood, and optimize outreach timing.

Generic CRMs will struggle to incorporate these specialized AI capabilities, while purpose-built investor CRMs will continue advancing the state of the art in fundraising process optimization. (Y Combinator)

Conclusion: The 50% Advantage Is Real

The data is clear: specialized investor CRMs deliver measurable advantages across every critical fundraising metric. The 50% reduction in cycle time observed in the 2024 FounderTech Survey reflects compound benefits across parallel-pipeline management, warm-intro routing, stage-mismatch prevention, engagement tracking, and funnel optimization.

For founders raising seed rounds in competitive markets, the choice isn't just about software preference—it's about survival. (Metal) The 8-week median close time achieved by specialized CRM users versus 16 weeks for generic tools represents the difference between maintaining momentum and burning through runway.

The question isn't whether you can afford purpose-built investor CRM tooling—it's whether you can afford not to use it. In a market where process efficiency directly correlates with fundraising success, the right tools become competitive advantages that compound over time.

Every week matters in fundraising. Every introduction counts. Every qualified prospect increases your probability of success. The founders who recognize this reality and invest in specialized tooling will continue to outperform those who treat fundraising as just another sales process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much faster are investor CRMs compared to generic sales CRMs for fundraising?

According to the 2024 FounderTech Survey of 427 founders, specialized investor CRMs can cut seed fundraising cycle time by 50%, reducing the average time from 16 weeks (generic CRMs like HubSpot) to 8 weeks. This dramatic improvement comes from purpose-built features designed specifically for fundraising workflows rather than generic sales processes.

What are the main disadvantages of using HubSpot for fundraising?

HubSpot was originally designed as a marketing email automation platform, not a CRM, and its CRM was developed primarily as a lead magnet for their expensive marketing suite. For startups with teams of 20 or less, HubSpot's cost after the first year is 2-4x more than competing solutions, and it lacks specialized fundraising features like investor pipeline management and commitment tracking.

What specific features make investor CRMs more effective for fundraising?

Investor CRMs offer specialized features that generic sales CRMs lack, including automated investor follow-ups, commitment tracking, investor segmentation based on interest levels and engagement stages, real-time fundraising pipeline visibility, and integration with fundraising-specific workflows. These tools are designed specifically for the unique requirements of capital raising rather than traditional sales processes.

How can founders identify the right investors for their sector using specialized tools?

Specialized fundraising platforms help founders identify sector specialists and frequent followers of existing investors through AI-powered investor qualification and intelligence systems. These tools analyze investment patterns, portfolio companies, and investor behavior to match founders with the most relevant investors for their specific industry and stage, significantly improving conversion rates.

Why do startups often struggle with fundraising without proper CRM tools?

Without a dedicated CRM system, startups typically rely on spreadsheets and email threads to manage their fundraising process, which quickly becomes unmanageable as the investor pipeline grows. This leads to missed follow-ups, lost investor information, poor pipeline visibility, and ultimately longer fundraising cycles that can extend beyond 16 weeks for seed rounds.

What are the five key metrics used to compare CRM effectiveness for fundraising?

The comparison focuses on five critical process management metrics: cycle time reduction (50% improvement with investor CRMs), investor response rates, pipeline conversion efficiency, follow-up automation effectiveness, and commitment tracking accuracy. These metrics directly impact fundraising success and demonstrate why specialized tools outperform generic sales CRMs for capital raising activities.

Sources

1. https://efficient.app/compare/hubspot-vs-highlevel

2. https://forecastio.ai/blog/copper-vs-hubspot

3. https://forecastio.ai/blog/hubspot-vs-salesforce

4. https://visible.vc/blog/best-crm-for-capital-raising/

5. https://www.metal.ai/blog/beyond-chat-ais-potential-for-funds

6. https://www.metal.so/blog/finding-investors

7. https://www.metal.so/blog/frequent-followers-of-existing-investors

8. https://www.metal.so/blog/identifying-sector-specialists

9. https://www.metal.so/blog/pursuing-investors-in-similar-companies

10. https://www.metal.so/blog/sector-and-geo-specialists

11. https://www.metal.so/blog/spray-and-pray-vs-high-precision

12. https://www.metal.so/blog/standard-elimination-methodology-for-investors

13. https://www.metal.so/discovery/companies

14. https://www.metal.so/intelligence/qualification

15. https://www.metal.so/process/fundraising-crm

16. https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/metal

The AI venture capital landscape has never been more competitive. With over 3,000 investors actively seeking AI startups, founders face the challenge of identifying which firms are genuinely committed to seed-stage AI investments versus those making opportunistic bets (CapitalxAI). The difference between targeting the right investors and adopting a "spray-and-pray" approach can determine whether you close your round in 30 days or struggle for months.

This comprehensive guide maps the top seed-stage AI venture capital firms based on recent deal activity, average check sizes, and partner preferences. More importantly, we'll show you exactly how to use data-driven tools and warm introduction strategies to secure meetings with these investors in under 30 days.

The Current State of AI Venture Capital in 2025

Market Dynamics and Investment Patterns

The AI venture capital market has matured significantly, with investors becoming more selective about their investments. Unlike the broad enthusiasm of previous years, today's AI investors are focusing on specific verticals and use cases where they see sustainable competitive advantages (Signa).

Venture investors love to invest in patterns that they believe will deliver returns (Metal). This means that investors who have made successful AI investments are significantly more likely to continue investing in similar companies and sectors. Understanding these investment patterns is crucial for founders seeking to identify the most likely investors for their specific AI vertical.

The Importance of Stage Specialization

One of the most critical mistakes AI founders make is confusing seed-stage specialists with stage tourists. At the seed stage, founders typically find the art and science of creating access a lot easier compared to later stages (Metal). However, this accessibility only applies when targeting investors who genuinely specialize in seed-stage investments.

Stage specialists are investors who dedicate the majority of their capital to seed-stage companies, while stage tourists make occasional seed investments but primarily focus on other stages. The conversion rates between these two groups differ dramatically, making proper identification essential for fundraising success.

Top Seed-Stage AI Venture Capital Firms for 2025

Tier 1: High-Volume AI Seed Specialists

Based on recent deal activity and AI investment concentration, several firms stand out as the most active seed-stage AI investors:

Khosla Ventures has demonstrated strong sector concentration in AI and healthcare, with approximately 27% of their investments in healthcare-related AI applications (

• Average Check Size: $2-5M

• Key Partners: Vinod Khosla, Keith Rabois

• Recent AI Deals: Multiple AI healthcare and enterprise software investments

• Best Fit: AI companies in healthcare, enterprise software, and deep tech

While First Round tends to invest early, they are really seed-stage investors, not pre-seed partners, making them seed specialists rather than pre-seed tourists (

• Average Check Size: $1-3M

• Key Partners: Josh Kopelman, Phin Barnes

• Recent AI Deals: Focus on B2B AI tools and consumer AI applications

• Best Fit: AI startups with strong product-market fit signals

Tier 2: Emerging AI-Focused Funds

Several newer funds have emerged with specific AI mandates, often led by former operators or researchers from major AI companies:

With Sarah Guo as GP, Conviction Capital represents one of the top AI-focused investment firms (

• Average Check Size: $1-4M

• Key Partners: Sarah Guo

• Recent AI Deals: Infrastructure AI, developer tools, and enterprise AI

• Best Fit: Technical AI founders with strong engineering backgrounds

Geographic Considerations for AI Startups

For founders building AI companies outside traditional venture hubs, identifying geographically relevant investors becomes crucial. Most users are either overly restrictive by focusing only on investors in their specific country, or too liberal and end up pursuing investors that don't focus on their geography (Metal).

The recommended approach is to identify investors that have made a healthy percentage of their investments in similar geographies or have shown interest in international AI opportunities. This is particularly important given the global nature of AI talent and market opportunities.

How to Research and Qualify AI Investors

Using Data-Driven Investor Discovery

Founders across the board are now taking an empirical approach to raising their next round, moving away from hearsay-based investor targeting (Metal). This data-driven approach significantly improves conversion rates at every step of the fundraising funnel.

The 20-Filter Search Methodology

Metal's platform enables founders to use over 20 granular filters to identify the most likely investors for their specific situation (Metal). For AI startups, the most important filters include:

1. Stage Specialization: Filter for investors who make 60%+ of their investments at seed stage

2. AI Sector Concentration: Identify investors with 15%+ of portfolio in AI/ML companies

3. Recent Activity: Focus on investors who have made 3+ investments in the past 12 months

4. Check Size Alignment: Target investors whose typical check size matches your funding needs

5. Geographic Relevance: Include investors who have invested in your region or similar markets

Identifying Portfolio Pattern Matches

Investors that invest in HR Tech once or twice are significantly more likely to make additional investments in that particular area (Metal). This pattern recognition applies strongly to AI investments, where investors often develop thesis-driven approaches to specific AI verticals.

Using Metal's platform, users can quickly identify portfolio founders of each target investor that meet two criteria: (1) Recently raised from the target investor (within the past 2-3 years), and (2) Are building products that you see yourself using (Metal).

The Warm Introduction Strategy

Leveraging Your Network for Investor Access

The venture industry runs on warm introductions (Metal). Even the most sophisticated cold outreach strategies pale in comparison to a well-crafted warm introduction from a mutual connection.

Metal's technology taps into your LinkedIn, Gmail, and other data sources to show who in your network can provide warm introductions (Metal). This network analysis often reveals unexpected connection paths that founders might otherwise miss.

The 3-Email Drip Sequence for Warm Introductions

Email 1: The Introduction Request

Subject: Quick intro request - [Your Company] + [Target Investor]

Hi [Mutual Connection],

Hope you're doing well! I'm reaching out because I noticed you know [Target Partner] at [VC Firm].

We're building [brief company description] and have [specific traction metric]. Based on their recent investments in [similar company], I believe there could be strong alignment.

Would you be comfortable making a brief introduction? Happy to send over a short blurb about what we're building.

Thanks!
[Your name]



Email 2: The Follow-up (if no response after 1 week)

Subject: Re: Quick intro request - [Your Company] + [Target Investor]

Hi [Mutual Connection],

Just wanted to follow up on my intro request below. I know you're busy, so no worries if this isn't something you're comfortable with.

Alternatively, if you think there might be a better person at [VC Firm] to connect with, I'd appreciate any guidance.

Thanks!
[Your name]



Email 3: The Graceful Close (if no response after another week)

Subject: Thanks anyway - [Your Company]

Hi [Mutual Connection],

No worries on the intro request - I know these things can be tricky to navigate.

If anything changes or you think of other relevant connections down the line, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for considering it!
[Your name]



Optimal Timing for Investor Outreach

Timing plays a crucial role in investor responsiveness. Based on industry data and founder feedback, the optimal times for investor outreach are:

• Best Days: Tuesday through Thursday

• Best Times: 9-11 AM and 2-4 PM in the investor's timezone

• Avoid: Mondays (catch-up day), Fridays (wind-down), and major conference weeks

• Seasonal Considerations: Avoid late December through early January, and major summer vacation periods

Building Your Investor CRM and Tracking System

Organizing Your Fundraising Process

Metal's built-in CRM helps founders manage and track their fundraising outreach from start to finish (Metal). This systematic approach ensures no opportunities fall through the cracks and provides valuable data for optimizing your outreach strategy.

Key Metrics to Track

MetricTarget RangeNotesResponse Rate15-25%For warm introductionsMeeting Conversion40-60%From positive responsesPartner Meeting Rate20-30%From initial meetingsTerm Sheet Rate5-15%From partner meetingsTime to First Meeting7-14 daysFrom initial outreach

The Metal Workflow Template

Here's a proven workflow template that founders can implement using Metal's platform:

1. DISCOVERY PHASE (Week 1)
  - Use 20-filter search to identify 50-100 target investors
  - Research each investor's recent AI investments
  - Identify warm introduction paths for top 30 targets

2. OUTREACH PHASE (Week 2-3)
  - Send introduction requests to mutual connections
  - Prepare investor-specific pitch materials
  - Schedule and conduct initial investor meetings

3. FOLLOW-UP PHASE (Week 4)
  - Send follow-up materials to interested investors
  - Schedule partner meetings with promising leads
  - Continue outreach to remaining targets

4. CLOSING PHASE (Week 5-6)
  - Negotiate terms with interested investors
  - Conduct final due diligence calls
  - Close the round with lead investor



Advanced Strategies for AI Startup Fundraising

Leveraging AI Investment Trends

The AI venture landscape is constantly evolving, with new trends emerging regularly. Successful founders stay ahead of these trends and position their companies accordingly. Recent trends include increased focus on AI infrastructure, vertical-specific AI applications, and AI-powered developer tools (Y Combinator).

Understanding Investor Psychology

AI investors are particularly focused on technical differentiation and defensibility. Unlike traditional software investments, AI investments require deeper technical due diligence and longer-term thinking about competitive moats. Founders should prepare for more technical questions and be ready to explain their AI approach in detail.

The Importance of Social Proof in AI

Given the technical complexity of AI investments, social proof plays an even more important role than in traditional software fundraising. This includes technical advisors, early customer testimonials, and validation from respected AI researchers or practitioners.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

The "Spray and Pray" Trap

Historically, 65% of VC returns come from just 5% of investments, indicating the high-risk, high-reward nature of VC (Climate Insiders). While some investors use a "spray and pray" strategy, founders should avoid this approach when targeting investors.

Founders that zoom in on the right type of "most likely" investors are often able to close rounds with a higher level of certainty than those adopting a "spray-and-pray" approach (Metal). This targeted approach leads to higher conversion rates and faster fundraising cycles.

Stage Misalignment

One of the most common mistakes is targeting investors who don't specialize in your stage. At the seed stage, this means avoiding pre-seed specialists who may not have the check size or risk appetite for your round, and avoiding Series A investors who may find your company too early.

Insufficient Technical Preparation

AI investors expect founders to have deep technical knowledge and clear explanations of their AI approach. Founders who cannot articulate their technical differentiation or competitive advantages will struggle to gain investor confidence.

Measuring Success and Optimizing Your Approach

Key Performance Indicators

Successful AI fundraising requires tracking the right metrics throughout the process. The most important KPIs include:

• Investor Response Rate: Percentage of outreach attempts that result in responses

• Meeting Conversion Rate: Percentage of responses that convert to meetings

• Partner Introduction Rate: Percentage of meetings that lead to partner introductions

• Term Sheet Rate: Percentage of partner meetings that result in term sheets

Continuous Optimization

Metal's technology includes an investor ranking model that helps founders continuously optimize their targeting strategy (Metal). An early version of Metal's ranking model is already live on the platform, enabling founders to refine their approach based on real-time feedback and results.

Learning from Rejection

Rejection is an inevitable part of the fundraising process, but it provides valuable learning opportunities. Successful founders use rejection feedback to refine their pitch, adjust their targeting strategy, and improve their overall approach.

Building Long-Term Investor Relationships

Beyond the Initial Investment

The best AI investors provide value beyond capital, including technical expertise, industry connections, and strategic guidance. When evaluating potential investors, consider their ability to support your long-term growth and technical development.

Maintaining Investor Networks

Even investors who don't participate in your current round may be valuable for future fundraising or strategic partnerships. Maintaining these relationships through regular updates and engagement can pay dividends in later funding rounds.

Conclusion: Your 30-Day Action Plan

Securing meetings with top seed-stage AI investors requires a systematic, data-driven approach combined with strategic relationship building. The founders who succeed are those who understand that fundraising is both an art and a science, requiring careful preparation, targeted outreach, and persistent execution.

Metal provides the tools that founders need to put the odds in their favor (Metal). By leveraging data-driven investor discovery, warm introduction strategies, and systematic tracking, AI founders can significantly improve their fundraising outcomes and build relationships with the investors who will help them scale their companies.

The AI venture capital landscape will continue to evolve, but the fundamental principles of successful fundraising remain constant: know your investors, leverage your network, and execute with precision. Founders who master these principles will find themselves well-positioned to secure the capital and partnerships they need to build successful AI companies.

Start your investor research today using Metal's platform (Metal), and begin building the relationships that will fuel your company's growth. The next 30 days could determine the trajectory of your AI startup's future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a venture capital firm truly committed to seed-stage AI investments versus opportunistic betting?

Genuinely committed AI VCs demonstrate consistent investment patterns in seed-stage AI companies, have dedicated AI-focused partners, and maintain active portfolios with multiple AI startups. According to CapitalxAI's research of over 3,000 investors, truly committed firms show regular deal flow, provide AI-specific expertise, and have a track record of follow-on investments in their AI portfolio companies.

How can founders use AI-powered tools to identify the most likely investors for their startup?

Modern AI platforms like CapitalxAI use intelligent algorithms to match startups with relevant investors from databases of 3,000+ VCs, while tools like Signa predict funding rounds using social data and follower patterns. These platforms analyze investment patterns, portfolio companies, and investor preferences to create personalized outreach strategies, significantly improving meeting success rates compared to traditional "spray-and-pray" approaches.

What role does network expansion play in securing warm introductions to investors?

Network expansion is crucial for accessing warm introductions, which have significantly higher success rates than cold outreach. Platforms like Metal.so help founders identify mutual connections and track frequent followers of existing investors, enabling strategic relationship building. By analyzing network patterns and investor connections, founders can map pathways to target VCs through trusted intermediaries.

Why is the "spray-and-pray" approach ineffective for AI startup fundraising in 2025?

The spray-and-pray approach fails because it lacks personalization and wastes valuable time on mismatched investors. With over 3,000 active AI investors, founders need targeted strategies rather than mass outreach. Research shows that 65% of VC returns come from just 5% of investments, meaning investors are highly selective and prefer startups that demonstrate understanding of their specific investment thesis and portfolio fit.

How do AI-powered deal flow platforms help venture capital firms identify promising startups?

AI platforms like Metal accelerate fund deal flows by reducing effort in data collection, parsing, and diligence processes for fund managers. These tools use generative AI to organize fund data and provide portfolio intelligence, enabling VCs to identify and evaluate promising startups more efficiently. The technology helps investors process larger volumes of opportunities while maintaining thorough due diligence standards.

What security measures should startups expect when working with AI-powered fundraising platforms?

Leading AI fundraising platforms implement enterprise-grade security including SOC2 Type II compliance, private cloud deployments on AWS, and HTTPS/SSL encryption. Platforms like Metal.ai maintain high security standards to protect sensitive startup and investor data. Founders should verify that any fundraising platform they use meets institutional security requirements and offers secure data handling practices.

Sources

1. https://climateinsiders.substack.com/p/spray-and-pray-in-vc-a-winning-strategy

2. https://signa.software/

3. https://www.capitalxai.com/

4. https://www.metal.so

5. https://www.metal.so/blog/finding-investors

6. https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/metal

The venture capital landscape has evolved dramatically, with regional and sector-specific variations now playing a critical role in pre-seed funding dynamics. Investors no longer price San Francisco SaaS companies the same way they evaluate Latin American fintech startups, creating distinct benchmarks that founders must understand to optimize their fundraising strategy.

The Pre-Seed Revolution: A Data-Driven Overview

Pre-seed funding has transformed from a niche financing option to the fastest-growing round type globally. (Metal) This stage now represents over 20% of all venture rounds worldwide, making it the second most common type of venture financing after seed rounds. (Metal)

The growth trajectory has been remarkable. Pre-seed funding rounds accounted for 14% of all seed stage deals in 2023, up from just 5% in 2020, with predictions indicating even higher percentages in 2024. (VC Cafe) This expansion is driven primarily by fund managers seeking to invest at the earliest stages when valuations are lowest and potential returns highest.

Regional Variations in Pre-Seed Benchmarks

North American Market Dynamics

The United States continues to dominate pre-seed activity, with the vast majority of rounds falling within the $1-2 million range according to Carta's comprehensive cap table data. (Metal) Valuations typically cluster around the $5-10 million mark, as reported by AngelList's extensive startup database. (Metal)

However, these benchmarks vary significantly by metropolitan area. San Francisco and New York command premium valuations, while emerging tech hubs like Austin, Denver, and Miami offer more founder-friendly terms. The average deal size for pre-seed and seed rounds in 2024 was between $1M and $4M, reflecting this geographic diversity. (Highway Ventures)

Latin American Emergence

Latin America has emerged as a significant hub for early-stage funding, with venture capital investment reaching a record high of $7.8 billion in 2022. (Private Equity List) Pre-seed and seed funding rounds in the region amounted to over $1 billion in 2022, demonstrating the maturation of the ecosystem. (Private Equity List)

The regional dynamics create unique opportunities for founders who understand how to position themselves geographically. Most venture investors specialize in one or two stages, and many are sector specialists bringing deep expertise to specific verticals. (Metal)

European and Asian Markets

European pre-seed rounds typically range from €500K to €1.5M, with valuations generally 20-30% lower than comparable US deals. Asian markets show even greater variation, with Singapore and Hong Kong commanding premium valuations while Southeast Asian markets offer more accessible entry points for first-time founders.

Industry-Specific Benchmarking

SaaS and B2B Software

SaaS companies continue to attract the highest valuations in pre-seed rounds, particularly those demonstrating early product-market fit signals. Over one-third of venture investments flowed into AI startups in 2024, with growing interest in specialized AI applications, including AI infrastructure (29%) and AI agents (22%). (Highway Ventures)

For B2B SaaS companies, pre-seed investors typically expect some form of market validation or early prototype, with the bet primarily on the team, market opportunity, and evidence of latent demand. (Metal)

Fintech and Financial Services

Fintech startups face unique regulatory considerations that impact valuation benchmarks. Latin American fintech companies, in particular, benefit from underserved markets and regulatory tailwinds, often achieving higher multiples than their North American counterparts in similar development stages.

Healthcare and Biotech

Healthcare startups typically require larger pre-seed rounds due to longer development cycles and regulatory requirements. These companies often raise $2-4 million in pre-seed funding, with valuations reflecting the higher capital intensity and longer time to market.

E-commerce and Consumer

Consumer-focused startups show the greatest regional variation in funding patterns. US consumer companies face intense competition and higher customer acquisition costs, while emerging market consumer plays often achieve better unit economics and growth rates.

Deep Tech and Hardware

Deep tech companies typically raise larger pre-seed rounds ($1.5-3 million) due to longer development cycles and higher capital requirements. These companies often use pre-orders or contracted revenue for demand validation, particularly in hardware categories. (Metal)

Understanding Dilution Patterns

Founder Dilution by Region

Founder dilution varies significantly by geography, with US founders typically giving up 15-25% equity in pre-seed rounds, while Latin American and Asian founders often dilute 20-30% due to higher perceived risk premiums.

Industry-Specific Dilution Trends

SaaS companies generally experience lower dilution rates (12-20%) due to predictable revenue models and lower capital requirements. Hardware and biotech companies face higher dilution (20-35%) reflecting longer development cycles and higher capital intensity.

The Investor Landscape: Quality Over Quantity

A critical insight for founders is that pre-seed activity is highly concentrated within a small pool of specialized investors. While pre-seed rounds occur more frequently than Series A financings, the total number of investors specializing at pre-seed is approximately one-third that of Series A. (Metal)

This concentration creates both challenges and opportunities. The limited optionality means founders must be highly strategic in their approach, but it also means that specialized pre-seed investors are making numerous investments annually, spreading risk across broader portfolios. (Metal)

Accelerator Dominance

Accelerators play an outsized role in pre-seed funding, responsible for over 35% of all pre-seed rounds globally. (Metal) For first-time founders, accelerators provide crucial network effects and shared learning opportunities, particularly large programs like Y Combinator and Techstars.

Strategic Implications for Founders

Geographic Positioning

Founders should consider their geographic positioning strategically. Rather than focusing solely on investors based in their specific country, successful founders identify "geographically relevant" investors based on prior investment patterns. (Metal)

For founders in developing markets, the recommended approach is identifying investors with at least three investments in similar geographies, creating a cohort-based targeting strategy. (Metal)

Stage Specialization Focus

The distinction between "stage specialists" and "stage tourists" is critical for pre-seed founders. Stage specialists are investors who concentrate their activities in pre-seed, while stage tourists invest opportunistically in exceptional cases. (Metal)

Founders should focus on stage specialists who have made at least 25% of their investments at the pre-seed stage, as these investors understand the unique dynamics and expectations of this funding phase.

Sector Concentration vs. Familiarity

At the pre-seed stage, most investors tend to be sector agnostic due to the experimental nature of investments at this stage. (Metal) However, founders should distinguish between investors with sector familiarity (those who have made multiple investments in a space) and those with sector concentration (those dedicating a significant percentage of their portfolio to specific verticals).

Market Dynamics and Trends

Post-2022 Market Correction

The venture market experienced significant contraction in 2023, with total deal volume dropping roughly 50% from 2021's peak. (Right Side Capital) Exit activity hit a ten-year low, and venture fund performance declined across the industry. (Right Side Capital)

Despite this broader market contraction, pre-seed funding demonstrated remarkable resilience, with many investors viewing early-stage opportunities as attractive entry points during market downturns.

Fund Size Considerations

Fund size alignment is crucial for pre-seed success. Most investors maintain check sizes of approximately 1-2% of their total fund size, meaning a $100 million fund typically writes $1-2 million checks. (Metal) Founders must match their round size to appropriate fund sizes to avoid misalignment.

Activity Levels and Timing

Only about 10% of all venture funds are actively deploying capital at any given time. (Metal) Founders should focus on investment firms that have made at least one investment in the past 3-6 months to ensure they're targeting active deployers rather than dormant funds.

Technology-Enabled Investor Targeting

Modern fundraising requires sophisticated investor identification and targeting strategies. Platforms like Metal automatically tag investors by geographic and sector thesis, enabling founders to identify firms that routinely fund their specific region and industry combination at realistic valuations. (Metal)

This data-driven approach helps founders avoid the common pitfall of pursuing investors with fundamental misalignments in stage, sector, or geographic focus. The platform's filtering capabilities allow founders to identify the "most likely" investors based on historical investment patterns rather than relying on hearsay or generic investor lists. (Metal)

Risk and Return Dynamics

Pre-seed investments are inherently experimental, with failure rates typically ranging from 50-90% of all financings. (Metal) This high-risk profile explains why specialized pre-seed investors make numerous small bets rather than concentrating capital in fewer opportunities.

For founders, understanding this risk profile is crucial for setting appropriate expectations and structuring compelling investment narratives that acknowledge uncertainty while demonstrating clear paths to value creation.

Practical Recommendations

Benchmarking Process

1. Compare your target round size and valuation to regional medians, adjusting for local market dynamics and currency considerations.

2. Understand sector-specific expectations and benchmarks, particularly regarding traction metrics and development timelines.

3. Focus on investors with demonstrated pre-seed specialization in your geographic and sector combination.

4. Model various scenarios to understand the dilution implications of different round structures and valuations.

Execution Strategy

1. Prioritize investors with a history of leading pre-seed rounds rather than following other investors.

2. Target investors with demonstrated investment activity in your region or similar markets.

3. Focus on actively deploying funds rather than dormant or between-fund investors.

4. Ensure investor expectations align with your current development stage and near-term milestones.

Future Outlook

The pre-seed market continues evolving rapidly, with increasing specialization and geographic diversification. Founders who understand these dynamics and leverage data-driven targeting strategies will be best positioned to secure funding at favorable terms.

The rise of AI-powered investor matching platforms represents a significant advancement in fundraising efficiency, enabling founders to identify and connect with the most relevant investors based on sophisticated filtering and recommendation algorithms. (Metal)

As the market matures, we expect continued growth in pre-seed activity, particularly in emerging markets and specialized sectors like AI infrastructure and climate technology. Founders who position themselves strategically within these trends will benefit from improved access to capital and more favorable terms.

Conclusion

Successful pre-seed fundraising requires a nuanced understanding of regional and industry-specific benchmarks. The days of one-size-fits-all approaches are over, replaced by sophisticated, data-driven strategies that account for geographic positioning, sector dynamics, and investor specialization patterns.

Founders who invest time in understanding these benchmarks and leverage modern tools for investor identification will significantly improve their fundraising outcomes. The key is focusing on the "most likely" investors rather than casting wide nets, ultimately improving conversion rates at every stage of the fundraising process. (Metal)

By understanding regional variations, industry-specific expectations, and investor specialization patterns, founders can optimize their fundraising strategy and secure the capital needed to build successful companies. The pre-seed market's continued growth and sophistication create opportunities for well-prepared founders who approach fundraising with the same rigor they apply to product development and market strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical pre-seed round sizes by region in H1 2025?

Pre-seed round sizes vary significantly by region, with San Francisco and Silicon Valley typically seeing larger rounds ($1-4M average) compared to Latin American markets. Regional variations reflect local market conditions, investor appetite, and cost structures. Understanding these benchmarks helps founders set realistic expectations and target appropriate investors for their geographic market.

How does industry sector affect pre-seed dilution patterns?

Industry sector plays a crucial role in dilution patterns, with AI startups often commanding higher valuations due to increased investor interest (over one-third of 2024 venture investments flowed into AI). SaaS companies typically see different dilution rates compared to fintech or industrial technology startups. Sector-specific benchmarks help founders understand what equity percentage to expect when raising pre-seed capital.

What stage and sector filters should founders consider when identifying pre-seed investors?

Founders should use stage and sector filters to identify investors who specifically focus on pre-seed rounds and their industry vertical. This targeted approach increases success rates by connecting with investors who understand the sector dynamics and have experience with similar-stage companies. Proper filtering helps avoid mismatched investor conversations and improves fundraising efficiency.

How has the pre-seed funding landscape changed in 2024-2025?

The pre-seed landscape has seen significant evolution, with pre-seed rounds accounting for 14% of all seed stage deals in 2023, up from just 5% in 2020. Despite overall venture market challenges (50% drop in deal volume from 2021 peak), pre-seed funding has made a strong comeback. This trend reflects investors' focus on earlier-stage opportunities and founders' need for smaller initial rounds.

What are the key differences between pre-seed funding in developed vs emerging markets?

Emerging markets like Latin America show distinct patterns, with the region reaching $7.8 billion in venture investment in 2022 and over $1 billion in pre-seed/seed rounds. These markets often feature lower round sizes but potentially higher growth opportunities. Developed markets typically have more established investor networks but higher competition and valuations.

How should founders approach pre-seed fundraising strategy based on regional benchmarks?

Founders should tailor their fundraising strategy to regional benchmarks by researching local investor preferences, typical round sizes, and sector focus areas. Understanding that investors no longer price companies uniformly across regions means adapting pitch materials and expectations to local market conditions. This includes adjusting valuation expectations and targeting investors with relevant geographic and sector expertise.

Sources

1. https://blog.privateequitylist.com/pre-seed-and-seed-funding-in-latin-america-a-comprehensive-guide/

2. https://docs.metal.so/content/high-resolution-identification/stage-and-sector-filters

3. https://www.highwayventures.com/insights/pre-seed-and-seed-trends-a-2024-breakdown-and-2025-outlook

4. https://www.metal.so/blog/finding-investors

5. https://www.metal.so/blog/overview-of-pre-seed-funding

6. https://www.metal.so/insights/valuations

7. https://www.rightsidecapital.com/blog/report-how-are-pre-seed-and-seed-vc-firms-investing-in-2024

8. https://www.vccafe.com/2024/02/27/how-the-pre-seed-round-made-a-comeback-in-2024/