TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 takes place from October 27 to 29 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Register now to take advantage of Regular Bird savings of up to 668 dollars. These savings end on September 26 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Join a crucial conversation on the Builders Stage about raising your first institutional check. This session will provide an honest and tactical look at what truly matters, from telling a compelling story to building trust without traction. Charles Hudson and Wesley Chan will share the key traits they look for in zero-to-one founders, the red flags that concern them, and the most common mistakes first-time entrepreneurs make during fundraising.
Pre-seed and seed fundraising frequently occurs before a product, user base, or traction exists. This means investors are betting on the founder rather than the business. Few are better at making that call than Hudson and Chan. Together, they have backed hundreds of founders at the earliest stages, often before pitch decks were polished, before there were metrics to show, and even before a single line of code was written.
Charles Hudson is the managing partner of Precursor Ventures. He has invested in more than 400 companies and supported over 450 founders. He has built his reputation on backing people with bold ideas and unique perspectives. He recently stated that the earlier you invest, the more important it is to believe in the founder’s narrative and ability to adapt. It is not just about solving a problem, but about believing the founder is the right person to do it.
Wesley Chan is the co-founder and managing partner at FPV Ventures. He is known for placing bold early bets on category-defining companies. A Google veteran, he helped create Google Analytics and Google Voice before moving into venture capital. He has backed unicorns like Canva, Robinhood, and Plaid. His investing philosophy focuses on identifying mission-driven founders who can turn scrappy beginnings into lasting impact.
Whether you are currently raising funds or planning for the future, this session will equip you with real, actionable advice for navigating early venture capital with clarity and conviction. Do not miss this live session, which is one of over 200 sessions taking place across five industry stages.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will be held from October 27 to 29 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Save up to 668 dollars by registering before September 26 at 11:59 PM PT.
Join over ten thousand tech and venture capital leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025. The event features heavy hitters from companies like Netflix, Box, ElevenLabs, and Wayve, and firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital. More than 250 leaders will lead over 200 sessions designed to deliver insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your competitive edge. This year marks the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, offering a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before September 26 to save up to 668 dollars.