Raising in the New Reality: Fundraising for Founders

​Raising in the New Reality: Fundraising for Founders

​Hosted by Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) and PitchBook, this founder-focused event is designed to equip early-stage leaders with the data, insights, and practical guidance needed to navigate today’s fundraising market.

​As the venture landscape evolves, founders are facing new expectations from investors—from traction benchmarks to shifting round sizes.

​This session, led by T.A. McCann - Managing Director (PSL) and Kyle Stanford - Director of Research, Venture Capital (PitchBook), will dive into what’s changed, what’s expected, and how to position your company for fundraising success in Fall 2025 and beyond.

​What You’ll Learn

• ​Seattle fundraising today: what it’s like to raise in the current environment, and how the local ecosystem compares nationally.

• ​Key benchmarks: traction milestones and performance signals investors expect at seed, Series A, and beyond.

• ​Round dynamics: current median round sizes, valuations, and investor appetite across stages.

• ​Trends over time: how the market has shifted in the past few years—and what it means for your upcoming raise.

​Who Should Attend

• ​Founders currently raising or planning to raise in the next 6–12 months. (Note: Registration acceptance will by prioritized for founders actively raising a funding round.

• ​Startup operators who want to understand fundraising dynamics.

​Join us for a candid, data-driven discussion that blends PitchBook’s market intelligence with PSL’s on-the-ground experience working alongside founders.