Fundraising in 2026: How the Bar Has Quietly Moved
Join us for a discussion on how AI is fundamentally reshaping SaaS markets and what that means for founders and investors heading into 2026. As capital markets recalibrate and competitive dynamics evolve, the bar for venture-backed companies has shifted in subtle but significant ways. This discussion will explore how expectations around growth, efficiency, defensibility and exit pathways are changing across early and later stage financings.
4:30 – 5:00 PM
Registration and networking
5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
Panel discussion featuring Stefan Kuentz of Swisscom Ventures, Alan Bressers of AXOM Partners and moderated by Christina Pearson, Global Co-head of Corporate and Securities at Pillsbury Law.
5:45 – 6:00 PM
Audience Q&A
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Networking session
Speaker Highlights
Stefan Kuentz has built a distinguished career at the intersection of Venture Capital and corporate business development. As a Managing Partner at Swisscom Ventures, alongside Alexander Schläpfer and Pär Lange, Stefan spearheaded investments in high-growth startups and scale-ups across a range of sectors, including cloud infrastructure, cyber security, blockchain, and enterprise software. Key portfolio companies include Cognism, Fireblocks, Cato Networks, and Scandit, among others. Stefan was instrumental in numerous successful exits such as Amplidata (acquired by Western Digital), Exoscale (acquired by Telcom Austria) and Fastly (NYSE IPO), demonstrating his keen eye for identifying high-potential ventures.
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Alan Bressers is an experienced M&A professional with nearly 20 years of experience advising executives and boards on landmark transactions across the technology sector.
Alan has negotiated and advised on transactions totaling ~$150 Billion, including acquisitions, divestitures, hostile takeover defense and financings. At Qatalyst Partners, he was one of the strongest M&A practitioners and covered a diverse ecosystem of hardware companies and certain software verticals. He helped build Qatalyst semiconductor practice to #1 globally and then initiated new coverage around new technologies (AI, autonomous robotics) and markets (Auto Tech, Industrial Tech).
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Christina Pearson, Global Co-head of Corporate and Securities, represents companies in every stage of their life cycle, from startup to maturity, and counsels her clients through liquidity transactions, such as venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings.
Christina works extensively with private companies, providing guidance on incorporation, corporate governance, capital raising, securities laws and transactional matters. She also assists public companies in their public and other equity offerings, corporate governance and periodic reporting matters. Christina regularly counsels a wide range of public and private companies in their strategic acquisitions and exit events and has been recognized for her role in mergers and acquisitions by Global M&A Network and M&A Advisor. She was recently recognized as one of the 2022 Women Leaders in Tech Law by The Recorder’s California Legal Awards for the Corporate/Transactions category.