Inside the Series A mindset at Disrupt 2025

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025taking place October 27-29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, we’re getting real about what it takes to land a Series A in today’s market — no smoke, no mirrors, just the unfiltered perspective from the people signing the checks.

Series A has changed — here’s how to win in 2026

This Builder Stage session brings together three power players in early-stage investing: Katie Stanton (Moxxie Ventures), Thomas taps (Insight Partners), and Sangeen Zeb (GV). They’ve seen thousands of decks, led major rounds, and helped steer startups from scrappy beginnings to breakout scale.

This conversation goes deeper than the headlines. From the metrics that matter and how to tell your growth story, to what causes investors to walk away — you’ll hear what actually moves a pitch from “maybe” to “we’re in.”

Meet the VCs who know how to spot a rocket ship

Katie Stanton brings a track record most operators only dream of. From Twitter and the Obama White House to backing more than 100 early-stage companies like Airtable, Calm, and Carta, she’s built Moxxie Ventures on conviction and founder-first instincts.

Thomas taps has spent over a decade at Insight Partners, climbing from analyst to managing director while backing some of the biggest names in software and cybersecurity. With IPO wins like JFrog and SentinelOne, he knows what scalable traction looks like — and how to fund it.

Sangeen zeb is a general partner at GV with an eye for enterprise and AI. His board work spans companies like Vercel and Harvey, and he’s helped lead investments in some of the most talked-about growth stories in tech.

Your Series A isn’t just a round — it’s a reset

The market is tighter, the stakes are higher, and this is the session founders can’t afford to miss. Learn what it takes to raise on your terms and build for the long game. Lock in your seat at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 now to save up to $675 and join 10,000+ startup and VC leaders in the room where deals — and futures — get made.