TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will convene at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27-29, offering founders aiming for significant funding opportunities a critical platform. A dedicated session on preparing for later-stage investment rounds is set to be one of the event’s standout discussions, featuring three influential leaders from the venture capital world and artificial intelligence sector.
Scheduled for October 29 at the Builders Stage, the panel underscores that successful Series C financing does not just begin when startups approach investors for the funding. Instead, it needs proactive groundwork laid from earlier growth stages. The conversation promises to deliver practical guidance, candid insights, and concrete strategies for ambitious founders planning for high-level venture investments.
Late-stage fundraising is about more than impressive revenues; it’s about crafting compelling narratives, monitoring the correct growth metrics, and cultivating valuable relationships strategically over time. The panelists will explore beyond conventional pitch deck advice, offering actionable frameworks and clear practical advice aimed explicitly at founders aspiring to secure transformative investments.
The discussion will feature venture leaders Andrea Thomaz, CEO and co-founder of Diligent Robotics; Lila Preston, head of growth equity at Generation Investment Management; and Zeya Yang, partner at IVP.
Zeya Yang brings unique insights from both investor and product leader perspectives. With professional experience from respected firms such as a16z, Plaid, and Dropbox, Yang has championed high-impact AI startups like Graphite, Macro, and Tennr. Known for his strong product instincts and deep understanding of early-stage founder dynamics, he will provide invaluable insight for companies aiming to attract substantial investment.
Lila Preston combines financial expertise with a proven record of scaling impact-oriented enterprises since 2004. Her role at Generation Investment Management includes board positions with innovative, sustainability-focused brands like Nature’s Fynd and Pivot Bio. Preston draws from a rich background of international investing experience across the U.S., the UK, and Latin America, enhancing the global dimension of her guidance.
Andrea Thomaz offers a direct founder’s perspective. She has driven pioneering advancements in social robotics and AI and successfully scaled Diligent Robotics—developing groundbreaking collaborative robots featured widely from The New York Times to Popular Science. Thomaz’s real-world startup experience will provide practical guidance on communicating audacious technological visions while earning investor confidence in high-stakes funding pitches.
The session at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will provide a critical resource for startup founders and established investors alike—underscoring vital strategies, tactical advice, and rare insights into the processes that effectively position businesses for substantial future funding rounds.
