Growth-stage fundraising is experiencing a revival, but today’s landscape is vastly different from earlier years. To help founders navigate this shifting terrain, Cathy Gao, a partner at Sapphire Ventures, will share her practical insights during TechCrunch All Stage 2025, scheduled for July 15 at Boston’s SoWa Power Station.
Gao brings firsthand experience from both sides of the fundraising table, having operated within rapidly growing companies and invested in notable startups such as Culture Amp, Gem, Sword Health, and EliseAI. With a tenure at Gusto, where she was instrumental in scaling operations after their Series B round, Gao understands precisely what founders face today.
In her session titled “The New Rules of Growth-Stage Fundraising: How to Win at Raising a Series C and Beyond,” Gao intends to unpack the current funding environment, fueled significantly by innovations in generative AI. She will emphasize the frequent mistakes founders make in seeking later-stage capital and offer tactical advice for those pursuing investments of $30 million or more.
Gao’s talk promises an inside look at investor expectations, effective strategies for sharpening company pitches, and tips to break through the noise in a crowded market. It’s a crucial session for leaders driving growth-stage companies, especially those in the fast-moving AI sector.
