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TechCrunch Disrupt 2025<\/strong><\/a> returns to Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27-29, bringing together more than 10,000 startup and VC leaders for an inside look at where innovation is headed. Among the must-attend sessions is a candid panel on the Builders Stage about one of the most high-stakes moments in any founder\u2019s journey: raising your first round.<\/p>\n Register now to save up to $675 on your ticket<\/a><\/strong> and join this conversation \u2014 plus 200+ more sessions across five industry stages, roundtables, and breakouts. Prices go up tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.<\/strong><\/p>\n This dynamic panel brings together three seasoned investors \u2014 Maria Palma (Freestyle Capital), Gabby Cazeau (Harlem Capital), and Marlon Nichols (MaC Venture Capital) \u2014 to unpack the realities of early-stage fundraising. From shaping a compelling pitch to choosing the right capital partners, they\u2019ll share honest, actionable insights to help founders translate interest into investment.<\/p>\n Maria Palma<\/a>, general partner at Freestyle Capital<\/a>, brings deep operating and investing experience, with past roles at Kindred Capital, RRE Ventures, and leadership positions at high-growth startups like Eyeview. She\u2019s backed companies such as Fung Money, Lightning Labs, and Payman, and holds an MBA from Harvard.<\/p>\n Gabby Cazeau<\/a> is a partner at Harlem Capital<\/a>, investing in pre-seed and seed startups across enterprise software and applied AI. She holds an MBA from Yale and a BS in chemical engineering. Gabby has been featured in Business Insider, CNBC, and Crain\u2019s 40 Under 40, and serves on the VC Council of Startup:NYC.<\/p>\n Marlon Nichols<\/a>, co-founder and managing general partner of MaC Venture Capital<\/a>, leads one of North America\u2019s top seed-stage firms with over $600 million AUM (assets under management). A multiple-time honoree on Business Insider\u2019s Seed 100 and PitchBook\u2019s list of top Black VCs, Marlon has helped scale industry-shaping companies like Blavity, Thrive Market, and MongoDB.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t your typical venture panel. Expect sharp insights on how to cut through the noise, structure your raise, and build relationships that last beyond a term sheet. Whether you\u2019re gearing up for your first round or advising a founder who is, this is the session you don\u2019t want to miss.<\/p>\n Techcrunch event<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco<\/span> Catch Palma, Cazeau, Nichols, and 250+ tech heavyweights<\/strong><\/a> across the six industry-specific stages, as well as in breakouts and roundtables, live at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, at Moscone West in San Francisco. Register now<\/strong><\/a> and lock in up to $675 in ticket savings before today ends!<\/p>\n<\/div>\nFrom pitch to partnership: The real roadmap to seed funding<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What to expect on the Builders Stage<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 27-29, 2025<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n