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TechCrunch Disrupt 2025<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong> This honest and tactical conversation will cover what really matters when raising your first institutional check \u2014 from telling a compelling story to building trust without traction. Charles Hudson and Wesley Chan will share the traits they consistently look for in zero-to-one founders, the red flags that raise eyebrows, and the most common mistakes first-time entrepreneurs make when fundraising.<\/p>\n Pre-seed and seed fundraising often happens before there\u2019s a product, user base, or traction. That means investors are betting on the founder, not the business. And few know how to make that call better than Hudson and Chan. Between them, they\u2019ve backed hundreds of founders at the earliest stages, before the pitch decks were polished, before there were metrics to show, and often before a single line of code had shipped.<\/p>\n Charles Hudson<\/a>, managing partner of Precursor Ventures, has invested in more than 400 companies and supported over 450 founders. He\u2019s built his reputation on backing people with bold ideas and unique perspectives, saying recently: \u201cThe earlier you invest, the more important it is to believe in the founder\u2019s narrative and ability to adapt. It\u2019s not just about solving a problem \u2014 it\u2019s about whether I believe you\u2019re the one to do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Wesley Chan<\/a>, co-founder and managing partner at FPV Ventures, is known for placing bold early bets on category-defining companies. A Google veteran, he helped create Google Analytics and Google Voice before moving into venture, where he\u2019s backed unicorns like Canva, Robinhood, and Plaid. His investing philosophy centers on identifying mission-driven founders who can turn scrappy beginnings into lasting impact.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re currently raising or planning for the future, this session will equip you with real, actionable advice on navigating early venture with clarity and conviction. Don\u2019t miss it live, in addition to 200+ sessions<\/strong><\/a> taking place across five industry stages. Register now to save<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd TechCrunch Disrupt 2025<\/strong> \u2014 October 27\u201329, Moscone West, San Francisco
\ud83d\udccd October 27\u201329, Moscone West, San Francisco
\ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Register now \u2014 Regular Bird savings of up to $668 end September 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWhy join this conversation on the Builders Stage?<\/h3>\n
Betting on people before the product<\/h3>\n
Actionable insights on raising your first round<\/h2>\n
\ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Save up to $668 when you register by September 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT<\/strong>.<\/p>\n