What Startup Founders Should Know Before Raising Series C Funding in 2025
What Startup Founders Should Know Before Raising Series C Funding in 2025 Raising money for a startup is never easy, but in 2025, it’s even harder—especially for founders trying to raise a Series C round. Many believe that funding has dried up. But according to Cathy Gao, a partner at Sapphire Ventures, capital is still available. The real challenge is getting access to it. At a recent TechCrunch conference, Cathy Gao shared valuable advice for startup founders. She explained that today’s market is very different from what we saw just a few years ago. Investors are being much more careful with their money. They are no longer interested in hype or fast growth alone. They want certainty. They want to invest in companies that are clearly going to win in their industries. Let’s break this down step-by-step so you understand what really matters when you're preparing to raise Series C funding in 2025. Only a Few Startups Reach Series C Before we talk about how to raise a Series C ...