TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

📍 October 27–29, Moscone West, San Francisco

🎟️ Register now — Regular Bird savings of up to $668 end September 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT

Why join this conversation on the Builders Stage?

This honest and tactical conversation will cover what really matters when raising your first institutional check — 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.

Image Credits: Haje Kamps / TechCrunch

Betting on people before the product

Pre-seed and seed fundraising often happens before there’s a product, user base, or traction. That means in

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