Learn what it takes to raise a Series A in 2027 at Disrupt 2026 |

Ifyou’replanning to raise a Series A in the next 12 to 24 months, the rules you thinkyou’replaying by may already be outdated.

Series Aisn’tjust harder —it’sslower, more selective, and increasingly unforgiving. The bar has shifted, and many founders are stilloptimizing fora version of the market that no longer exists.

AtTechCrunch Disrupt 2026,taking place October 13-15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West,one session on the Builders Stage cuts directly into that gap, led by some of the VCs shaping the next funding cycle:The Series A in 2027.

Thisisn’ta retrospective.It’sa forward-looking breakdown of what it willactually taketo raise in the next funding cycle and who will get left behind.Get your passes to Disrupt and join this session live.This offer to buy one, get one at 50% off ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Get ahead of Series A changes

The window betweenbuildingandraisinghas stretched. Metrics that oncesignaledreadiness are being questioned. Teams that would have been fundable two years ago are now getting passed over. And in many cases, foundersdon’trealize it untilthey’realready in the market.

This session is designed to correct that before it costs you time, leverage, or your round.

What “fundable”actually meansnow

The definition of a “fundable” company is being rewritten in real time. In this session,you’llget a direct view of how top investors are recalibrating:

• What tractionactually signalsreadiness, andwhat no longer does

• How expectations around growth, efficiency, and capital have changed

• What product and GTM milestones matter heading into a raise

• Where AI is raising the bar and whereit’sdistorting signals

This is practical information you can use right away. It reveals how decisions are being made right now and howthey’llbe made when you go out toraise.Secure your ticket to Disruptto learn what it takes (now) to raise.

Whoyou’rehearing from onstage

This Builders Stage session brings together investors who are actively shaping the next funding cycle — not commenting on the last one.

Nina Achadjian,Partner atIndex Ventures

Nina Achadjianinvests acrossseed togrowth in AI, robotics, and vertical SaaS. She works closely with companies like Anthropic, Gong, andServiceTitan, and brings both operator experience from Google and early-stage investing insight.

Janelle Teng Wade,Partner atBessemer Venture Partners

Janelle Teng Wade focuses on early-stage AI/ML, data infrastructure, and developer platforms. She co-authors Bessemer’s widely referenced State of the Cloud Report and helps define their frameworks for scaling to $100 million+ in revenue.

Shailendra SinghManaging Director,Peak XV

Shailendra Signhhas been part of a firm that has backed 500+ companies and category leaders like CRED, Pine Labs, and Druva. The firm’s portfolio has produced 30+ IPOs and dozens of $100 million+ revenue companies.

These are investors defining what the next wave of venture-backed companies needs to look like — through the companies they fund, the frameworks they build, and the standards they apply.Register for Disruptto access this session and 250+ others.

Whatyou’llwalk away with

The goal of this session is simple: clarity.You’llleave with a sharper understanding of:

• What metrics you shouldactually bebuilding toward.

• How to structure your team ahead of a raise.

• What signals investors are prioritizing — and whatthey’reignoring.

• How to position your company in a more selective market.

And just as importantly, you’ll learn what to stopoptimizingfor.Because in this environment, doing the wrong things welldoesn’thelp; it sets you back.Buy your pass to Disruptbefore prices increase.

Where this fits at Disrupt

This sessionis part of the Builders Stage lineup atTechCrunch Disrupt 2026where sessions are built around execution, not theory.This is where founders go to pressure-test their strategy, recalibrate their assumptions, and get answers they can actually act on.

Ifyou’rethinking aboutraisingin the next one to two years, thisisn’toptional. Get this wrong, and youdon’traise. Or you raise later than planned, with less leverage, under more pressure. Get it right, and you separate from the pack — before you ever start pitching.

That’sthe difference this session is designed to create.Register now to save 50% on two passes and to attend the Series A in 2027.

Get your Disrupt ticket for live Series A insights

The Series A market is changing faster than most founders are adapting. You canfigure thatout mid-process—or you can understand it before you ever start.

Save $410 on your pass and get a second pass at 50% off.Offer ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT. Join this session plus 250+ others across all Disrupt tracks for three days of real-world fundraising and tech insights.