Title: Closing a Seed Round After 97 Meetings: Lessons from the Fundraising Journey
After four challenging months and 97 meetings, I’ve successfully closed my seed round. Here’s how the fundraising funnel played out:
- 78 first meetings
- 15 second meetings
- 4 third meetings
- 2 co-leads
I’m building a consumer AI company, and the current fundraising environment is tough. The pool of consumer-focused VCs has shrunk, and those active in the space set higher expectations for user traction before investing. The previous era—when startups could build an audience over several years and monetize later—has shifted. Today, many investors want visible traction and a defined monetization path, sometimes aiming for Year 1.
The journey nearly pushed me to quit. The market’s feedback was often harsh, and there were moments of doubt about the viability of a consumer-first approach. Now that the round is closed, I find myself weighing the consumer vision against alternative paths, such as B2B2C or B2B models, to hedge against future uncertainty. A part of me still believes in the consumer strategy and wants to prove the naysayers wrong, but I’m also mindful of the need to reframe and diversify as we grow. The real work starts now.
Update 6/2: I appreciate the questions and comments from the community. I’m glad this experience can be helpful to others. If I missed any questions in the threads, feel free to DM me and I’ll respond.
