Securing Your Seed Round: Expert Advice from Top Investors at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is returning to Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27–29, uniting over 10,000 influential figures from startups and venture capital to explore the future of innovation. A highlight session to catch is an open panel on the Builders Stage centered around a crucial milestone in every founder’s path: securing your first round.

Transitioning from pitch to partnership: Your genuine path to seed funding

This dynamic panel will feature three seasoned investors — Maria Palma (Freestyle Capital), Gabby Cazeau (Harlem Capital), and Marlon Nichols (MaC Venture Capital) — who will explore the intricacies of early-stage fundraising. Expect valuable advice on crafting a compelling pitch and choosing suitable capital partners, enabling founders to turn interest into actual investment.

Maria Palma, a general partner at Freestyle Capital, possesses vast operational and investment experience, having collaborated with Kindred Capital and RRE Ventures, as well as held executive roles at rapidly growing startups like Eyeview. She has supported businesses such as Fung Money, Lightning Labs, and Payman, and obtained her MBA from Harvard.

Gabby Cazeau, a partner at Harlem Capital, focuses on investing in pre-seed and seed startups in enterprise software and applied AI. With an MBA from Yale and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Gabby has been recognized in Business Insider, CNBC, and Crain’s 40 Under 40, while also actively participating in the VC Council of Startup:NYC.

Marlon Nichols, co-founder and managing general partner of MaC Venture Capital, leads one of North America’s foremost seed-stage investment firms, which manages over $600M in assets. Honored multiple times on Business Insider’s Seed 100 and PitchBook’s list of top Black VCs, Marlon has been instrumental in elevating influential companies like Blavity, Thrive Market, and MongoDB.

What to look forward to on the Builders Stage

This panel offers more than typical venture insights. Anticipate learned perspectives on navigating the fundraising environment, structuring your capital raise, and fostering relationships that extend beyond the term sheet. Whether you’re gearing up for your first round or advising a founder, this is a session you definitely shouldn’t miss.

Join Palma, Cazeau, Nichols, and over 250+ tech leaders across six specialized stages, in addition to breakouts and roundtables, live at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Register now to secure up to $625 off before ticket prices rise!