While there is a lot of hustle signaling in venture, anyone who's spent time in this ecosystem knows the truth: venture has seasons. And based on what my calendar looks like, were getting ready for a busy one.
Welcome to Grind Time.
Rhythms of capital
From Labor Day to mid-December, the venture world transforms. Conference season kicks into high gear. AGMs take over hotels, conference halls, and in some cases, stadiums. Airport lounges are packed. And inboxes move from OOO emails to a battlefield of competing priorities.
For founders actively fundraising, understanding this seasonal rhythm isn't academic, it's strategic. Because how you get through the next 12 weeks will determine whether your round gets done this year or if we’re pushing it to 2026 (if at all).
Bring (and seek out) the heat
As a founder, it is important to realize that you need to match the energy and intensity of the market. This is not the time for slow email responses and wishy-washy follow-ups. Running a successful fundraise process requires a crisp process, tight storytelling on vision and execution, and relentless follow-up with fast turn around on data requests. And when an investor doesn’t feel like they are engaging or leaned in, move on. Because now more than ever, hoping for a slow yes can crush your momentum.
Those who are excited about the business will move diligently through the various steps in their process on the way to eventually committing. Which makes sense. If they are on board, they will not want to miss out.
The ones who aren't there will deprioritize your deal or push meetings out into weeks when they have more time (which often never happens). Or will ask for a lot of data over an elongated period of time. And you will watch as Docsend links never get clicked and emails aren’t opened, the whole time forgetting that conviction isn’t found in a data room.
Build momentum or get pushed to the backlog. There's not much middle ground.
Good luck!
To both founders and my fellow investors, good luck as we enter this season. Whatever it is you do to stay fresh - cold plunge, sleep teas, red light mask, meditation retreat, ayahuasca retreat - do it. Because it’s time to lock in!
