5 things you need to know to fundraise in 2025
New data from DocSend highlights shifts in fundraising focus
If you thought investors were still obsessing over TAMs and market slides, think again. The rules of the early-stage fundraising game have changed, and it’s time for founders to catch up. According to DocSend’s latest report on pre-seed and seed rounds, 2025 will be all about you. That’s right—your team, your expertise, and whether your pitch deck screams “we’re the ones who’ll crush it.” Investors spend less time on market context and more time scrutinizing the people behind the pitch. You might already be losing the game if you’re not putting your team’s strengths front and center.
And the clock is ticking. Fundraising timelines are shrinking, and investors are approaching pitch decks with the kind of swipe-left-or-right efficiency usually reserved for dating apps. The pitch process has become a people-first sport, and the best teams are raising fast. So, whether you’re gearing up to wow your next “window shopping” VC or just trying to figure out why your Competition slide is gathering dust, here are the five biggest trends shaping fundraising in 2025.
1. Your team is everything
Investors spend significantly more time on Team slides—40% more at the seed stage and 30% more at the pre-seed stage than the previous year. Why? Because in today’s AI-driven, innovation-heavy landscape, VCs are doubling down on the people behind the product. Backgrounds and expertise matter more than ever, so make sure your Team slide highlights your credentials and why you’re uniquely positioned to solve the problem at hand.
2. Diversity Pays Off
Mixed-gender founding teams are winning big, raising an average of $770K at the seed stage and $660K at pre-seed. This is a clear sign that investors are starting to value diverse perspectives and the collaborative strength they bring. If your team already boasts diversity, make it a feature, not a footnote, in your pitch.
3. Market Slides Are Losing Their Mojo
Pre-seed Market Size slides received 19% less attention, and seed Competition slides were viewed at 48% less on average. Investors are looking for traction, expertise, and growth plans—proof that you know what you’re doing and can back it up. Market fit is still important, but it’s no longer the star of the deck.
4. Speed Is the Name of the Game
Founders are closing rounds faster than ever. Pre-seed rounds are wrapping up in an average of 12 weeks, and most seed-stage rounds follow suit. Investors are skimming pitch decks and making decisions quickly, so founders need to grab attention immediately. Your deck needs to be concise, visually engaging, and packed with proof of your progress.
5. Diversity and outliers
Mixed-gender founding teams are winning big, raising an average of $770K at the seed stage and $660K at pre-seed. This is a clear sign that investors are starting to value diverse perspectives and the collaborative strength they bring. If your team already boasts diversity, make it a feature, not a footnote, in your pitch.
Remember this: If your team looks unconventional or “not on the bell curve,” take heart—it might be an advantage. Investors are increasingly betting on outliers, reasoning that groundbreaking problems require groundbreaking thinkers. If mid-level corporate drones could have solved these challenges, they’d already be checked off. Highlighting what makes your team stand out—whether it’s an unorthodox background, a bold approach, or a risky but unique perspective—could be exactly what draws investors to your startup.
In 2025, fundraising isn’t just about what you’re building—it’s about who’s building it. Investors make faster decisions and prioritize people over markets, so founders need to rise to the occasion. Whether that means revamping your Team slide, emphasizing your diversity, or streamlining your deck for speed, now’s the time to adapt. Because in this people-first era, your pitch needs to be as compelling as the problem you’re solving.
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