Founder of @ConnectLabLive | We use AI to map hidden networks and match founders with the right capital partners. No more endless LinkedIn scrolling.
Philly Suburbs USA
Joined March 2008
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PitchBook Q3: median US seed round $3.0M, down from $3.4M; separate median pre-money $18.3M, up from $16.0M. Estimated first financings: 8,625 through September.
The Seed Squeeze: linkedin.com/pulse/seed-sque…
Carta Q3: hardware startups raised nearly $34B in 2026 through Q3 — more than double the first three quarters of 2025. Hardware at seed and Series A raises larger rounds and higher valuations than other sectors.
Atoms are back.
Hardware startups raised nearly $34B in 2026 — more than double last year. But deal count fell 21%. More money, fewer rounds.
Build the thing before you raise on it.
New Raise Smarter: linkedin.com/pulse/atoms-bac…
Before you open a raise window: one uniform instrument, a clear max size, data room ready, references queued for diligence only.
Carta: 91% of Q2 SAFEs were post-money. Terms are standard. Timing and fit are the negotiation.
connectlab.live/founders
Emerging managers: PitchBook says LP dollars are concentrating at large established funds.
A first-close date with an anchor is your version of a deadline. In one survey, first-to-final close averaged 15.8 months. Plan for the long middle.
connectlab.live/founders
Raising soon?
One founder said the scariest move was telling six serious investors a hard closing date. He kept the list private and ran everyone on the same clock.
Don't invent offers. Do set a date you can keep.
connectlab.live/founders
1/
Most raises drag because every meeting is open-ended.
The advanced move: a short, parallel process with a real closing date.
How founders and GPs run it: 🧵
connectlab.live/founders
5/
When it backfires: a fake deadline, an unready story, invented offers, burned references.
GPs: a first-close date with an anchor, not a three-week claim. Surveyed average first-to-final: 15.8 months.
connectlab.live/founders
Fund managers: claim your fund on ConnectLab so founders can find you. connectlab.live/join/funds
Don't ask for a maybe. Ask for a date.
Three founders reported the same pattern: prepare for months, stack meetings into a few weeks, then publish a real closing date.
A warm intro fills the calendar. A real date helps people decide.
connectlab.live/founders
Fund managers: claim your fund on ConnectLab so founders can find you. connectlab.live/join/funds