Charles Hudson & Navin Chaddha Headline Builders Stage at Disrupt 2025
▼ Summary
– TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will host over 10,000 attendees in San Francisco from October 27-29, featuring 250+ tech leaders.
– A standout panel with investors Charles Hudson and Navin Chaddha will focus on raising a startup’s first round with just a vision.
– The session will cover key fundraising topics like storytelling, trust-building, and common mistakes by first-time founders.
– Hudson and Chaddha emphasize betting on founders early, prioritizing their narrative and adaptability over initial product traction.
– Attendees will gain actionable insights on early-stage fundraising, with registration discounts available until July.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is set to bring together over 10,000 founders, investors, and industry leaders at San Francisco’s Moscone West from October 27-29. Among the 250+ speakers, one panel stands out for early-stage founders: a must-see discussion featuring Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures and Navin Chaddha of Mayfield on the Builders Stage. These two veteran investors will share hard-won insights on securing that critical first institutional check, when all you have is a vision and determination.
Why should founders prioritize this session? Because raising capital before having traction is one of the toughest challenges startups face. Hudson and Chaddha will break down what actually moves the needle when pitching investors, from crafting a compelling narrative to establishing credibility without hard metrics. They’ll reveal the founder traits they consistently back, the red flags that make them hesitate, and the avoidable mistakes that derail first-time fundraisers.
Investing in people, not just products At the pre-seed and seed stages, investors often bet on the founder rather than the business. Few understand this dynamic better than Hudson and Chaddha. Together, they’ve backed hundreds of entrepreneurs when little more than a bold idea existed, before polished pitch decks, measurable traction, or even a working prototype.
Charles Hudson, managing partner at Precursor Ventures, has invested in more than 400 companies and supported over 450 founders. Known for backing unconventional thinkers, he emphasizes conviction in the founder’s vision: “Early-stage investing hinges on believing in the person’s adaptability and narrative. It’s not just about the problem, it’s about whether you’re the one to solve it.”
Navin Chaddha, Mayfield’s managing partner, brings decades of experience spotting breakout founders and scaling companies. With over $120 billion in equity value generated from his investments, he prioritizes resilience and mission-driven leadership. “We back people first, markets second, and products third,” he notes. “Founders must have the grit to navigate uncertainty.”
Practical takeaways for early fundraising Whether you’re actively raising or preparing for future rounds, this session delivers actionable strategies for navigating early-stage venture capital. It’s one of 200+ discussions across Disrupt’s five stages, offering unparalleled access to industry expertise. Early registration saves up to $675, secure your spot before prices rise in July.
(Source: TechCrunch)
