GEN 2025 Takeaways: Fundraising, Purpose-Driven Capital, and the Future of Venture

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend four days at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEN 2025), where I shared my experience fundraising as a first-time fund manager. While GSA Ventures is still early in its journey, I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to learn, speak, and connect with others who’ve walked this path before me.

At GSA Ventures, we believe this is a critical moment for venture capital. Early-stage startups—especially those led by underrepresented founders—are facing their toughest fundraising environment yet. This is when funds need to step up, build trust, and actively support the next wave of innovation.

Here are some of the most valuable takeaways from Day 3 and beyond at GEN 2025:

💸 Fundraising & Series A Readiness

Raising money isn’t the goal—building a great business is.
Speed matters: VCs move fast. Founders need traction and urgency.
Be bold, but coachable: Investors want vision and humility in equal measure.
Build early trust: Align with your investor’s thesis and values before the ask.

👥 The Evolving Role of Angel Investors

Diverse syndicates = stronger outcomes: Different perspectives, better decisions.
Revenue-sharing models are gaining traction in early-stage funding.
Easy to invest, hard to get it back: Angels are becoming more disciplined.
AI is a new edge: Angels are using AI tools to assess deals more effectively.

🌍 Cross-Border Investing

Tax structures can be deal-breakers—early planning is essential.
Local partnerships de-risk expansion: Founders need allies on the ground.
Do your homework: Spend 80% of your time researching, 20% pitching.

📈 Planning for an IPO

Start preparing 12–18 months in advance: It’s a process, not an event.
Clean your cap table and build a team that can scale.
An IPO should be strategic, not cosmetic. It needs to make business sense.

💼 Family Offices in Venture: Leading With Purpose

One standout panel focused on how family offices are stepping up as limited partners in venture. Key insights:

It’s not just about returns: Family offices are backing purpose-driven funds aligned with impact, inclusion, and long-term value.
Relationships come first: Trust and alignment matter more than pitch decks.
They’re going global while preserving local values and legacy.
Expect more family offices to enter venture—not just to invest, but to learn and lead with intention.

🎤 A Grounded Reminder from Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban brought a powerful dose of clarity to GEN 2025 with this reminder:

“I’ve never started a company thinking about who the president was, who was in Congress, or what the tax rates were. None of that ever mattered. If your business depends on who’s in office, it’s probably not a great business.”

And on raising capital:

“Raising money is not an accomplishment. It’s an obligation. Now you have someone you have to report to—and if your business doesn’t work out, you’ve lost their money.”

A sharp reminder that great founders think long-term—and real investors do too.

GEN 2025 wasn’t just an event—it was a signal. Venture is changing, and those who build with purpose, resilience, and vision will shape what comes next.

If you’re fundraising, investing, or building in this moment: keep going. The opportunity is here.

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Curious about GSA Ventures’ approach to backing overlooked but high-upside founders? Let’s talk.

Miryam Lazarte, GP GSA Ventures