Pre-seed to Succeed Program

Pre-seed to Succeed Program is sponsored by AltaIR Capital, Yellow Rocks, Smart Partnership Capital, I2BF Ventures (Investment Program). This program is designed for startups in the early stages with an MVP and first traction, focusing on a range of industries including AI, B2B, SaaS, FinTech, Future of Work, Productivity Tools, Digital Health, and HR Tech, with a primary target market in the USA.

Through "Pre-Seed To Succeed", we offer initial funding , a tailored program providing comprehensive fundraising support, access to seasoned experts and mentors from various fields, and a 50% commitment to the next round for proven candidates. To be clear, "Pre-Seed to Succeed" is not an accelerator, mentorship program, or side hustle. Investing in startups is our primary focus.

Start with the captable of the dream - initial funding from 4 reputable venture funds. Get personalized guidance from a founding partner during the entire program. No «one size fits all» approach.

Gain insights from leading experts and mentors to maximise your fundraising success. Secure your fundraising success with our 50% follow-on commitment in the upcoming investment round. Tap into an extensive global network of VC funds and angel investors with warm intros from our Team.

Access exclusive opportunities to join top-tier startup accelerators through the support of alumni from our portfolio companies. at Smart Partnership Capital Managing Partner at Yellow Rocks! Managing Partner at AltaIR Capital Leads Generous Ventures, mentors at Techstars, and built a 100+ investor network on one idea: give first, collaborate over compete.

Darya Kroshkina & Matviy Kruglov Co-founders of Fundraising Bootcamp, helping 5,000+ founders raise capital via pitch training and a 250+ VC network - alongside day roles at Orion VC and AWS. Co-founder of Laconia Capital Group, bringing 20+ years building, scaling, and investing in early-stage tech to hands-on portfolio growth and mentorship.

Runs Mu Ventures, investing in pre-seed/seed commerce infrastructure, marketplaces, and vertical software, and builds community via The Rec Room and The Mμ-niverse International VC backing Europe and MENA startups - 80 portfolio companies, 29 exits (including Shazam and Chess. com), and a founder/investor community built via webinars and podcasts.

NYC-based, US-focused fund built by immigrants investing in immigrants, with 55 portfolio companies backing entrepreneurs who understand what it takes to build a network from scratch. Mike works with Generous Ventures, mentors at Techstars, and leads a curated network of 100+ early-stage investors who share deal flow, diligence, and introductions built on trust and generosity, not transactional networking.

That "give first" philosophy is a practical model for how strong ecosystems actually get built - investors contributing to each other's success and creating opportunities for founders together rather than competing for them.

Darya Kroshkina & Matviy Kruglov, Darya and Matviy run Fundraising Bootcamp, an online, community-driven accelerator that helps international founders raise capital faster and smarter through a proven fundraising playbook, hands-on pitch training, a founders community, and direct investor connections.

They've built one of the largest global ecosystems for international founders with 5,000+ members supported by a 250+ VC network and partnerships with leading Silicon Valley operators, angels, and startup networks.

Alongside the Bootcamp, Matviy works at AWS accelerating global software and AI startups with cloud, GPU, and AI solutions, and Darya is at Orion VC, where she's built ecosystem partnerships with a16z, Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, and NVIDIA. Jeffrey is a Co-Founder and Partner at Laconia Capital Group, with over 20 years spent building, scaling, and investing in early-stage tech.

At Laconia he leads investments across enterprise SaaS, fintech, health tech, e-commerce, and martech, focusing on accelerating growth and shaping go-to-market and capital strategy for the firm's portfolio. Laconia acts as an advocate, sounding board, recruiting partner, and thought leader for its portfolio founders. That approach is rooted in something Jeffrey clearly cares about: mentorship.

Between open office hours for founders and early operators and his philanthropic work with Project Morry and Friends of the Lake, he's committed to supporting the next generation of builders. Gary took the scenic route to VC, first banking, a stint as a touring musician, seven years in real estate learning, then two successful entrepreneurial exits.

That winding path led him to early-stage investing, where he could channel all that entrepreneurial energy into helping founders win. Today he runs Mu Ventures, a fund investing in pre-seed and seed commerce infrastructure, marketplaces, and vertical software. Besides backing founders, Gary runs two communities - The Rec Room for investors and The Mμ-niverse for LPs, advisors, and operators who genuinely support each other.

Gary is a regular at P2S events, including LEAP and Pitch&Drink, where he shows up consistently to meet founders and support the community. Flashpoint is an international tech investment firm backing tech companies out of Europe and MENA, with a solid portfolio of 80 companies and 29 exits to date (does Shazam or Chess. com ring a bell?)

Beyond investing, Flashpoint runs an active "Webinars and Podcasts" series, bringing together VC experts and founders for live, free-to-join chats on SaaS trends and market forecasts. They've also gathered a genuine community around this content, with founders and investors coming back episode after episode to swap notes, ask questions, and just geek out together on where tech is headed.

Geek Ventures is a NYC-based, US-focused fund built by immigrants, and investing in immigrants. With 55 portfolio companies and exits, they've built a track record backing visionary immigrant entrepreneurs who, as they put it themselves, understand what it's like arriving in a new country or city and building a network from scratch.

Alexander Zemlyak , partner at Geek Ventures, regularly participates in P2S events, bringing that same hands-on, founder-first energy to our community. OK Computer is a NYC-based early-stage VC firm backing AI, robotics, and biotech founders at pre-seed and seed.

It's run by solo-GP Pavel Danilov, a 3x founder who's been in the trenches with B2C, robotics, and fintech himself, which shows in the collaborative, "we've been there" way he works with founders - all backed by a solid co-investment network of top early-stage funds across SF, NYC, and London.

Their portfolio includes names like Alpaca, Polymarket, and Chatfuel, all fitting a thesis of backing technical founders chasing problems everyone else wrote off as too hard. It's always a pleasure seeing Pavel at our events, bringing great energy to the community every time.

With our comprehensive program, you'll not only learn how to transform your idea into a scalable business using proven frameworks to generate quality leads, tap into valuable customer insights, and generate revenues but also master the art of fundraising, understand TAM sizing, and perfect your financial modeling.

We will guide you through every step of building a robust Go-To-Market machine: Clarify and define your Ideal Customer Profile. Develop a compelling Strategic Narrative & Manifesto. Tailor your business model to ensure optimal unit-economics.

Hone your pitching skills and crystallize your value proposition. Run a Broadway Show That Drives Growth: A unique strategy encompassing digital marketing, B2B sales, and public relations to propel your business forward. Our Program Library offers you access to a curated collection of best-in-class materials .

Here, you'll delve deeper into crafting a potent core strategy around product, fundraising, and go-to-market, coupled with insights into digital marketing, legal intricacies, and much more to catalyze growth. Our 1on1 Strategy Sessions with seasoned experts will provide a hands-on approach, reviewing your metrics and giving you actionable coaching.

Together, we'll refine your core strategy, ensuring that your business model is sound, and help you craft a sales funnel to drive growth. Full-time team with a Hacker & Hustler on board. Registered company with an active bank account.

Industries: B2B / SaaS, FinTech, AI, Future of Work, Productivity Tools, Digital Health, HR Tech.

Corporate sport and wellness platform SaaS analytics tool for real estate The Ultimate Visual Feedback, Collaboration & Productivity Tool for Web Professionals End-to-End client collaboration and operations platform powered by AI tech built for Professional Services Data Integration Platform & Automation Tool Building the future of aviation training A no-code AI platform that lets users connect multiple AI models to build personalized workflows and apps that perform human-like tasks AI-driven email marketing platform that integrates with payment platforms to reconcile customer data and automate segmentation and campaign management SaaS platform that helps freelancers streamline their job search and application processes A self-serve platform which simplifies business registration, bookkeeping, and tax compliance, eliminating the need for accountants Automating energy rebates with AI to unlock billions for contractors and incentive providers A mobile application focused on couples and married partners, aiming to improve relationship quality The only complete e-commerce, operations & logistics Platform An academic writing co-pilot made specifically for students A platform streamlining the divorce process for both clients and legal professionals with powerful tools and automation Al agents to eliminate leakages in procurement and reduce external spend.

AI-powered operating system for service SMBs that sell through conversations. Jupid Raises $840K to Give Every Small Business Its Own AI Accountant AI-native small business accounting platform Jupid raises $840,000 in pre-seed funding to help U.S. entrepreneurs cut expenses on accountants and complex software, making accounting services accessible and affordable for small businesses.

Resolv Raises $1M to Automate Contractor Back-Office Operations Resolv, an AI-native software and services company that automates back-office operations for home services contractors, announced it has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding.

The round was co-led by Redbud VC and EquipmentShare, with participation from Fireroad Ventures and Team Ignite Ventures, along with continued support from Pre-Seed to Succeed, backed by I2BF Global Ventures, Smart Partnership Capital, AltaIR Capital, and Yellow Rocks. AI Voice Support Coach by Lovon Hits No. 1 Product of the Day on Product Hunt Created in collaboration with a Ph. D.

psychologist with more than 40 years of clinical experience, Lovon is designed to provide emotional support guided by the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy and emotion-focused therapy. The system is built not only to respond empathetically but also to gently challenge unhealthy thinking patterns.

AI for the Neurodiverse Classroom: How AI Tools Help Students With ADHD and Dyslexia AI tools are transforming support for students with ADHD and dyslexia, offering personalized help that strengthens focus, reading, writing, and confidence. Care Agents: How AI Automation Is Redefining Patient Communication in Clinics It’s been three years since ChatGPT first hit the world, but the interest around AI hasn’t dimmed.

The conversation has only grown louder as AI edges deeper into traditionally human-led processes, but the tone has noticeably shifted: the early thrill has given way to a mix of optimism, caution, and healthy skepticism. Global work AI raises $2. 4M follow-on round to scale Its AI job-search platform Global Work AI, the AI-native job-search platform focused exclusively on job seekers, has secured a $2.

4 million follow-on investment from existing backers Pre-Seed to Succeed, Yellow Rocks, Smart Partnership Capital, AltaIR Capital, and TMT Investments. The new round brings the company’s total funding to $3. 7 million.

How Remote Work Provides Career Stability Remote work has shifted from a lifestyle choice to a survival strategy in today's unstable job market. Experienced job seekers are stacking roles, with 97 percent willing to accept jobs below their qualifications for stability. Professionals should diversify income streams and selectively leverage AI for career analytics and application tailoring.

The Generative AI Gap: How Universities are Struggling to Keep Up As generative AI reshapes higher education, universities worldwide struggle to define consistent rules for its use. Drawing on an analysis of 50 universities worldwide, this article explores how inconsistent AI policies, flawed detection tools, and faculty double standards are eroding trust and fairness in academia. Chatfuel Raises $1.

5M in Seed Funding The round was led by Pre-Seed to Succeed, an investment program backed by AltaIR Capital, Yellow Rocks, Smart Partnership Capital, and I2BF Ventures, with participation from Alber Blanc fund and several angel investors, including Ershad Jamil, Chatfuel advisor.

Why Academic Writing Is Broken – and How AI Can Help Fix It Consider a student who invests weeks in researching market dynamics, develops substantive insights into economic behavior, and submits a paper that ultimately receives a C+ due to structural weaknesses in argumentation. No opportunity for revision is granted, and the student is unable to demonstrate the full extent of acquired knowledge.

Logistics as the new SEO: why delivery speed and reliability now define customer retention E-commerce brands used to place their greatest hopes on mastering SEO - being the first name customers saw in Google search results. AI Is Wiping Out Entry-Level Jobs. Here’s What Recent Grads Need to Know The AI revolution is erasing the kinds of entry-level jobs that recent graduates used to take.

Our expert offers advice for navigating the new reality. Exclusive: Litero AI lands $800K to solve the dropout crisis with collaborative AI As American students prepare for another academic year, frustration with writing assignments continues to mount. For many, academic writing is a time-consuming burden that competes with essential study and work hours.

Litero AI, a US-based EdTech innovator who recently secured $800,000 in pre-seed funding, aims to address students’ writing struggles through an innovative collaborative AI tutor. Hype vs. Value: Assessing Early-Stage AI Startups for Real Potential Two years ago, venture capitalists were broadly investing in everything AI.

Now, we’ve all become more selective and educated, seeking solutions to real-life problems where AI adds real value. Why VCs Say No: Key Insights For Founders Founders hear “no” a lot. Sometimes it’s a quick pass, sometimes it’s silence after a promising call.

But in venture, saying “no” is part of the job – most investors back fewer than 1% of the startups they meet. That doesn’t mean your company is bad. It just means that, from the investor’s perspective, something didn’t click.

LovOn Raises $850K in Pre-Seed Funding LovOn, a Wilmington, DE-based provider of an AI-powered bonding platform for couples, raised $850K in Pre-Seed funding. The round was led by Pre-Seed to Succeed, an investment program backed by AltaIR Capital, Yellow Rocks, Smart Partnership Capital, and I2BF Ventures, with participation from HEARTFELT and 13 business angels.

Software company born out of departed quick-commerce player Jiffy secures $3m funding A retail software company born out of shuttered rapid delivery player Jiffy has raised $3m in funding. How To Leverage Your Pre-Seed Funding For Rapid And Successful Growth Securing pre-seed funding is a pivotal moment for any startup, but it’s never an end goal. It’s a tool that should be approached with careful planning to maximize its value.

Why Some Startups Scale, While Others Stall... We’ve all heard the classic fable about the Hare and the Tortoise, where patience and persistence win the race. But in startups, that wisdom doesn’t hold up.

Moving too slowly, waiting for the perfect moment, or avoiding risks can kill your company before it even gets a chance to grow. In this game, one needs to be fast and execute relentlessly. Warsaw-based Global Work grabs $1.

25M to combat unemployment with AI, challenging LinkedIn While some corporations embrace Artisan’s “Stop hiring humans” message, thousands of qualified specialists face layoffs due to performance concerns or AI adoption. Rather than contributing to this trend, Global Work harnesses AI to help laid-off specialists and gig workers secure new positions.

FuseBase Raises $700K in Seed Funding FuseBase, a Cleveland, OH-based provider of a comprehensive AI-powered workflow optimization platform, raised $700K in Seed funding. The round was led by AltaIR Capital, Yellow Rocks, Smart Partnership Capital, and I2BF Global Ventures.

London-based digital wellbeing platform Stayf raises €650k to prevent employees from burnout Stayf, a startup on a mission to empower organizations to prioritize the wellbeing of their workforce, has successfully closed a €650k pre-seed investment round from AltaIR Capital, Yellow Rocks, and Smart Partnership Capital. Somersault Ventures, Mark Younger (ex-Apple) and angels from Dentsu, Bain & Co also participated in the round.

AltaIR Capital, Yellow Rocks, Smart Partnership Capital, and I2BF Launch $50M Investment Program for Early-Stage Startups The Pre-seed to Succeed program is designed for startups in the early stages with MVP and first traction. It focuses on a range of industries, including AI, B2B, SaaS, FinTech, Future of Work, Productivity Tools, Digital Health, and HR Tech, with a primary target market in the USA.

From Lisbon to San Francisco, our events bring together early-stage founders and top investors. We host pitch sessions, speed-dating formats, and informal networking evenings to help startups refine their ideas, build investor relationships, and raise their first funding round. Pitch&Drink is our flagship event format — a fast-paced mix of investor speed dating and evening networking.

Startups pitch in 1:1 sessions, receive direct feedback, and meet dozens of investors in just one night. Explore the highlights from our recent events around the world. Leap: Online Speed Dating Pitch & Drink with P2S.

vc #SFTechWeek Pitch & Drink with P2S. vc Lisbon Start right with your strive 1401 21st ST #6683 Sacramento, CA 95811