You know, it’s funny — or maybe not, depending on your perspective — how much of the startup world revolves around the future. Always looking ahead. What’s next, what’s the big play, who’s going to be the next big thing. And, in that context, something I’ve been thinking about is how founders can actually prepare for those late-stage fundraises, like, right from the jump.

It’s a bit counterintuitive, I guess. You’re just getting off the ground, maybe still figuring out your product-market fit, and someone’s telling you to start thinking about the Series C or D. But, according to a recent piece I read, it makes a lot of sense. The core idea? Start building those relationships with late-stage investors *now*.

The piece, from TechCrunch, really drove this home. It’s all about forging connections. About making sure that when the time comes, you’re not cold-calling. You’re not some random startup hoping to get on their radar. You’re someone they already know, someone they’ve been watching, someone they trust. And that takes time.

It seems like the whole game has changed, in a way. Back in the day, you’d focus on the early-stage rounds, get your seed funding, maybe a Series A, and then, as you grew, you’d start thinking about the bigger players. Now, though? The smart founders are looking at the whole landscape, right from the start. They’re thinking about the endgame, even when they’re just starting out.

And it’s not just about the money, either. Sure, late-stage funding is about the big checks, the valuations, the potential for an exit. But it’s also about the expertise, the networks, the guidance that these investors can bring to the table. They’ve seen it all before. They know the pitfalls, the challenges, the things that can make or break a company. So, having them in your corner early on? That’s gold.

I mean, think about it. If you’re a startup, you’re probably juggling a million things. Building the product, finding customers, hiring a team, and, of course, raising capital. It’s a lot. And the temptation is always to focus on the immediate needs, the things that are right in front of you. But, as the article points out, that’s where the long game comes in.

It’s about attending the right industry events, maybe even speaking at them. It’s about reaching out to investors, not with a pitch deck in hand, but just to say hello, to start a conversation. It’s about sharing your progress, your insights, your vision. It’s about building a relationship, not just a transaction. These are all things that the most successful founders are doing, even while they’re still in the early stages of their journey.

And the advice from the article is pretty simple, actually: Be patient. Be persistent. Be genuine. Late-stage investors are busy people. They get pitched all day, every day. So, you have to stand out, in a way that’s not just about the numbers. It’s about the connection, the trust, the belief in what you’re building. It’s about showing them that you’re in it for the long haul.

You could say that it’s a bit like planting a tree. You don’t see the fruit right away. You have to nurture it, water it, give it time to grow. But, eventually, if you do it right, you’ll have something strong, something lasting, something that can bear fruit for years to come. That’s the feeling I got from reading the article.

So, yeah, it’s a good reminder. For startups, for founders, for anyone building something from the ground up: think ahead. Think about the future. And start building those relationships now, even when it feels like you’re still just getting started. It might just make all the difference when the time comes. I guess that’s the takeaway.