The Funding Map: Navigating Investor Expectations from Pre-Seed to Scale in Today’s Environment
What do investors prioritize at each stage of the funding journey in today's market?
Join us for a candid conversation with VCs across the funding stack as they unpack how changing dynamics—from paradigm-shifting AI innovation to broader macroeconomic volatility and policy uncertainty —are redefining the milestones that matter. Whether you're raising your first round, scaling a growth-stage company, or advising portfolio founders, this session offers actionable insights and clear expectations from the investors shaping today’s market.
During this conversation, we’ll sit down with:
Susannah Shipton, Partner at AlleyCorp, is focused on Diversified Technology investments with an emphasis on B2B and consumer marketplaces. She has invested in and incubated marketplaces across a diverse range of industries from global logistics to the creator economy. In addition to investing, Susannah is deeply involved with AlleyCorp’s incubation process, dedicating substantial time to supporting portfolio companies at their earliest stages.
Prior to AlleyCorp, Susannah was Director of Strategy & Operations at Artsy, where she was on the leadership team for 4 years. Susannah graduated from Princeton, where she was captain of the women’s varsity rowing team.
James Da Costa, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, focuses on investing in B2B software and financial services.
Prior to joining a16z, James was a Y Combinator-backed fintech founder. Previously, James served as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company.
James holds an MBA from Stanford University. While at Stanford, James was a researcher in Stanford’s Human Centered AI Lab, where he focused on the economic implications of AI. James is also a published author.
Originally from the UK, James is based in San Francisco. He is an avid racket sports fan.
Naomi Goez, Principal at Forum VC, focuses on executing pre-seed investments in B2B SaaS. Naomi leads the investment team and has sourced investments across healthcare, supply chain, fintech, and vertical AI. She oversees the firm’s thesis development in those areas, applying a research-driven lens to a generalist framework.
An operator turned investor, Naomi began her career in supply chain within the fashion industry, overseeing production and leading sustainability initiatives at Centric Brands. She later navigated the fundraising process at a pre-seed stage circular economy startup.
She earned her MBA from The Wharton School, while investing in commerce and supply chain at Alpaca VC. Naomi has been recognized on the Venture Capital Journal 2025 Rising Star list and has been actively promoting diversity in the venture ecosystem via dedicated workshops and events for womxn and immigrant founders and funders.
Andrew Ren, Investor @ Bessemer Venture Partners, is an investor with Bessemer's growth investment practice in NYC, where he primarily focuses on AI Infrastructure, developer, and software investments. Prior to joining Bessemer, Andrew was an investor in Carlyle's US Buyout fund, where he evaluated consumer, media, and retail businesses. Andrew started his career as an investment banker at Moelis & Company in the M&A and restructuring group. Andrew earned his MBA from The Wharton School and B.S. from Boston University. In his spare time, he enjoys tilting over bullet chess, exploring industrial techno, and advocating for incarceration reform.
& Ellie McDonald, Investor @ G2 Venture Partners, who uses her energy investing experience and engineering background to identify and support exceptional entrepreneurs.
Prior to joining G2, Ellie was a Private Equity Associate at Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (MSIP), primarily investing in the energy and telecommunication sectors. Before MSIP, she was an Investment Banking Analyst at Barclays where she worked on mergers, acquisitions, and financings in the Power and Utilities Group. She also holds a B.S.E. in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Princeton University, a Master’s in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.B.A. from Wharton.
After the discussion there will be time to network.
Hosted & sponsored by our friends at Cooley.