The fundraising environment has shifted, and most founders are still using the old playbook.

​Join Venture Lane and Prepare4VC for an evening built around one question: what does it actually take to raise in 2026?

​You’ll hear directly from early-stage investors and founders who’ve recently been through it: what’s changed, what still matters, and what they’re seeing from the other side of the table.

​The evening includes a live diagnostic moment powered by Prepare4VC’s Compass tool, giving you a real-time read on where you stand as a fundable company, and what to prioritize next.

​Meet the panel:

• ​Matt Fates – Innospark Ventures

• ​Maia Heymann – Converge Partners

• ​David Chang – Via AI

• ​Erin Dawicki – Lyme Alert