Last week, I had a blast talking to a fantastic group of founders and entrepreneurs at Women + Tech at the Atlanta Tech Village!

The topic? What founders need to know about raising capital in 2026 — what’s the same, what’s different, and the tactical tips that top founders use.

Same As Always

True in 2006, 2016, 2026.

What Venture Investors (Still) Look For

  • Big markets ($100M in revenue)
  • Authentic demand
  • Ambitious founders

What Successful Founders Have In Common

  • Learning
  • Selling
  • Resilience
  • Authenticity → be the best version of yourself! Foundership can look different.
  • BIG MARKETS!

A Whole New World

What’s different (and working) in 2026.

But Wait…Software Moats

AI is disrupting traditional software — but moats still exist! Straight from David Cummings’ recent blog which came from Gokul Rajaram on 20VC.

Moats to look for:

  • Data
  • Workflow
  • Regulatory
  • Distribution
  • Ecosystem
  • Network
  • Physical Infrastructure
  • Scale

Want to see it in real life? Check out Infinite Giving, Greenzie, Carpool Logistics, and AdPipe!

So Hot Right Now

  • In-person + physical world businesses with AI efficiencies (Dandy, January)
  • Robotics (Undaunted)
  • AI consulting (Fastlane AI)
  • 99% AI businesses (Reframe, Interlock Studios)

How To Raise

Tips and tricks that top founders use.

10 Fundraising Pro Tips

  1. Lead with money!!!!!!!!
  2. Confidence. Fake it ‘til you make it.
  3. Go to Pitch Practice → pitchpractice.co
  4. WATCH: The real reason female entrepreneurs get less funding (Dana Kanze — TED Talk)
  5. Prep for Q&A
  6. Pitch your worst first
  7. Lines not dots
  8. Investor fit — who has $$ that cares about this problem?
  9. Metrics: yours + industry benchmarks. BONUS: look at public companies in their early days
  10. Read the O’Daily 😉 (hehehe. You already completed this one!)

#1 Capital Source

True in 2026 & always: Customers that pay you!!!!!

Get Paid Without A Product

  • Design partners
  • Consulting
  • Run (paid) experiments
  • Founder creativity

What questions do you have about raising capital in 2026? What’s working (or not working) for you right now?

Source: What Founders Need to Know About Raising Capital in 2026, Kathryn O’Day (Substack).