Raising Capital in Web3: How the Best Crypto Accelerators Can Help You Succeed

What It Really Takes to Get Funded in Today’s Market (and Why Most Projects Don’t Make It)

Forget the fluff. If you’re trying to raise capital in Web3 today, you’re not walking into a pitch meeting with open arms waiting to hand you cash. The VC landscape has shifted…hard. Budgets are tighter, expectations are sky-high, and most funds are still licking wounds from locked capital or unrealized losses.

But for those who understand the game, there's still money on the table.

At ChainGPT Labs, we’ve learned that the key to unlocking those deals lies in a combination of traction, strategy, and - above all - positioning. So we sat down with the ChainGPT Labs’ Investment Director and the architect behind many of our successful fundraising rounds, to unpack exactly how Web3 founders can win the capital game in 2025.

The VC Winter Is Real (But Not Unbeatable)

Let’s not sugarcoat it. The majority of crypto VCs right now aren’t exactly throwing money around like it’s 2021. Many are sitting on locked investments, underwater token positions, or still waiting for their “liquidity events” that never came.

As Tomer put it plainly:

“They’re investing, but only in spite of the market, not because of it.”

And when they do deploy capital, they want:

• Products already in the wild: VCs aren’t paying for vaporware. If your MVP is still a Figma prototype, you’ve got work to do.
  
  
• Solid traction: Not the fake Twitter kind. Think real users, revenue, integrations.
  
  
• Rubber-stamp backers: Strategic angels or early VCs who’ve already done their due diligence and staked their name on your project.
  
  

There’s no appetite for risk unless it comes with a damn good story and a path to ROI. And fast.

Why Your First Angel Investors Matter More Than You Think

It’s tempting to hunt VCs early. But as Tomer puts it, your earliest angels aren’t just writing checks, they’re walking side-by-side with you.

These are your first believers, your narrative builders, your door openers. With the right angels:

• You gain immediate credibility with bigger funds.
  
  
• You tap into networks that give you access to top-tier exchanges, launchpads, and advisors.
  
  
• You don’t have to beg for meetings, meetings come to you.

“The best angels work with the team from day one on their pitch, tokenomics, and positioning. By the time they speak to a VC, the opportunity sells itself.” - Tomer

Positioning > Pitching: You’re Not Begging, You’re Offering Access

The way you present your raise matters just as much as what you're raising for. And according to Tomer, founders are getting this part tragically wrong.

Let’s be clear: desperation smells. You might think you’re being transparent about “needing capital to survive,” but to a VC, it sounds like, “we’ve got no runway and no leverage.”

What Positioning Actually Looks Like

Positioning is about framing the conversation. You’re not explaining why you need money,  you’re showing why now is the perfect moment to get involved.

Your pitch should communicate:

• Confidence, not urgency. Speak with clarity, not anxiety.
  
  
• Momentum, not promises. Share what’s already live, not what’s “coming soon.”
  
  
• Exclusivity, not desperation. Frame your round as limited, intentional, and strategic.

Even if your runway is tight, never let that define the story. A great raise isn’t driven by need, it’s driven by scarcity.

Founders Who Raise Well Understand This Game

The founders who close strong rounds don’t pitch like they’re hoping to survive. They pitch like they’re building something bigger than the money, something inevitable.

They present traction that’s already happening, users that are already engaged, and a roadmap that’s already being executed.

That’s what investors want to see: A project already in motion, and a round they’ll regret missing.

So when you walk into that pitch, don’t ask for funding. Frame the opportunity. Set the tone. Own the room. You’re not chasing capital. You’re deciding who gets in.

The Three-Point Checklist That Makes a VC Say “Yes”

Every fundable Web3 project checks at least one of these three boxes. The truly hot ones hit two, and if you’re lucky (or genius) enough to hit all three, you’re not raising - you’re choosing who gets in.

1. Tech So Strong It Sells Itself

If your product has the “shut up and take my money” factor, you’re golden. Something that’s technically ahead of its time, and provably hard to replicate.

2. A Community That Moves Like an Army

Not just numbers, but real believers. People who mint, vote, build, shill, and show up to Discord AMAs unironically. Hype helps, but true traction converts.

3. The Right Names on Your Cap Table

Paradigm. a16z. Hashkey. Even a MasterCard incubation deal. One of these in your pitch deck and every door opens. VCs are herd animals too.

Have two of the above? You’re probably raising. Have all three? Hello, Binance listing.

Why Accelerators (Like ChainGPT Labs) Give You an Unfair Advantage

There’s a misconception that accelerators are just about guidance. The good ones? They do much more.

At ChainGPT Labs, the focus isn’t just on making your deck look pretty. It’s on helping founders actually become fundable. That means:

• Rebuilding your tokenomics so they don’t scare off institutional money.
  
  
• Stress-testing your pitch across different audiences (angels, VCs, exchanges).
  
  
• Lining up intros that count, to real players who can move the needle.
  
  
• Coaching you on tone, body language, and presence, because how you speak matters just as much as what you say.

“There’s no second chance at a first impression. When we put you in front of a VC, we want it to be a headshot, not a near-miss.”
- Tomer

It’s not just about closing a raise, it’s about knowing which doors to knock on, and making damn sure you’re ready when they open.

Red Flags That Will Kill Your Round Instantly

Let’s finish with a public service announcement. These are things Tomer says make a VC run for the hills faster than a rugged memecoin:

• Lying. Even once. This space is small, and screenshots live forever.
  
  
• Over-polished BS. If your pitch is full of buzzwords and no real meat, it’s a hard pass.
  
  
• No traction but asking for a high valuation. Be real. Or be gone.
  
  
• Coming off desperate. No one wants to invest in a project that feels like it won’t make rent next month.

Instead? Come prepared. Come polished. Come with a story that feels like it’s already winning, and an attitude that says, “We’re letting you in, not asking for a lifeline.”

Final Word: Raise When You’re Ready, Not When You’re Desperate

Web3 funding isn’t about luck. It’s about preparation, positioning, and making the right moves before you hit “raise.”

And if you’re serious about building something with longevity, don’t do it alone. ChainGPT Labs exists for one reason: to give founders like you a smarter way to navigate the capital game, with backing that’s more than just capital.

Ready to raise? Apply to ChainGPT Labs Incubation Program.

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