🚀 Who Got Funded + Is SaaS Dead? Let’s Debate.

👋 Hey Founder,

Last week, 55 startups secured funding, proving that great GTM execution and leadership still win. But there’s also a hot debate brewing in tech:

🔥 Is SaaS dead—or just evolving?
🔥 How should founders use design partners without wasting time?
🔥 The most common ICP mistakes that kill sales before they start

Let’s dive in.

💰 Early-Stage Funding Highlights (Feb 3 - Feb 7, 2025)

🚀 AndAI ($6.5M Seed, Feb 2025) – AI-powered automation for enterprise workflows.
✅ Why they got funded: Enterprise AI solutions are still hot, and early pilots showed massive efficiency gains.
✅ Investors: First Round Capital [+6]

🔬 DeltaGen.ai ($1.2M Seed, Feb 2025) – AI-driven genetic sequencing for faster drug discovery.
✅ Why they got funded: Strong market demand in biotech + a scientific co-founding team.
✅ Investors: Forward Venture Capital [+2]

🌍 Clean Core Thorium Energy ($15.5M Seed, Feb 2025) – Next-gen nuclear energy solutions focused on thorium-based fuel.
✅ Why they got funded: Climate tech is surging, and investors see nuclear as a key part of the solution.
✅ Investors: Sumant Sinha [+2]

🎤 Final Round AI ($6.88M Seed, Feb 2025) – AI-powered interview coaching to help candidates land jobs.
✅ Why they got funded: Career tech has renewed interest, and they showed strong pre-launch traction.
✅ Investors: Soma Capital [+12]

📊 Trayd ($4.5M Seed, Feb 2025) – A B2B procurement marketplace for industrial supply chains.
✅ Why they got funded: B2B marketplaces are booming, and they proved demand before launching.
✅ Investors: Suffolk [+2]

👶 Little Otter ($9.5M Series A, Feb 2025) – Digital mental health platform for children.
✅ Why they got funded: Mental health tech is growing fast, and they’ve built a scalable, high-retention model.
✅ Investors: Pivotal Ventures [+7]

🔥 Is SaaS Dead? Or Just Getting Interesting?

If you’ve been on VC Twitter, you’ve probably seen it:
🚨 "SaaS is dead."
🚨 "VCs don’t want to fund SaaS anymore."
🚨 "AI will replace traditional SaaS models."

But here’s the reality: SaaS isn’t dead—it’s just evolving.

What’s Changing in SaaS?

🔹 AI is eating SaaS – Investors don’t just want another CRM—they want software that thinks for you.
🔹 Usage-based pricing is taking over – The old $99/month per user playbook? It’s fading.
🔹 Vertical SaaS is hot – Niche SaaS (healthcare, finance, cybersecurity) is where the money’s flowing.
🔹 SaaS + Fintech = 💰 – Want to raise easily? Attach financial services, lending, or payments to your SaaS.

How Founders Should Adapt

✅ AI isn’t optional – Your SaaS needs automation, insights, and decision-making built-in.
✅ Rethink pricing – Flat subscriptions are dying. Think usage-based, success-based, or embedded payments.
✅ Go deeper, not wider – Niche down. SaaS is winning when it’s hyper-focused on one industry’s biggest problem.

What do you think? Is SaaS really “dying”? Hit reply and let’s debate.

📉 The Most Common ICP Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Most founders think they know their Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).
Few actually do.

🚫 Common ICP Mistakes That Kill Sales

❌ Too broad: "Anyone in finance who needs automation." (No one feels like it’s for them.)
❌ Not specific enough: "Series B startups that want more revenue." (What’s the pain point?)
❌ Focusing on job titles, not pain points: "CFOs at SaaS companies." (What urgent problem do they have?)
❌ Ignoring buying triggers: "We target all ecommerce brands." (Are they struggling with cart abandonment? Have they just raised funding?)

✅ A Quick Framework for Defining a Strong ICP

💡 1. Identify Their "Oh Sh*t" Moment
Great ICPs are built on high-stakes pain points.
🔹 What keeps them up at night?
🔹 What problem do they need solved NOW?

💰 2. Define Their Budget Reality
Not all great customers can afford you.
🔹 Do they already pay for similar solutions?
🔹 Are they in a spending cycle?

⏳ 3. Find the Fastest Path to Yes
🔹 Do they recognize the problem instantly?
🔹 Do they already have a hacked-together solution?

If you’re struggling to sell, you probably have an ICP problem.

📊 The Do’s and Don’ts of Design Partners

Design partners can be a goldmine—or a black hole. Some founders swear by them, others regret every second. The difference? How you structure the relationship.

✅ Do:
✔️ Choose high-intent customers (not just “interested” ones).
✔️ Set a clear timeline (90 days max—don’t let it drag).
✔️ Align on a success metric (not just “cool feedback”).
✔️ Get some form of payment (even a small commitment proves seriousness).

🚫 Don’t:
❌ Let it turn into free consulting (your startup isn’t an R&D lab).
❌ Pick design partners who aren’t decision-makers.
❌ Confuse "interested" with "ready to buy."

Pro tip: If a design partner won’t commit to payment after 90 days, move on. Free pilots that don’t convert aren’t validation—they’re distractions.

Final Thought

Funding is not the goal—building a great company is.

Ask yourself:
👉 Are you proving demand, or just pitching potential?
👉 Are you leading like a founder, or like a CEO?

Until next time,
Apryl Syed
Founder’s Edge