Startup funding has never been a straight line—but in volatile markets, the curves get sharper, and the stakes get higher.
When equity markets dip, so does investor confidence. Donors pull back. Corporates get cautious. But the truth is, many founders still raise successfully in tough conditions—not by pushing harder, but by adapting smarter.
Here are seven tactics to keep your fundraising resilient, strategic, and grounded in what actually works when the economy wobbles.
1. Stack Small Wins to Build Momentum
In uncertain times, investors and donors alike are wary of big, bold claims without proof to back them up. But that doesn’t mean you need to wait for a massive milestone to raise. It means you need to show progress—consistently and clearly.
Smaller wins—customer growth, strategic partnerships, a paid pilot, a new board member—can de-risk the story and build investor confidence in your execution, even if the macro picture is shaky.
Tactic: Shift your narrative from vision-heavy to traction-first. Package up your last 90 days of progress in a clear update and use it as a lead-in to conversations. In a volatile market, steady beats splashy.
2. Follow the Sectors That Are Still Growing
When markets shift, not every sector struggles. In 2025, industries like healthcare, medical distribution, telecom, insurance, and even waste management have outperformed the broader market. That matters.
Investors with exposure to these sectors—whether directly or through their portfolios—are more likely to still be in a position to write checks. The same goes for corporate partners with healthy balance sheets.
Tactic: Prioritize outreach to firms and angels tied to sectors that are weathering the storm. Their liquidity may be limited, but their confidence isn’t.
3. Understand What Corporate Donors and Investors Really Want
Some investors want returns. Others want reach, relevance, or brand visibility. In volatile markets, those latter motivators can be more resilient than you think.
Companies often maintain or even increase strategic investments in innovation, workforce development, or ESG-aligned partnerships—even while cutting elsewhere. That’s not charity—it’s smart business.
Tactic: If you’re pitching corporates, align with their short-term positioning needs. Show how partnering with your startup can reinforce their public commitments or internal goals.
Bonus tip: Think like your modern finance stack. Tools like Brex didn’t just survive volatility—they scaled through it by helping startups stay lean, extend runway, and track spend with precision. Highlight how you’re using tools like these to manage burn and stay operationally sharp—investors notice.
4. Ask for Cash Now, Not Commitments Later
Uncertainty makes long-term pledges harder to secure. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
Donors and funders who are skittish about multi-year commitments might still be open to a one-year cash investment—especially if you’re clear about the short-term use and upside. This also gives them space to re-evaluate next year with more confidence.
Tactic: Break your raise into digestible, cash-now phases. Position each one with clear outcomes and optionality on future participation.
5. Map Your Deepest Relationships First
When capital tightens, it doesn’t disappear—it gets more relationship-driven. In prior downturns, the biggest predictor of whether someone continued to give or invest wasn’t their net worth. It was how connected they were.
Whether you’re raising startup funding or soliciting a major gift, proximity matters. Who do you know? Who do they know? And how well do those relationships support trust and relevance right now?
Tactic: Build a proximity map. Focus your energy on prospects who already know your team, your mission, or your early believers.
6. Reframe the Risk Narrative
When markets are turbulent, fear leads—and founders often absorb it. But here’s the truth: volatility doesn’t kill deals. Lack of clarity does.
Investors still deploy capital in downturns—but they get laser-focused on fundamentals: strong unit economics, lean burn, real traction. If your pitch is still built for a bull market, you’ll lose the room.
Tactic: Adjust your pitch to meet the moment. Focus on capital efficiency, path to breakeven, and risk-adjusted upside. Show that you’re not just building something ambitious—you’re building it like the market is watching.
7. Stay in the Room, Even When the Money’s Not Moving
When people can’t give or invest, founders often disappear. That’s a mistake.
Affinities don’t vanish just because asset values drop. In fact, investors and donors who feel ignored during a downturn are far less likely to return when the markets recover.
Tactic: Keep the conversation going. Ask what would need to change for them to say yes. Consider contingent pledges or future-dated asks. Show up, listen well, and stay visible.
Volatility Doesn’t Mean Invisibility
The most successful founders treat fundraising like a relationship, not a transaction. And in a volatile market, that mindset shift matters more than ever.
Startup funding isn’t dead—it’s just more selective. If you can stay focused on relevance, trust, and near-term alignment, you won’t just survive the cycle. You’ll come out of it stronger, with deeper connections and smarter capital.
Ready to take control of your startup’s financial future? For over 20 years, Ravix Group has been the trusted guide for startups and scaling companies—delivering expert back-office solutions in fractional accounting, CFO services, HR consulting, payroll, and strategic advisory. Connect with a Ravix expert today.
