on Raising a Series A as a Female Founder

Masood describes TARA AI as an end-to-end product management tool, while Atherton says Zyper helps major brands connect with their superfans. Masood traces TARA’s roots to research on GitHub developers and says the company raised a $3 million seed round after pivoting. Atherton had previously raised a $1.2 million seed round in London.

Atherton says Zyper’s Series A process took about two months, with a fund pipeline, a prepared investment memo, and a data room organized from the start. Masood says TARA’s process from first coffee meeting to term sheet took nine days, though closing took longer. Both describe fundraising as demanding sustained focus and careful coordination.

Both founders emphasize evaluating the partner who will work with the company, rather than choosing based on a fund’s name or the highest valuation. Masood looked for investors who understood TARA’s technical product and customers, and spoke with founders at portfolio companies. Atherton advises asking direct questions, checking references, and ending conversations when a fund does not understand the business.

Masood describes feeling pressure to adopt the appearance and communication style she associated with a male-dominated industry, and says learning to be herself took time. Atherton says founders need conviction grounded in traction and a strong team, while also being honest about the company’s prospects. They discuss the need for investors to match founders with partners based on relevant expertise.

After raising, Atherton focused more on company culture and recruiting, while Masood says TARA grew from about five full-time employees to a planned 21 by year-end. Masood stresses hiring people who have experience building early teams and giving strong leaders ownership of their areas. They also discuss board preparation, sharing updates with the team, and setting measurable OKRs.