How to Fundraise in 2025?

I've been working in the industry since the 90s, but I've never successfully raised money. I've had enough success that it wasn't required, but with the speed at which AI is moving and the associated costs, it's a must. I imagine this process must have evolved in the last 20 years.

In the simplest terms, I'm starting the fundraising process for a SAAS startup (https://fast.io) and trying to decide how to tackle this best. We'll mine our relationships but beyond that...

Do people still put a pitch deck together, make a hommage to the Bay Area, and commit till they find the right partner, or are there other better mechanisms for a series A today?

Do most founders apply for accelerators and expect that to be a bridge to a VC?