Tighten the story
One line on the problem. One line on the wedge. One chart on traction. One paragraph on why now, why you. Investors decide in 30 seconds — earn the next 25 minutes.
Rehearse the 6-minute pitch
Not the 20-minute deck. On stage you have 6 minutes plus 4 minutes of Q&A. Every slide has to earn its place.
Bring numbers, not adjectives
ARR, growth rate, gross margin, net revenue retention, CAC payback, burn multiple. If you cannot recite them, you are not ready to raise.
Know your target funds
Do not pitch every LP and VC in the room. Pre-identify 15 funds that match your stage, geography, and thesis. Book meetings with those.
Have the data room ready
P&L, cap table, contracts, cohort data. Investors who liked the meeting want data by end of day. Send it before the ask.
Follow up in 24 hours
Every meaningful conversation gets a 3-line follow-up email the same day. Recap the meeting, attach the deck, propose next step. Then follow up again in 5 days.
What Investors Look For
The seven signals that close a round.
A founder who understands their unit economics without notes.
A market where the 'why now' is obvious in one sentence.
A wedge — a specific customer, workflow, or geography where you win first.
Distribution that scales without linear headcount.
A team with at least one operator who has done this before.
Capital efficiency — burn multiple under 2 for growth-stage.
A crisp ask: how much, on what use of funds, in how long.
Apply to pitch
Submit your startup.
Our founder committee reviews every application within 10 business days.