What VCs Really Want in 2026: Traction, Runway, and the “Signal-to-Burn” Ratio скачать в хорошем качестве

What VCs Really Want in 2026: Traction, Runway, and the “Signal-to-Burn” Ratio

This week on Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy breaks down what investors actually look for when founders raise capital—especially in today’s tighter 2026 environment. Richard explains the real-world meaning of traction (and why pilot customers and reference calls can make or break a raise), then goes deeper into the “behind-the-scenes” language VCs use: capital efficiency, runway, and the powerful signal-to-burn ratio—a simple way to think about what you produce for every dollar you burn. They also tackle listener questions like: How much traction should you have before approaching institutional investors vs angels? Are investors prioritizing growth or profitability right now? How much does the founder matter compared to the product? Which startup categories are attracting the most attention—and which are fading? Plus, Richard shares a cautionary lesson from legacy brands (including why Sears could have been Amazon) and why founders should avoid buzzword-heavy decks that don’t clearly convert metrics into dollars. 📩 Have a question for Richard? Email: info@ScrushyOnBusiness.com Topics in this episode: Venture Capital, Startup Traction, Fundraising, Pitch Decks, Runway, Capital Efficiency, Founder-Market Fit, Valuation, Healthcare Innovation, AI, and VC Trends.