What VCs Actually Look for in Early-Stage Founders скачать в хорошем качестве

What VCs Actually Look for in Early-Stage Founders

In this episode of the LionRun Consulting's VC Series, we go behind the scenes with Adam Eisenberg, a Partner at Ibex Ventures, to understand what venture capitalists look for in founders and deals. Adam Eisenberg is a partner at Ibex Ventures is a leading US and Israeli VC firm with headquarters in Denver, Colorado, and offices in New York City, Silicon Valley, and Tel Aviv, Israel. Adam shares his insights on the VC process, including how deals are evaluated and what due diligence looks like, offering founders an unfiltered look into how investors read their materials. Topics Covered: Ibex Ventures' Investment Philosophy: The firm seeks to back "phenomenal founders" and tends to avoid "hot sectors" by investing in areas that might not be popular at the time, looking for opportunities to grow. Sourcing and Evaluation: Ibex uses both inbound and outbound sourcing methods. The firm aims to "get to know them early", often leading rounds and being the largest possible investor in a startup. Initial Outreach: The first step is for a founder to send a teaser, such as a couple of pages or a pitch deck, for a quick review. The key is to be able to articulate the message in a very simplistic and concise way. The Due Diligence Process: If the opportunity is interesting, a follow-up meeting takes place to understand the founder's background, vision, and pain points. Due diligence involves background checks, market analysis, and competitor reviews. The process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The Purpose of Materials: Documents like financial projections and a business plan are important because they ground the founders' thoughts and provide a road map for Ibex to follow their aspirations. How to Escape the "Chicken and Egg" Dilemma: Founders who lack traction should align with VCs like Ibex that are willing to be the first institutional check, sometimes investing based on just an idea. Founder Mistakes: A common mistake is not being able to clearly articulate the story of what they are trying to accomplish. Founders should think like a VC when preparing materials—"reverse the shoe"—by considering what information the investor would want to know. Getting a "Yes" or "No": The goal in a meeting with a VC should be to get a "yes" or a "no," as "maybes" waste everyone's time. Relentlessness and Follow-Up: A "no" can potentially turn into a "yes" later, and founders should not give up. They should follow up with material, substantive updates that reference previous conversations. Betting on the Jockey: Ultimately, VCs are "betting on the jockey, not on the horse"—they are investing in the people (the founders) and their ability to figure out and navigate their idea, even if it requires pivoting. Advice Before Contacting Ibex: Prepare as much as possible, put the information together concisely, be relentless, and don't give up. If a VC says no, try to understand why to learn from the feedback. 💡 About the LionRun VC Series At LionRun Consulting, we help founders prepare investor-ready materials and navigate the fundraising process — so they can stay focused on building their business. 🎧 Watch now to understand what investors really look for — and how to make them take notice. #LionRunConsulting #VC #Fundraising #Startups #IBEXVentures #GlobalMobility #IsraeliStartups #Founders #InvestorReadiness