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Insights on seed-stage fundraising, VC meetings, and startup evaluation.

How to Prepare for a VC Meeting: The Best Preparation Is Proof
David Rakusan ·

How to Prepare for a VC Meeting: The Best Preparation Is Proof

Most VC meeting prep advice focuses on pitch rehearsal and slide design. But investors spend just 2 minutes reviewing a deck, and the average founder needs 38 meetings to close a seed round. The real differentiator is proof: verified traction, structured answers to diligence questions, and a shareable document that works across every fund. This guide breaks down what investors actually test for and how to build proof that compounds.
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VC Due Diligence at Seed Stage: Why Investors Keep Asking the Same Questions
David Rakusan ·

VC Due Diligence at Seed Stage: Why Investors Keep Asking the Same Questions

Seed stage due diligence is a proof problem, not a paperwork exercise. This guide, written by a founder with 7 years on the investor side, explains why VCs ask the same questions in every meeting, why conviction cannot be transferred between funds, and how structured proof breaks the repetition loop. Backed by research covering 885 VCs and 21,000 deals.
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How to Find the Right VC for Your Startup (Before You Waste 38 Meetings)
David Rakusan ·

How to Find the Right VC for Your Startup (Before You Waste 38 Meetings)

The average seed founder schedules 38 investor meetings before closing. Most are wasted on misaligned investors. This guide, written by a founder with 7 years of VC experience, breaks down the five filters every founder should apply before pitching, why thesis mismatches are the #1 cause of ghosting, and how structured proof can turn even cold outreach into a high signal message.
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What VCs Actually Ask in the First 3 Meetings (And What They're Really Testing)
David Rakusan ·

What VCs Actually Ask in the First 3 Meetings (And What They're Really Testing)

VCs ask five categories of questions across three meetings, but the questions are not the point. Meeting 1 is a filter: team, market, competition. Meeting 2 is a stress test: unit economics, traction depth, consistency under pressure. Meeting 3 is systematic diligence: milestones, valuation, reference checks. An ex-VC who led 30+ due diligences breaks down what each question really tests what kills your chances before meeting 2 and how different investor types weigh the same answers differently.