By Selecting startups to invest in is a crucial step for investors. It is not as easy as it sounds, as the process is filled with challenges due to various aspects that investors need to consider before providing funding. These aspects include the experience of the startup founders, market potential, competitive advantages, and the business plan that has been formulated.
In this article, we will provide information about the factors that investors pay attention to when choosing startups to fund. Let’s take a look.
How do Investors Evaluate Startups?
To determine the potential for success and investment value, investors need to carefully evaluate the startups they are considering funding.
Some key factors that are assessed include the experience, expertise, and leadership capabilities of the startup founders, the market potential of the product or service offered by the startup, the business model, competitive advantages, and scalability that allow for sustainable growth and profitability.
Moreover, investors typically evaluate financial reports, revenue projections, and operational costs to understand the financial health and potential return on investment.
Why is such evaluation necessary? Because investors need to ensure that the startup has a solid foundation, an attractive market potential, and a good strategy to achieve business success.
What Questions do Investors Ask Startups?
Before deciding to fund a startup, particularly for a series funding round, investors will undoubtedly ask several questions to the startup. These questions are intended to gain a better understanding of the business potential, associated risks, as well as the preparedness and strategies of the founders in developing the company.
Here are some commonly asked questions by investors:
1. What problem does this startup’s product or service aim to solve?
This question is asked by investors to gain a clear understanding of the problem that the startup aims to address. Through this question, investors can get an idea of the problem’s significance, the potential market size, and whether the solution offered by the startup is truly relevant and innovative enough to warrant series funding.
2. What unique value does this startup’s product or service offer?
Investors will inquire about the unique value that sets the startup apart from its competitors. They want to know how the product or service provides a competitive advantage and attracts customers. This question is also related to the sustainability and scalability of the startup’s business, i.e., how the founding team plans to remain viable in the market.
3. What is the startup’s business model?
Investors want to understand how the startup generates revenue and creates value. They will inquire about revenue sources, pricing structures, and marketing strategies adopted by the startup. This question helps investors assess the profit potential and long-term business direction of the startup.
4. What are the growth and expansion plans for the startup?
Investors will ask about the startup’s growth and expansion plans in the short and long term. They want to know about marketing strategies, geographical expansion, product development, or diversification planned by the startup. This question helps investors understand the vision and potential scale of the startup’s business.
5. What is the background and expertise of the founding team?
Investors will inquire about the skills, experience, and strengths of the founding team. They want to know if the team possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively run the business operations. This question also encompasses inquiries about leadership abilities, problem-solving capabilities, and team adaptability.
6. What are the marketing and customer acquisition strategies?
Investors will seek information about the startup’s marketing strategy and how it intends to acquire and retain customers. They want to know about distribution channels, marketing efforts, and customer growth strategies planned by the startup. This question helps investors assess the scalability and market adoption potential of the startup.
7. How will the funding obtained from the series funding round be utilized?
This question is typically asked by investors to gain a clear understanding of how the startup will utilize the funds obtained from the series funding round. They will request details about fund allocation for product development, marketing, recruitment, infrastructure, and other operational needs. The founding team’s answers to this question will help investors ensure that the funds provided will be used efficiently and aligned with the startup’s business objectives.
What do Investors Look for in a Startup?
Investors play a crucial role in funding the growth of startups. They not only provide capital but also act as strategic partners, helping startups to grow and succeed.
However, investors have different criteria and preferences when looking at startups they find attractive to invest in. Here are the key factors that investors generally consider at each funding stage:
1. Pre-Seed
At the pre-seed stage, investors typically focus on the founding team. They look for a strong team with relevant expertise and experience in the target industry.
Additionally, investors are interested in the uniqueness of the idea or solution offered by the startup. While early traction proof is not required, a promising product or early prototype can enhance the startup’s appeal to investors.
2. Seed
At the seed stage, investors are more interested in early traction proof. They want to see that the startup’s product or service has garnered market or user interest. Growth metrics such as user count, revenue, or monthly active user growth become crucial factors for investors. Additionally, investors also consider the market potential and scalability of the startup’s business.
3. Series A
At this stage, investors expect stronger evidence of product or service adoption and growth. They want to see that the startup has successfully generated significant revenue and gained a larger market share. Investors also evaluate how the startup plans to use the funds raised to develop the team, enhance the product, or expand market share. Additionally, at this stage, investors may also look for previous investments made by prominent investors.
4. Series B
The Series B stage is where investors look for significant growth in the startup. They seek evidence that the startup has achieved higher growth after the previous funding round. Investors also look for business scalability, which refers to the startup’s ability to manage rapid growth by improving infrastructure and necessary resources. Additionally, having a competitive advantage is also a critical factor considered by investors at this stage.
5. Series C
At the Series C stage, investors focus more on sustainable growth and profitability. They want to see evidence that the startup has the potential to achieve profitability. Investors are also interested in global expansion plans or further market penetration. They want to understand how the startup will use the funding to develop operations and expand market share.
6. Series D
At the Series D stage, investors emphasize achieving economies of scale. They want to see that the startup can generate higher revenue at lower costs through operational efficiency and increased margins. Additionally, investors find diversification of products or services appealing at this stage.
7. Series E
The Series E stage often involves preparations for an initial public offering (IPO) or other favorable exits. Investors at this stage have a long-term perspective and are interested in startups preparing for lucrative exits. They may also focus on strengthening the management team and company infrastructure, ensuring the startup has a competent team and necessary systems to achieve long-term growth and success.
It’s important to note that each funding stage has different criteria and focuses, depending on the investors and the industry involved. It is crucial for startups to understand investor preferences at each stage to enhance their chances of securing successful funding.
What Qualities do Investors Look for in Startup Founders?
The qualities of startup founders are also subject to evaluation by investors before deciding to provide funding.
Investors look for several key qualities in startup founders before offering funding, especially for series funding. These qualities help investors assess the potential for success and mitigate risks associated with their investment.
One quality that investors seek is an entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm for the business idea. They want to see founders who are deeply committed, resilient, and willing to go the extra mile to make their startup successful. This enthusiasm is important as it serves as the driving force and perseverance needed to overcome challenges and navigate the unpredictable nature of the startup journey.
Additionally, investors value founders who demonstrate expertise in their field and have a deep understanding of the industry they are entering. Founders with relevant skills, knowledge, and experience in their chosen field are better equipped to make informed decisions, identify market opportunities, and navigate the competitive landscape. Industry expertise enhances credibility and inspires investor confidence in the founder’s ability to execute their business plans.
Another important quality sought by investors is a clear and compelling vision. Founders should be able to articulate a well-defined vision for their startup, detailing the problems they are solving and the unique value they offer. Investors want to see founders who can effectively communicate their vision and demonstrate strategic plans to achieve their goals. A compelling vision not only inspires but also helps attract customers, talent, and additional investment.
Investors also look for founders with strong leadership and management abilities. They assess the founder’s ability to build and lead teams, make sound decisions, adapt to change, and effectively manage resources. Founders with strong leadership skills can inspire and motivate their teams, foster a positive company culture, and ensure effective implementation of business strategies.
Furthermore, investors seek founders who are receptive to feedback and open to collaboration. Successful founders understand the value of learning from others, seek guidance, and adapt their strategies based on market dynamics and investor insights. Willingness to accept feedback and demonstrate a readiness to collaborate and learn from experienced investors can significantly enhance the chances of securing funding.
Lastly, investors prioritize founders with a track record of execution and achievements. They look for evidence of the founder’s ability to deliver results, meet milestones, and generate tangible outcomes. Demonstrating past successes, both in previous startups and relevant endeavors, gives investors confidence in the founder’s capabilities.
What Personality Traits Do Startup Founders Have?
Each startup founder has their own unique personality traits. Before deciding to fund a startup, investors often conduct personality assessments of the founders.
What kind of personality traits do investors typically like? Here are the answers:
1. High Perseverance
Investors seek founders with strong motivation and determination to achieve their goals. Founders with this personality trait are considered capable of facing challenges and setbacks in their journey of building a business.
2. Creativity
Having a high level of creativity is also a characteristic commonly possessed by startup founders. They have the ability to think outside the box, find innovative solutions, and identify opportunities amidst market competition.
3. Strong Leadership
As founders of a startup, it is clear that they should possess strong leadership qualities. With this personality trait, they can inspire and motivate their team to build a clear vision and guide their efforts towards common goals.
4. Willingness to Take Risks
Another personality trait that startup founders should have is a willingness to step out of their comfort zone and adapt to changes that may occur in the business development process.
5. Resilience
Lastly, a startup founder should have a resilient personality, which means being able to endure and bounce back after experiencing failures or challenges in the journey of building their business.
What Numbers do Investors Desire?
Investors also look at several numbers and metrics when evaluating a startup. Their goal is to understand the financial health and growth potential of the business. Some numbers that investors typically seek include:.
1. Revenue
The first number investors want to see is the revenue stream and consistent revenue growth over time. This data is used by investors to assess the sustainability and scalability of the business based on its ability to generate consistent and increasing revenue.
2. Profitability
Investors are usually interested in a startup’s ability to generate profits. They analyze profit margins and long-term profit potential. Profitability demonstrates the effectiveness of the business model and the potential return on investment.
3. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV)
Investors assess the cost of acquiring customers compared to the value those customers bring over their lifetime. Low CAC and high CLTV indicate efficient and sustainable customer acquisition strategies.
4. Gross Margin
Investors also look at gross margin to understand the profitability of each unit sold after subtracting the cost of goods sold. A high gross margin indicates that the business has pricing power and can cover other expenses while remaining profitable.
5. Monthly Active Users (MAU) or Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
For technology startups or subscription-based businesses, investors focus on metrics like MAU or MRR. These numbers indicate user engagement, customer retention, and potential recurring revenue.
6. Burn Rate
Investors also assess a startup’s expenditure rate or how quickly the startup spends its cash reserves. They want to ensure that the startup has a sustainable cash flow and can effectively manage expenses without depleting funds too quickly.
7. Market Size
Investors also evaluate the total addressable market to understand the growth potential. A large and growing market indicates higher potential for success and scalability.
8. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Investor also assess the achievement of KPIs to understand customer retention rates, conversion rates, average order value, or user engagement metrics.
What is Most Attractive to Investors?
For investors, there are several factors that can be attractive in funding startups from pre-seed to Series E stages. The main and most appealing factor for investors is usually a strong founding team, a team that possesses expertise, experience, and a track record in the field they are currently pursuing. Investors want to see that the team has a deep understanding of the industry they are entering and the ability to overcome potential challenges.
The potential for a large market growth is also a focus for investors before funding a startup. Investors tend to be interested in companies operating in markets with high growth potential. They seek opportunities in emerging industries or sectors, such as new technologies or new consumer trends.
Furthermore, startups that offer innovative products or services that solve existing market problems also often attract investor funding.
Moreover, before providing funding, investors usually look for early evidence that the company has the potential to grow and generate revenue. They want to see that the product or service has been well adopted by the market and has significant growth.
As a business, investors also want to see what strategies are designed by the target startup. They want to know how the company intends to use the invested funds and how they will achieve economies of scale.
In addition, aligned vision and values are also a concern for investors before providing funding. They are generally interested in startups that have a strong vision and values that align with theirs. They want to invest in businesses that have a positive impact, whether it’s in terms of social, environmental, or high-held values.
See also video tutorials from financial and business from Jack.
Use Jack for your business needs
Lastly, investors typically have a long-term perspective and seek opportunities for significant returns. They want to see that the company has the potential for a profitable exit, such as through acquisition by a large company or through an initial public offering (IPO).
