VC Insights
Your Investor Better Show Up After the Wire Hits
Capital is easy to wire. True support is harder to deliver. If you want more than money from your VC, make sure the partnership lasts longer than the celebration.
FMost founders treat funding like the finish line.
The term sheet is signed, the wire hits—and the champagne pops.
But that’s not the real milestone.
Because the real question isn’t if an investor can fund your company.
It’s whether they’ll actually help you scale it.
Capital Is a Transaction. Partnership Is Leverage.
A good VC adds value far beyond the bank transfer.
They bring strategic firepower in four critical ways:
1. Hiring Support
Help sourcing operators, key execs, and even interim leadership when you need it most.
2. Strategic Intros
From enterprise buyers to distribution partners to follow-on investors—warm intros are currency.
3. Pressure-Tested Advice
When the market turns or your product stalls, founders need sharp, pattern-matching insight—not just cheerleading.
4. Enterprise Access
Especially in healthcare, deep tech, or AI—access to industry leaders can accelerate go-to-market and unlock credibility.
Ask Before You Sign
Founders should normalize asking blunt questions before the deal closes:
• “How do you support your portfolio companies post-investment?”
• “Who do you personally work with in your portfolio?”
• “Can I speak with a founder you backed who hit a rough patch?”
A real partner will have good answers.
A transactional investor will dodge.
Also—don’t just trust the deck.
Talk to their founders. You’ll learn more in a 15-minute call with a portfolio CEO than in any polished pitch.
Red Flags to Watch For:
• VCs who overpromise support but don’t show a track record of founder success stories
• Firms that drop off after the Series A
• Advisors who show up only at board meetings, not when things go sideways
• Investors who push for short-term metrics to satisfy their own LP timelines
The Bottom Line:
Capital is step one.
The real value comes after the money lands.
Founders who treat fundraising like a relationship—not a transaction—build stronger companies, raise smarter follow-on rounds, and make better exits.
So before you say yes to the money, ask:
Will this investor still be in your corner six months from now?
Raising capital? We help founders navigate not just the valuation—but the partnership. Book a Fundraising Strategy Session or grab the Startup Capital Audit to pressure-test your next raise.