What's inside.
A short, honest article on what early-stage investors actually look at when they evaluate a pre-seed or seed startup. Compiled from conversations with VCs, angels, and family offices that back African founders.
- 01Founder market fit Why are you, specifically, the person to solve this problem.
- 02Insight What do you understand about this market that most people do not.
- 03Distribution How will you reach customers cheaply, repeatedly, and at scale.
- 04Velocity How fast you ship, learn, and turn feedback into product changes.
- 05Honesty How you talk about what is not working. Investors trust founders who do not hide it.
Who this is for.
Founders preparing for their first fundraising round and operators considering a jump into entrepreneurship. Read it before you start outreach, not the night before your first meeting.
How to use it.
Use the five points as a checklist. For each one, write down what you would say if an investor asked. If any answer takes more than three sentences, simplify it. Clarity is a leading indicator of conviction.
