Tired of cold-pitching investors who don’t get what you’re building?

What if capital started chasing you?

In this episode, I sat down with a panel of seasoned investors during our Venture Vitality Roundtable to unpack what truly makes a startup irresistible to aligned capital.

We’re talking beyond pitch decks—this is about market readiness, community-first traction, and the kind of 2-minute pitch that gets shared in closed-door investor chats.

This is the mindset shift every Seed to Series B founder needs to hear.

• Why product-market fit is overrated (and what to chase instead)
• How to become fundraising fluent so you stop wasting time
• What investors actually want to hear in your pitch
• The secret to getting great capital to chase you
• Why problem validation is the real unlock for early traction
• How to build a pre-launch community that sells for you later

1. What’s the last market validation conversation you had—before building anything?
2. Can you pitch your company in 2 minutes with no slides?

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Why some startups attract capital instead of chasing it

00:02:11 - The hidden struggles of raising money (Marie’s perspective)

00:03:57 - Training founders to be fundraising fluent (Kurt’s insights)

00:06:01 - Alternative capital sources + accelerator/venture studio models

00:07:23 - Market readiness beats product-market fit

00:09:58 - The 100 Customer Challenge: Validating the problem first

00:11:52 - Why a 2-minute video pitch beats any deck

00:13:07 - Build community before building your product

00:17:05 - Healthcare pilots and clinical trials as proof of traction

00:21:32 - Five core lessons to make your startup truly investable

🎧 Related Episodes You’ll Love

• Ep 174 – Who Are the Founders That Win Investor Trust Fast?
• Ep 169 – How AgeTech Startups Win Hospital Trust With Wound-Care Pilots
• Ep 168 – What Turns a Good HealthTech Pitch Into a ‘Yes’ for Women Founders

🎤 Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s Edge

Have traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina

📊 Ready to turn your pitch into a magnet?

Send us your draft, let me rewrite it for you 👉 PitchToYes.com

🎯 Get You In Front of Investors

We match you with the most aligned investors and decision-makers who care about your niche already. Apply at CapitalEngine.vc