Straight from the Source: What VCs Really Want to See

Most of the time, we talk about strategy, story, and building your deck. But this month, we’re focusing on what comes after you’ve sent the materials.

Nina recently sat down with Daniel Sass, MD MBA, and an Associate at aMoon Fund. We dug deep into what actually happens behind the scenes once a pitch hits an inbox, and how founders can get better at driving momentum post-deck.

So this issue is dedicated to the approach:
How you get in, what you serve, how you follow up, and how to stay on the radar, directly from someone who reads decks for a living.

Here’s what stood out:

What VCs Want to See, Right Away

When you first reach out to a VC, the partner probably isn’t the one opening your deck. It’s usually the analysts and associates, the ones responsible for spotting signal and kicking off diligence.

Their job is to find clarity quickly.

Daniel put it simply: founders who make it easy for analysts to understand and champion their business internally move through diligence faster. The more clearly you can articulate your market, traction, and vision in a way that makes sense on paper, the easier it is for someone else to tell your story in the next meeting.

Build an Undeniable Stack of Evidence

Telling a strong story gets attention.
But backing it up is what builds conviction.

Your data room is where the receipts live: a clean folder (or virtual room) with your deck, financials, market research, roadmap, team bios, traction proof, legal docs, whatever's relevant for your raise.

Most founders wait until diligence to build this. Founders who want to be ahead prep it early, and let the strength of their story be confirmed by the undeniable stack of evidence behind it.

Be Ready Before They Ask

Few things signal unpreparedness more clearly than lag time.

When a VC asks for materials and you take a week to deliver, it doesn’t just slow the process, it changes how they perceive your company. On the other hand, when you can grant access to a full, up-to-date data room the same day, it sends a different signal: confidence, organization, and momentum.

It’s another way of supporting your storytelling, showing that your company runs the same way you say it does.

Stay On Their Radar With Updates

Not every VC is ready when you are.

Sometimes it’s a “not now,” not a “no.” But only if you stay in the game. That’s where periodic updates come in; concise, clear snapshots of your progress every 5-8 weeks.

If you want help managing your investor updates (including design, formatting, and delivery), we offer this as a service. Just reply to this email or click below to learn more.

Client Spotlight: H2O Everywhere

We sat down to speak to Heath Wruble, COO of H2O Everywhere, a company using atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology to create purified drinking water directly from the air. With more than 1,000 machines across 40+ countries, their impact is already global.

Now, they’re bringing the technology closer to home, making clean water accessible through compact consumer models and large-scale residential systems.

We partnered with H2O Everywhere on a full rebrand and investor package, refining their narrative, sharpening the design, and building a cohesive investor story that matched the ambition of their mission.

As Heath put it, the feedback was “overwhelming.” For us, it was proof that clarity and storytelling go hand-in-hand with world-changing technology. Excited to see where they take it next!

For Investment or partnership opportunities, contact Heath at [email protected].

Thanks for reading, here's a 10% discount on any project—use it yourself or share it with a fellow founder who could benefit from our services. Download the PNG and send it to us upon outreach!

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Until next time, we’ll be on the lookout!

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