Amid the buzz of innovation at Web Summit Vancouver 2025, one Masterclass stood out for its practical wisdom and founder-focused energy: “Is Your Startup Attractive to Investors?” Led by Rutvik Deepak, co-founder of GO Ventures, the session turned a post-lunch crowd into a lively, interactive forum on what truly captures investor interest.
Unlike traditional panels, Web Summit’s Masterclass series offers hands-on, workshop-style learning with direct access to industry leaders. Rutvik’s session delivered just that — real-time feedback, candid advice, and frameworks founders could apply immediately.
Experience Over Theory
Rutvik Deepak brings a rare dual perspective: a founder who’s built and exited companies, and now a VC leading GO Ventures, a Mediterranean-based corporate venture fund akin to Telus in Canada. His approach is global, grounded, and deeply empathetic to the founder journey.
“You don’t have to guess what investors want — you can learn it,” he told attendees, setting the tone for a session rich in actionable insights.
What Investors Actually Look For
Through live pitch critiques and audience Q&A, Rutvik outlined four key pillars that make startups stand out:
1. Team Strength & Chemistry
Investors bet on people first. Rutvik emphasized the importance of complementary skills — the classic hacker, hustler, and hipster trio — along with founder resilience and alignment. Internal conflict, he warned, is a top reason startups fail.
2. Clear Market Focus (Avoid the 1% Trap)
Rather than claiming a slice of a massive market, founders should define a focused niche with a clear path to traction. A billion-dollar vision is great — but it needs a believable starting point.
3. Early Traction
“Numbers don’t lie,” Rutvik said. Whether it’s a waitlist, user engagement, or early revenue, tangible proof points help investors separate signal from noise.
4. Clean Financials & Cap Tables
Even the most promising startups can stumble during due diligence. Rutvik stressed the need for clean ownership structures, basic financials, and realistic projections — especially in early-stage rounds.
Practice Over Perfection
One standout moment came when Rutvik encouraged founders to “pitch to learn.” His advice: build a list of 100 potential investors, and don’t start with your dream VC. Use early pitches to refine your story and gain feedback.
He also recommended tools like the 50 Co-founder Questions to assess alignment before fundraising, and suggested sending regular investor updates to build trust over time — even before asking for money.
Real Talk: Salaries, Solo Founders & AI Teams
The Q&A session tackled hot-button topics like founder salaries, solo entrepreneurship, and the evolving role of AI in team structures. One founder asked if a $150K salary was too high in a high-cost city.
Rutvik’s take: “It’s not a dealbreaker — but it’s about signaling. Investors want to see you’re investing in the company, not just drawing from it.”
For solo founders, he advised building a strong advisory bench, filling skill gaps early, and demonstrating grit.
Final Takeaways
Rutvik closed with three key recommendations for founders preparing to raise:
- Create a One-Pager: Summarize your pitch deck into a clean, shareable document.
- Get Legally & Financially Ready: Don’t let outdated docs or unclear ownership derail your raise.
- Build Relationships, Not Just Pitches: Fundraising is about trust. Stay in touch — today’s “no” could be tomorrow’s “yes.”
