How Startups Can Get Corporate Investment Without Losing Their Business

What Corporate Investment for Startups Really Looks Like

I recently gave an in-depth interview on how startups can attract corporate investment — and, just as importantly, how to avoid losing the business in the process. We covered what matters most to us as investors when we evaluate a company, and the answer might surprise you.

What We Actually Look At First (It’s Not the Financials)

Spoiler: it’s not the financial metrics. When we assess a startup, the numbers are rarely the first thing on our radar. There’s something else we look for before we even open a spreadsheet — and that shapes the entire investment decision more than most founders realize.

When the Conversation Turns Personal

The conversation took an unexpected turn and led us into the territory of motivation and personal goals. I suppose that’s just occupational conditioning at work — when you spend enough time thinking about what makes companies succeed, you inevitably start thinking about what makes people succeed too.