Pitch Perfect: What VCs Really Want to Hear – Insights from TiEcon 2025
A panel at TiEcon 2025 brought together some of the most respected voices in venture capital to share practical, actionable advice for startup founders navigating the funding landscape. Representing a wide spectrum of investment stages and sectors, the panel included Andy Tsao of Silicon Valley Bank, Anil Advani of Inventus Law, Anupam Rastogi of Emergent, George Thangadurai of Avataar Venture Partners, Muddu Sudhakar of Aisera, Prateek Sharma of Ahead VC, and Sanjay Nath of Blume Venture Advisors. Together, they offered a comprehensive view of what it takes to pitch effectively, build credibility, and secure funding in today’s highly competitive environment.
Andy Tsao, Head of Global Gateway at Silicon Valley Bank, emphasized the critical importance of cultural awareness when pitching to international investors. Founders should be aware of how investors in different regions evaluate opportunities and tailor their approach accordingly. Customization, preparation, and understanding investor expectations can significantly increase a founder’s chances of success. Knowing the metrics investors care about and communicating them efficiently also plays a crucial role.
Prateek Sharma, Founder & Managing Partner at Ahead VC, highlighted his experience as an early-stage investor with a focus on B2B software, applied AI, and startups operating in the India-US corridor. He underscored that trust and credibility are key, especially in early interactions. According to him, successful founder-investor relationships begin with mutual respect and authenticity, not just numbers on a slide.
Sanjay Nath, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Blume Venture Advisors, offered insights from investing in both domestic startups and those aiming for global markets. He shared that founders must be able to articulate their vision and long-term goals clearly. More than just presenting slides, pitches should feel like honest conversations. Investors value transparency and want to understand not just what the idea is, but how it will be executed. Sanjay emphasized the balance between ambition and realism as a core trait of successful founders.
Muddu Sudhakar, Co-founder & CEO of Aisera, shared his perspective from years of building and investing in enterprise AI and cybersecurity startups. He encouraged founders to pursue big, scalable ideas while also seeking early validation through initial customers or design partners. While the idea matters, he emphasized, it is ultimately the strength and capability of the founding team that determines long-term success.
Anupam Rastogi, Managing Partner at Emergent, focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments. He believes that the founding team is the most critical factor in evaluating a startup, followed by the market opportunity and the product. He recommended that founders talk to at least 50–100 potential customers before pitching, to ensure a real understanding of the market. He also advocated for concise, clear presentations, suggesting the use of a “10 slides in 10 minutes” format to keep discussions focused and productive.
George Thangadurai, Founding Partner at Avataar Venture Partners, focuses on post-seed startups that already have early traction and product-market fit. He looks for companies with at least two to three paying customers and a clear potential to grow into $100 million-plus businesses. George stressed the importance of the first 15–20 minutes of a pitch, advising founders to clearly explain their product, technology, and value proposition upfront.
Throughout the session, several consistent themes emerged: pitches should be tailored to the investor’s focus and style; trust and credibility are foundational from the start; founders must express both vision and execution clarity; and the strength of the founding team is a non-negotiable requirement across all funding stages.
The panel served as a masterclass for founders looking to raise capital. It provided real-world perspectives across various stages of investment, reminding entrepreneurs that successful fundraising involves far more than just having a good idea. It’s about connecting, communicating, and convincing with clarity, preparation, and purpose.
Watch the full panel video here