Why do some founders build investor trust fast while others struggle to get a second meeting?

I sit down with Brad Scott, Investment Manager at Maven Capital Partners, to unpack what catches his attention before a pitch and why rushing into slides can cost you the deal.

Brad explains why building genuine relationships early can create more opportunities than a one-off pitch. He talks about how consistent investor updates help founders stay top of mind, and how having firsthand industry experience can be a decisive advantage.

If you’re gearing up for your next raise or trying to understand how VCs weigh founder, product, and traction at the early stage, this one’s for you.

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Brad Scott (guest)

Connect with Brad on LinkedIn

Find out more about the Maven Capital Partners

Matthew Codd (host)

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Find out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

Why do some founders get a "yes" from top VCs, and others don’t?

I sit down with Freddie Kalfayan, Principal at Smedvig Ventures, to unpack how Series A and B investors really assess SaaS startups, and why some pitches still miss the mark.

Freddie shares what separates a ‘maybe’ from a ‘must-invest’ and how founder clarity can be the deciding factor in a crowded market.

Freddie shares the red flags that turn VCs off fast, the real impact of founder storytelling, and why trying to manufacture hype often backfires. We also dig into what great traction actually looks like at A/B stage, and why seeing multiple reps hit quota often says more than having a heavyweight VP of Sales.

If you’re building towards a Series A or B raise, or trying to reverse-engineer what top funds really care about.

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Freddie Kalfayan (guest)

Connect with Freddie on LinkedIn

Find out more about the Smedvig Ventures

Matthew Codd (host)

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Find out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

In this episode, I sit down with Kenneth Thomas, Principal at BackFuture Ventures, to dig into what makes early-stage SaaS startups actually fundable, and why so many promising founders still fall short.

We talked about what VCs really look for at pre-seed and seed stage, how to spot a backable founding team, and why too many startups miss the mark by overcomplicating their story or failing to show progress in a tangible way.

Ken shares what he sees from both sides of the table, including why community and founder support are baked into BackFuture’s approach, what makes investor updates so valuable (even before you’ve raised), and the telltale signs a founder actually knows how to sell.

Plus, we got into some classic early-stage pitfalls, overspending on the wrong things, hiring sales too early, and the common pitch mistakes that turn off VCs fast.

If you’re an early-stage SaaS founder thinking about raising capital, this is the episode you need to watch before you reach out to another VC.

Find out more:

Kenneth Thomas (guest)

Connect with Kenneth on LinkedIn

Find out more about the BackFuture Ventures

Matthew Codd (host)

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Find out more about my business, Cosmic Partners