Investors are looking for founders who can navigate the financial complexities of their business with ease. Sasha Orloff, founder and CEO of Puzzle and a veteran of multiple billion-dollar fundraising rounds, shares his insights on what VCs want in a pitch.

Understanding your company’s financial metrics is crucial; from revenue growth to sales efficiency, every number counts. Sasha explains how being prepared can save you from losing out on a term sheet due to an unready data room. He also discusses how VCs’ expectations evolve as startups grow and why admitting imperfections can sometimes turn into an advantage.

‘Build Mode’ explores these topics in depth, providing founders with the tools they need to secure better deals. Learn about key financial metrics you should know before approaching investors and how runway, margins, and profitability factor into valuations. Sasha’s experience teaches us that preparation is everything when it comes to fundraising.

Discover more on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and watch the full episodes on YouTube. Tune in every Thursday for fresh insights from those who’ve been there, done that – and raised over a billion dollars along the way.