Founders ask me on a daily basis about investors.

• Why won’t investors take me seriously?

• How can I make my startup stand out?

• What do I need to show them to get their attention?

• How do I prove my idea is worth funding?

But here’s the truth: Investors don’t bet on ideas—they bet on proof.

It’s not about crafting the perfect pitch deck or delivering a smooth presentation.

What gets investors to lean in is

Here’s how you can focus on proof to start raising money the smart way:

1️⃣  Validate First, Build Second

Most founders jump into building their product too soon....but investors very rarely will fund ideas based on guesswork.

Instead, validate your idea with potential customers:

• Conduct interviews to understand their real pain points. Look for Painkillers, not Vitamin ideas.  Most founders are solving level 5, 6, 7 problems. Painkiller problems are level 12 out 10. 😀
• If possible, pre-sell your product or get Letters of Intent (LOIs) before it exists. Yes, customers will pay upfront if you solve a critical problem.

Validation shows investors that you’re solving a problem people actually care about.

1. Alignment: How do you keep your team focused on what matters most?
2. Efficiency: How do you ensure time and money aren’t wasted?
3. Learning: How do you learn quickly and adapt effectively?
4. Remove Guesswork: How confident are you that what you’re building is actually valuable to customers?

If you’ve followed my teachings, you already know that the TechSpeak process that I teach ensures that every step you take is intentional, aligned with your goals, and optimized for alignment, efficiency, removing the guesswork and learning.

2️⃣ Start Generating Early Revenue

Even a small amount of revenue speaks louder than words.

• Offer a basic version of your product.

• Run a pilot program and charge for it.

• Collect deposits to show demand.

Revenue = proof that customers are willing to pay for your solution.

3️⃣ Build a Waitlist

A waitlist is an underrated asset that screams demand.If you’re not ready to sell yet, start building an audience.

• Create a landing page with a clear call to action.

• hare your vision with your target market and invite them to sign up

Thousands of interested leads are a powerful signal that investors can’t ignore.

Proof is what gets investors excited.

Proof that you’ve validated your idea.
Proof that customers are willing to pay for it.
Proof that you can execute.

If you focus on these steps, you’ll not only make it easier to raise money—you’ll also build a product that’s set up for success from day one.

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✍️  Are there gaps in validation, early revenue, or customer demand? Pick one area this week—whether it’s talking to potential customers, testing an idea, or launching a basic landing page—and take a small step toward proof.