At the pre-seed stage, evaluating startups can be challenging for VCs due to the absence of vital metrics like revenue or customer acquisition costs. Instead, VCs focus on broader signals during the pitch process. At TechCrunch All Stage 2025, Charles Hudson from Precursor Ventures will reveal these subtle yet crucial signals that influence VC assessments. Founders should realize how their choices—from co-founders to fundraising strategies—can raise red flags or attract investors, often in ways they may not understand. This event presents a unique opportunity for founders to learn these unspoken cues that could be pivotal for securing investment.
At the pre-seed stage, there's not much for a VC to analyze - no revenue curve, no retention metrics, no CAC. That doesn't mean they're guessing.
From your choice of co-founder to how you run your fundraising process, everything you do - or don't do - is a signal.
Mismatched co-founder dynamics can suggest poor hiring instincts. Sloppy outreach? That signals you haven't done the work.
These are the unspoken cues that can make or break a round - and most founders never hear about them.
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