The AI Foundry Academy: ‘’What VC’s are Looking for in Founders’’

​Management failure is the #1 reason startups fail, yet most founders don't understand how VCs actually evaluate teams.

​In this highly practical workshop, Wouter Deelman, founder and CEO of Twinshape, will pull back the curtain on how VCs assess founding teams. As a serial entrepreneur with 4 companies and investor, Wouter brings unique insights from both sides of the table. You'll learn the methodologies and red flags that kill funding prospects, and gain the tools to evaluate your own team through a VC's eyes.

​Attendees are encouraged to prepare a pitch deck as a basis for the case study.

​​What to Expect

​​A hands-on, interactive session designed for early-stage builders:

• ​A look at the 5-pillar assessment framework VCs use.

• ​Team, team, team: why management is the critical success factor for VCs

• ​How to identify red flags that could kill your funding prospects.

• ​Real-world case studies of founding teams.

• ​A self-assessment framework to evaluate your own team.

​​​Recommended flow:

• ​​​First 45 min — Key insights, methods, and case examples

• ​​​Next 30 min — Group exercise, case study, or activity

• ​​​Final 15 min — Open Q&A and networking

​​Schedule

​​Date: November 6, 2025

​​Time: 18:00 - 20:00

​​Location: The AI Foundry, Parnassusweg 126, Amsterdam

​​18:00 – 18:45: Key insights, methods, and real examples

​​18:45 – 19:15: Group exercise & discussion

​​19:15 – 20:00: Q&A & Networking

​​Who Should Attend

• ​Early-stage AI founders & builders

• ​Founders preparing for a funding round

• ​Startup teams looking to build investor confidence

• ​Anyone curious about how VCs evaluate teams

​​Capacity: 10–30 participants (curated group for max. interaction)

​​Takeaways

​You’ll leave with the knowledge and tools to evaluate your team using VC criteria—and the two startups with the best pitch deck will get a free Twinshape analysis.

​​📩 Questions? [email protected]