Road to FX: What Makes a Startup Fundable (and How Investors Decide) with Mike Cardamone (Forum Ventures)

​Many founders fixate on getting investor meetings, but winning a meeting is just the beginning. What really determines whether you get a term sheet or a polite “no thanks”? In this session, Michael Cardamone (CEO and Managing Partner at Forum Ventures) will peel back the curtain on how VCs decide which companies are truly fundable. Drawing on his experience investing in hundreds of early-stage startups, Michael will explain what investors look for beyond the pitch deck. He’ll discuss how factors like team, traction, market, and financials come into play during due diligence, and share tips on how to gauge your own startup’s readiness. This session will tackle questions such as:

• ​What does it mean for a startup to be “fundable,” and how can you tell if you’re there yet?

• ​What are investors really doing and thinking after you leave the pitch room?

• ​Which aspects of your business get scrutinized during diligence (and how can you prepare)?

​You’ll come away with a clearer picture of what happens behind the scenes in an investor’s decision process and how to set your company up to pass the test.