With increasingly discerning investors, startups that want to attract attention in 2025 need to go beyond good ideas. It is necessary to show clear evidence of resilience, growth potential and market impact. However, this selectivity should not be seen as a barrier, but as an opportunity for entrepreneurs who know how to present differentiators
According to the report "Global Venture Capital State 2023", the number of contributions has decreased globally in the last two years, making investors more selective. Despite that, startups that combine innovative solutions with a clear understanding of their metrics and market have attracted attention
According toMarilucia Silva Pertile, startup mentor and co-founder of theStart Growth, venture capital company that supports founders by combining expertise and capital, the market is more demanding, but startups that demonstrate a deep understanding of their purpose have a greater chance of attracting investors. Resilience and passion for the startup's purpose are determining characteristics for success. It is necessary to be determined and passionate about the problem that the startup was born to solve, because it generates perceived value for the customer, affirms
According to Marilucia, the entrepreneur must be more committed to the problem than to the solution, because, by doing this, success tends to be a natural consequence. When entrepreneurs focus on the pain to be solved, this reflects in solutions that truly make a difference and in strategies that generate added value for users. This is what makes the startup a sustainable and attractive business for investments, affirms
Another important guideline is to present a robust business plan, with details about the operating model, market strategies and clear financial projections. "Investors want to understand how the resources will be used to scale the startup and ensure its sustainability", says Marilucia
Financial and operational metrics are also important differentiators to attract attention. Indicators such as MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue), CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost), cash burn control and revenue growth help to show that the startup has structured management and a long-term vision. Startups that manage to prove traction, user growth and high retention convey confidence to the investor. It is essential to demonstrate that the product or service meets a real need in the market, observe the mentor
Finally, according to the co-founder of Start Growth, it's worth investing in a good pitch to capture attention. A well-executed pitch is an invitation for the investor to join the startup's journey. He must show what has been done so far and how the funding will allow for the next big step, explain Marilucia
The specialist emphasizes that well-organized documentation is essential, especially for more advanced rounds. Financial records, contracts and intellectual property rights need to be in order to facilitate the due diligence process and strengthen investor confidence, explain. And for the startups that have not yet raised investments, "having resilience is essential", закінчує.
Seven steps to attract investors' attention in 2025, according to Marilucia Pertile
- Being stubborn and passionate about the problem that the startup was born to solve
- Having a robust business plan, that detail market strategies, model of clear financial projections and revenue
- Demonstrate solid metrics, highlighting indicators, as revenue growth, customer retention and operational efficiency
- Validate the product in the market, proving that the solution is relevant and is already generating real results
- Have competitive differentiation, that makes the startup unique in the market
- Keep the documentation well organized to facilitate investor analysis
- Investing in resilience, especially if the startup has not yet received funding
