What Information Do VCs Look Up Before a Meeting?

VCs research your founding team, company traction, market size, competitive landscape, and any mutual connections before meetings.

They'll LinkedIn-stalk founders, review your deck, check for press coverage, scan your website and product, and look for back-channel references. Investors spend 10–30 minutes preparing, enough to form initial impressions and identify key questions. Assume they know the basics; don't waste meeting time on information they've already found.

Why Understanding VC Prep Matters

Knowing what investors research helps you:

• Anticipate questions. Prepare for the gaps they'll probe

• Skip the basics. Don't repeat what they already know

• Control the narrative. Ensure public information tells your story correctly

• Build credibility. Demonstrate awareness of what they've likely seen

The best founders enter meetings knowing exactly what the investor already knows, and what they still need to learn.

What VCs Research Before Meetings

1. Founding Team Backgrounds

Team is the first thing investors evaluate. They'll check:

LinkedIn profiles. Education, work history, tenure at previous companies, connections in common.

Previous startups. Have you founded before? What happened? Any exits or notable failures?

Founder-market fit. Why are you the right person to build this company? Relevant experience, domain expertise, or unique insight.

Online presence. Twitter/X activity, blog posts, speaking engagements, podcast appearances.

Make sure your LinkedIn is current and tells a coherent story. Investors will read it.

2. Company Traction and Metrics

If you've shared a deck or data, they'll review:

Revenue and growth. Current MRR/ARR, growth rates, trajectory.

User metrics. Active users, engagement, retention patterns.

Funding history. Previous rounds, investors, and valuations.

Press and announcements. Recent news, product launches, partnerships.

If they haven't seen your deck, they'll search for any public information about traction—press releases, Product Hunt launches, or social mentions.

3. Market and Competitive Landscape

Investors quickly assess whether your market is attractive:

Market size. Is this a venture-scale opportunity?

Competitors. Who else is in this space? How are you differentiated?

Market timing. Why now? What's changed to make this opportunity viable?

Their existing portfolio. Do they have conflicting investments?

They may already have strong opinions about your market before the meeting starts.

4. Product and Website

A quick product review reveals a lot:

Website quality. Professional presentation and clear messaging.

Product demos. What does it actually do?

Customer testimonials. Social proof and validation.

Investors form impressions within seconds of viewing your site.

5. Mutual Connections and Back-Channels

Investors often reach out to their network before or after meetings:

Shared connections. Anyone who knows you or your co-founders.

Portfolio founders. Have they encountered your company?

Industry experts. People who can validate your market or approach.

Back-channel references happen constantly. Assume anyone in the investor's network might be contacted about you.

For a comprehensive guide on preparing for investor scrutiny, read our article on what to research about a VC before pitching.

How Much Time VCs Spend Preparing

Research shows investors typically spend:

• Initial screen: 2–3 minutes deciding whether to take the meeting

• Pre-meeting prep: 10–30 minutes reviewing materials and researching

• Deep research: Only after strong initial interest

Don't assume they've studied everything deeply. But do assume they've formed first impressions.

How to Prepare for What They've Found

Audit your online presence. Google yourself and your company.

Update LinkedIn profiles. Current roles, clear descriptions, professional photos.

Prepare for tough questions. If there's something awkward in your history, they may have found it.

Use SheetVenture's intelligence tools to understand investor portfolios and conflicts before your meeting.

The Bottom Line

VCs research your team, traction, market, and product before meetings. They check LinkedIn, review your deck, scan your website, and make back-channel calls. Enter every meeting assuming they know the basics.

Prepare accordingly. SheetVenture helps you research investors just as thoroughly as they research you.

SheetVenture gives founders the same intelligence edge that VCs have, so you enter meetings fully prepared.