Most founders obsess over their pitch deck. But by the time a VC opens it, they've already formed 80% of their opinion.

Here's what they're actually evaluating first:

1. Your LinkedIn & Twitter presence

Before the meeting, they're Googling you. Are you building in public? Do you have domain credibility? A founder with 500 followers who posts thoughtful takes about their market beats a ghost profile every time.

2. Who sent the intro

Warm intros convert at 10-30x cold outreach. But not all warm intros are equal — a portfolio founder intro is worth 5 random angel intros. Map the fund's portfolio and find shared connections.

3. Market timing signals

VCs follow sector narratives. If 3 companies in your space just raised, that's a green light — they're already researching the thesis. If the sector just had a blowup, you're swimming upstream. Know which narrative you fit into.

4. Traction trajectory, not absolute numbers

$10K MRR growing 40% month-over-month is more compelling than $50K MRR that flatlined. They're pattern-matching for inflection points, not current scale.

5. The "why now" factor

Every great raise has a clear answer to: Why does this company need to exist today, and not 3 years ago? Regulatory change, technology shift, market behavior change — nail this and you're ahead of 90% of pitches.

I break down insights like this weekly at Capital Insider — real VC intelligence for founders who are serious about their raise.