The X-Factor: Investor Readiness

The X-Factor: Investor Readiness 🎥

When you pitch to an investor, it’s not just about the story or the deck—it’s about showing you’re truly ready. 

I get pitched around 500-600 times a year, and I can always tell when a founder has “it” and when they don’t.

The X-Factor—Investor Readiness—isn’t about charisma or buzzwords. 

It’s about clarity, confidence, and a solid plan. 


And when the pitch starts to crumble, I ask five simple questions that reveal everything I need to know:

→ What are you selling—a product or a service?

→ Who is your target customer?

→ What’s your price point?

→ How many sales do you need to hit $1M in annual revenue?

→ What’s your plan to drive traffic, convert leads, and close sales?

If the answers are unclear—or worse, if I feel I’m being BS’ed—it’s always a “no thanks.”


That said, I believe every founder can improve. If they’re coachable and willing to put in the work, they might be a candidate for our startup incubator. 

Otherwise, they’ll keep hearing the same rejections.

The truth is, investor readiness is the difference between a promising pitch and a missed opportunity.


If you’re preparing to pitch, ask yourself:

→ Can I answer these questions with confidence?

→ Is my plan solid enough to inspire trust?

The X-Factor isn’t magic—it’s preparation. Get ready, and you’ll be unstoppable.