Thinking Like an Investor: What founders need to know about venture capital

Founders raise more effectively when they understand the investor mindset. This session explores how venture capital works, what investors look for, how decisions are made and how founders can build stronger relationships with funders. 

This is a practical session from Newton Venture Programme designed to help founders better understand the venture capital world from the investor’s side of the table. 

Drawing on the thinking behind Newton Foundations, it will explore how venture capital works, what investors are looking for, how decisions get made, and what founders can do to build stronger, more informed relationships with funders. 

The session will help founders move beyond the mechanics of fundraising and develop a clearer understanding of the wider venture ecosystem, investor incentives and the expectations that come with venture-backed growth. 

Who should attend

This session is for founders, early-stage leadership teams and ambitious businesses that expect to raise investment now or in the future. 

It will also be useful for operators in high-growth businesses who want to understand how venture capital shapes decision-making, growth expectations and relationships with boards and investors. 

Why it’s relevant

Too many founders approach fundraising without fully understanding how venture capital works, what investors are assessing, or how venture-backed growth expectations differ from other routes to building a business. 

For founders, understanding the investor mindset helps shift the conversation from simply raising money to making better strategic decisions about funding, growth, investor fit and long-term ambition. 

This session is relevant because founders who understand how investors think are better placed to prepare, communicate clearly and build more productive relationships with funders.

Who should attend

You will leave with a clearer understanding of how venture capital works in practice, what investors mean when they talk about opportunity, risk and conviction, and how founders can prepare more effectively for investor conversations. 

The session will cover key elements of the venture ecosystem, including how capital flows, how investors evaluate startups, how they choose deals and how they support businesses after investing. 

For founders, this should translate into stronger fundraising preparation, better investor engagement and a more informed view of whether venture capital is the right fit for their business.