In this episode of The Tech Leader’s Playbook, Volition Capital Vice President Melanie Nabar offers a candid look at how growth capital investors evaluate companies and the often-overlooked factors that quietly derail promising deals.
Melanie breaks down what Series A investors actually prioritize today, from revenue quality and retention to defensible go-to-market motion in an AI-driven market. She also addresses common founder missteps, including over-investing in product without customer validation, chasing inflated valuations, and underestimating the importance of investor psychology and fund dynamics.
The conversation explores how founders can think more strategically about capital deployment, assess alignment with potential investors, and use tools like secondary offerings to de-risk personally while preserving long-term upside.
