VC behaviours that count as a “pass” are: “building conviction = pass”, “IC is not giving time = pass”, “not responding to founder = pass”, and “we want to see some more traction = pass”.
A “good deal partner” will bend over backwards, be willing to meet at 1 am, and deliver a term sheet within 24 hours.
I adopt a policy to reject founders with the concise line “this doesn’t fit our thesis”.
I feel attacked. 😅 But also fair. We have to be selective. We can’t invest in every good startup we see. The bar keeps rising. Builders from tier‑1, 2, and 3 cities are all shipping real things now 🇮🇳 If there’s one piece of feedback for us as investors in India, it’s this: we need to learn how to say no clearly and respectfully. A simple “this doesn’t fit our thesis” is far better for a founder than being led on or left waiting.