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Venture capital is more concentrated than ever, making it increasingly difficult for early-stage founders to land their first check. So what does it actually take to stand out to investors?
In this special bonus episode of Build Mode ( , host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Puneet Agarwal, managing partner at True Ventures ( , to discuss what VCs are really looking for in 2026.
True Ventures has backed companies including Fitbit, Peloton, and Duo Security, and evaluates thousands of startups each year while writing roughly 20 checks. Puneet breaks down what makes founders stand out, how to get in front of investors without an established Silicon Valley network, and the biggest mistakes founders make during fundraising.
Recorded as part of TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield masterclass series, the conversation also covers due diligence, term sheets, valuations, and why raising more money isn't always better.
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