Claudette Ferrand

Recent portfolio deals reveal what a fund actually invests in now.

Founders can distinguish fund rejections based on startup gaps versus investor constraints.

Rank investors by their actual deals, not their website copy.

Most venture returns concentrate in a single outlier company, reshaping how founders should pitch.

Weak prep signals founder conviction hasn't survived contact with skeptics.

Investors often decide deals on reference calls the founder never sees.

Funds hitting sector limits are passing on strong pitches for reasons founders never hear.

Founders waste months pitching funds that have quietly abandoned their stated mandates.

VCs reserve 40-60% of capital before writing any checks.