The core of your startup is the problem you are solving and the solution you are offering. Many founders talk about their great idea but forget to tell which issue they are tackling. Investors want to see that the problem is serious and widespread enough to justify spending large amounts of capital to support it.

You have found an immense problem and a viable solution, but have you executed it already? Is there a product out there in the market that you developed and who did develop it? Can you scale your product to millions of users if needed? If you tell an investor: “I need so and so much money to build it,” the likely answer is that they prefer you build it with money from somebody else. You can always create an MVP, a minimal viable product, and show that your idea is worth scaling up.

Who is building the product? What kind of founders and how many? How is the equity split between you? The team is who executes the idea. Investors rather invest in an amazing team with an average idea, than into an average team with an amazing idea. Because market dynamics change and startups have to pivot and change their products constantly, so an idea is temporary. Skills and expertise are enduring.

Does your business make money? Have you put your skin into the game by investing your own capital into the firm? Have you already raised capital? A business is not a charity, so investors need to make sure you are financially healthy and that the company will make enough profits to give them returns on their investment.