Workshop 4 of Venture Forward marked a major milestone in the programme, bringing the cohort face‑to‑face with real investors for the first time and introducing them to the wider support ecosystem across The Growth Company.
One month into the accelerator, the focus is shifting from mindset and theory to the practical realities of investor engagement, what investors actually look for, how decisions are made, and how founders can sharpen their approach.
Live pitching to real investors
In one of the most transformative moments of the programme so far, founders delivered live pitches to an exceptional panel representing three distinct investment perspectives:
The feedback was direct, constructive and grounded in real‑world decision‑making exactly what early‑stage founders need at this stage of their journey.
A clear message emerged across the panel: the strongest pitches are the ones that say less, not more. Clarity, evidence and alignment continue to be the signals investors respond to.
Deep dive: What investors expect founders to know
Earlier in the day, Marc Shirman, Head of Equity Investments at GC Angels, delivered a session on the critical areas investors expect founders to understand in detail before any meaningful conversation can take place.
The session covered:
- market sizing and opportunity
- go‑to‑market strategy
- team formation and capability
- exit strategy and value creation
- commercial metrics including churn, CAC, LTV, NRR, burn rate and payback
- fund metrics and ROI expectations
These are the areas that shape how investors interpret the data founders present. Without understanding them, raising capital becomes significantly more difficult.
Momentum builds ahead of workshops 5 and 6
With live investor pitching now complete, the programme shifts towards the deeper mechanics of fundraising, the processes, data and decision‑making frameworks that turn a strong pitch into a fundable opportunity.
The cohort continues to rise to every challenge, and the momentum is building week by week.
GC Angels is excited to see how these founders apply what they’ve learned as they move into the second half of the programme and how they will contribute to the next wave of Northern innovation.