In one of my worst investor meetings, I was kept waiting for hours by an investor known for making founders wait, which set a negative tone for the meeting.

When investors prioritize language lessons over business discussions, it’s usually a bad sign for the pitch's outcome.

I remember a founder who interrupted their co-founder during an interview, which raised concerns about their teamwork and communication.

Thinking like a VC often involves analyzing markets and trends, which can distract founders from focusing on their unique startup vision.

During investor meetings, we faced challenges, including one investor leaving mid-pitch, which highlighted our lack of readiness.

Every investor meeting is as much about them interviewing you as it is about you interviewing them. It's a two-way street, and if an investor's style doesn't fit with yours, it's okay to move on.

Young founders often prioritize what investors want over solving problems they genuinely care about, which can hinder their potential.

I flew to Chicago for a meeting, but none of the partners were there, just associates without check-writing power. I gave a terrible pitch and there was zero interest in investing. You need to have a game plan for meetings, and I was completely unprepared.

It's really bad to go into a meeting with an investor and not understand the specific terms being negotiated.