Having worked in the VC space for over 10 years, evaluated 1000+ entrepreneurs, and funded 50+ startups, I've come to realize that perseverance and resourcefulness are two of the most crucial traits a founding team can possess. While ideas and market timing matter, it's the grit and ingenuity of the team that often determines the startup's long-term success. Whether it's a key hire leaving, an investor pulling out, or a product pivot, resilient founders don't quit when the going gets tough. They adapt, learn, and push through adversity. Startups often have limited resources, and a founder's ability to stretch those resources, think creatively, and make things work is invaluable. In my experience, founders who exhibit these traits are more likely to navigate the chaos of a startup environment, turning challenges into opportunities and building sustainable businesses even when the odds are stacked against them.
As a VC, I assess startup teams based on their passion, vision, and determination. I look for founders who can clearly articulate a big vision and have the grit to see it through. With my own company, FusionAuth, I was turned down by Techstars but persisted because I knew authentication software could be improved. My cofounders and I bootstrapped the company and grew it into a profitable business without VC funding. The ability to build a minimum viable product, get customer feedback, and iterate is key. Strong communication and the ability to work through disagreements are also important. If a startup has a strong, determined team that can execute on their vision, that's a good sign. But ideas and vision aren't enough - you need a team that can deliver.
As an angel investor and mentor to startups, I look for founders with a vision for changing the world in a meaningful way. Passion and grit are essential, but execution is what matters most. The teams that get my investment articulate a bold vision, have a minimum viable product to show traction, and can demonstrate how they'll scale. One startup I invested in aimed to use AI to improve medical diagnostics. The founders were MDs and data scientists, a compelling combination, but their MVP showed the AI could detect cancers with 95% accuracy, far surpassing human radiologists. That demonstration of real-world impact convinced me, and now their tech saves lives daily. Another startup streamlined SMB accounting using automation and AI. The founders, accountants and software engineers, built a prototype to handle full-cycle bookkeeping. After a year of tuning, their platform cut clients' accounting costs by over 60% without sacrificing quality. That proof of concept and cost savings propelled their growth. Vision means little without execution, so I look for startups that can build systems to solve meaningful problems at scale. One good idea isn't enough; you need a team that can deliver and a prototype that proves the concept. With demonstrable impact and scalability, a startup goes from speculative to investable. A startup's success comes down to the team and their ability to turn vision into reality.
As an entrepreneur and brand builder, I assess startup teams based on their ability to execute. Vision and passion are inspiring, but mean little without follow-through. With BuzzShift, my digital agency, we started with just an idea and $500. We bootstrapped the company into a multi-million dollar acquisition in under 3 years through sheer determination and hard work. My cofounders and I didn’t need VC funding because we were able to build an MVP, get client feedback, and scale quickly. More recently, I’ve worked with DTC brands like Mooala and Takis as their interim CMO. Both had visionary founders but lacked experience scaling a brand. I helped them refine their messaging, optimize ad spend, and strengthen partnerships. Within months, Mooala’s revenue grew over 50% and Takis saw a 25% lift in brand awareness. Strong communication and alignment are key. If a startup team can't work through disagreements or set clear priorities, their vision will never become a reality. But with grit, resourcefulness and the ability to execute, any team can build something great.
As an entrepreneur and VC, I look closely at a founding team's ability to execute. At Rocket Alumni Solutions, my cofounders and I started with just an idea and bootstrapped the company to over $2M in revenue without outside funding. We built an MVP, gained traction, and scaled quickly through determination and hard work. I also advise startups, and recently helped two DTC brands refine their messaging and scale. Within months, Mooala grew revenue over 50% and Takis saw 25% higher brand awareness. Strong communication and alignment matter most. If a team can't work through disagreements or set clear priorities, their vision won't become reality. But with grit, resourcefulness and execution, any team can build something great. My cofounders and I didn't need VC funding because we could execute.As a venture capitalist and founder of Rocket Alumni Solutions, I look first and foremost at the team. Their vision, skills, and adaptability are key. My co-founders and I started Rocket in high school, grew it through college, and now have 20 employees. We've pivoted countless times based on data and feedback. Early on we added interactive demos and doubled conversion rates. Recently we expanded into sports and increased revenue 50% this quarter. Another key trait is hustle and resourcefulness. My co-founders and I did weekends and summers at big tech firms, using that experience to build Rocket. We started with $0 funding, doing customer research and building a prototype. Once we had initial clients, the business funded itself. We look for startups solving problems at scale through systems, not just good ideas. Rocket started as a solution for one school but now serves 500. Success comes down to team, vision and turning ideas into reality. The startup graveyard is littered with good intentions; we fund teams that deliver.
When I assess a startup's founding team, one unconventional trait I look for is their ability to "think in disasters." Not just how they plan for success, but how quickly they can mentally pivot when things go sideways. I've seen teams that are great on paper crumble when they hit a speed bump. So I always ask them, "What was the last crisis you faced, and what did you do when things weren't going according to plan?" If they can't answer quickly and with clarity, I know they're not battle-tested. It's not about failure-it's about how comfortable they are being uncomfortable.