What We Look for in Early-Stage Founders
The key traits we back before product, traction, or revenue
At 16VC, we back founders before the world sees what they’re building. Before the press, before the pitch decks, before the traction graphs.
And while there’s no single formula for greatness, we’ve found some consistent traits in the builders who go the distance — especially in the earliest stages.
This post is for anyone thinking about applying to the 16VC Founder Fellowship, or just curious how early-stage investors think behind the scenes.
1. 🧠 Clarity of Thought
We care less about how big the deck is, and more about how clearly you explain your thinking. The best early founders can break down:
The problem — and why it matters now
Why you’re uniquely suited to solve it
What early bets you're making (and why)
Founders who think clearly tend to build clearly. We’ll take clarity over charisma any day.
2. 🔥 Obsession Over the Problem
We love founders who can’t stop thinking about the problem they’re solving. Whether it’s a space you’ve lived in, hacked on, or simply can’t ignore — obsession signals staying power.
We’re looking for energy that says:
“Even if 16VC doesn’t back me, I’m building this anyway.”
3. ⚡ Speed Over Polish
Early-stage is messy — and that’s fine. But we want to see forward motion. Are you running early experiments? Shipping MVPs? Talking to users?
Execution beats elegance. We back builders, not just brainstormers.
4. 🧪 Curiosity + Grit
The best founders are learning machines. They ask better questions, iterate faster, and aren’t afraid to be wrong (a lot) along the way.
We look for people who can take feedback without flinching, and keep showing up — especially when it’s hard.
5. 🧬 Founder-Market Fit
You don’t have to be a domain expert. But there should be a strong why behind why you’re building this, now. Personal experience? Technical insight? Underrated insight?
Founders who are naturally aligned with their market tend to last longer — and build smarter.
A Few Red Flags 🚩 (and How to Avoid Them)
Too much polish, not enough progress – Focus on your next 3 moves, not your 10-year vision.
No insight into the user – Talk to real people. Get out of the Notion doc.
Idea hopping with no throughline – Pivoting is okay, but what’s your throughline?
TL;DR – We Back the Builder, Not the Slide Deck
We’re not here to be impressed — we’re here to be convinced. If you’re thoughtful, obsessed with the problem, and moving fast, we want to hear from you.
🛠️ Ready to build with us?
Apply to the 16VC Founder Fellowship
Got questions? Want to jam on an idea?
Reply here or reach out at info@16vc.co — we read every note.
Stay bold,
Team 16VC