In the latest episode of Bootstrap Ventures - The Scalepoint Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Suresh Vaghjiani, CEO of CLOWD9 | Certified B Corp™, about the evolving fintech landscape and the future of venture capital investment.
💡 Key Takeaway: A Clear Route to Revenue is Now Non-Negotiable
It’s common knowledge that the era of “growth at all costs” is over. Investors have been shifting their focus toward profitability and sustainable revenue models for some time. But what made this conversation with Suresh Vaghjiani so compelling was how he brought this reality to life, adding real-world insights and nuance to what’s happening in today’s investment climate.
🚀 What Suresh Highlighted About the Evolving Investor Landscape:
- VCs and PEs are no longer just deploying capital—they're being measured on returns. Investors now prioritize startups with a clear, predictable revenue stream over those simply chasing user growth.
- Customer acquisition without monetization is a red flag. The days of "land grabs" and hyper-scaling with no revenue in sight are gone. Investors want to know when and how a business will generate sustainable revenue—not just that it could.
- B2B and infrastructure plays are taking centre stage. Consumer fintechs and high-burn startups are struggling to raise, while B2B companies with solid revenue models are gaining traction.
- Down rounds have become the norm, but they signal a market correction, not failure. Valuations are being reassessed based on real business fundamentals, not inflated projections.
Suresh’s insights provided colour and context to this shift, giving founders a clearer understanding of what investors expect today. This isn’t just a trend—it’s the new normal for startup fundraising. If you’re building a company in this climate, having a defined, credible, and scalable path to revenue is no longer optional—it’s essential. 🚀💰
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