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Startup Wins Podcast, Season 2, Ep 6, Part 1 of 2

What do venture capitalists actually look for—and why do most founders get it wrong?

In this episode of Startup Wins, host Brandon Na sits down with John Forbes, Principal at Julian Capital and the operator behind Deep Checks—the world’s largest deep tech funding platform.

From building startups in high school to investing in cutting-edge hardware, climate, and AI infrastructure, John breaks down what separates founders who get funded from those who don’t.

💥 In this episode, you’ll learn:

*The 5 traits top VCs look for in founders (and why most fail here)
*What “market pull” really means—and why it matters more than your idea
*The biggest mistakes founders make when pitching investors
*Why deep tech (hardware, energy, robotics, AI infrastructure) is exploding
*How Austin is emerging as a top startup + venture hub
*Whether venture capital is actually “broken” (and the real truth behind it)

John also shares real stories from the front lines—working inside a public safety platform startup, managing HR as Chief of Staff, and navigating the chaos every founder eventually faces.

🎧 Whether you’re a founder, investor, or operator, this episode gives you a rare inside look at how venture capital really works—and how to position yourself to win.

🔔 Subscribe to Startup Wins for more conversations with top VCs, founders, and operators shaping the future

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• Startup Wins on Spotify

Hosted by Brandon Na, Managing General Partner of Good Peoples Ventures