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- Is Traction Required?
Is Traction Required?
Read time 0.9 minutes.
Many founders are told that they have ZERO chances of raising without traction.
That is not true.
Traction is important, but it’s definitely not necessary in the pre-seed stage. If you are raising a seed round or later, it is 100% necessary, but there are alternatives at the pre-seed stage.
Let’s discuss what those are:
 | 100% of clients I’ve worked with for over six months in 2023 have raised! I’ve had clients raise in as little as two weeks! I’ve doubled my social media following this year and have offers from 4 VC firms to join their teams. If you are ready to take the next step, book a strategy call. |
At the pre-seed stage, you truly need a couple of key things that set you apart from the hundreds of other founders with an idea wanting money to build.
If you have traction, this is the ultimate weapon to show that you are not the standard pre-seed founder and have a real opportunity that the market has already validated.
If you don’t have traction, there are alternatives:
Surveys - I would consider this a form of traction, but solid insights into potential consumers and proof from them that you are likely to have product-market fit sets you apart from other founders.
Experience - If you have run a VC-backed company before, exited a business or have significant industry experience, all of these can massively benefit you and show that you are a unique founder.
Warm Introduction - The role of warm introductions can’t be understated in venture capital. Especially at the pre-seed stage, third-party endorsements provide social proof that 99% of companies won’t have.
Next time you think about traction, reframe that question and ask, “What makes me different from everyone else.” If you are at the pre-seed stage, there are a few options. If you are at the seed or later stage, traction is essential; if you don’t have it, you’ll struggle even to get a serious meeting.
Have you raised without traction? |
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