Published 20 August 2026
The first-cheque checklist
Founders ask what we want to see in a pitch. The honest answer is that we are trying to answer six questions, and the deck is only one way to get there.
1. Have you lived the problem?
We back people who know the problem from the inside. A former operator, a buyer, a patient, a fan. If you have only read about it, we will ask who you have talked to and what surprised you.
2. Can a first version ship in months?
Our model is to build the first release with you. That works when the first version is small and testable. If the plan needs two years before the first customer, we are probably not the right partner.
3. Is the Turkish market big enough to prove it?
We want to see the model work at home before it travels. Türkiye has 85 million people and a deep e-commerce habit. If the first proof needs another country, tell us why.
4. What is not working yet?
Every early company has something broken. We trust founders who name it before we find it.
5. What will the money do?
Not a budget pie chart. Three things that are true after the money that are not true today.
6. Why us?
If you only need capital, there are cheaper partners. We are best for founders who want engineers and product people in the room.
What to send
A short note answering those six questions is enough. A deck is welcome. A working prototype, however rough, is better than either. Send it here.