1. Investors Don’t Fund Features—They Fund Outcomes

You’re proud of your 99.7% sensitivity. You should be. But VCs want to know what that actually means for the market.

Does it reduce hospital readmissions?
Does it cut diagnostic time in half?
Does it save $5M annually for payers?

“Most founders focus on tech or solution rather than the customer or problem they’re solving.” — Alan

If you’re leading with accuracy, you're leading with what makes sense to clinicians—not capital allocators.

Founder Fix:

Build your pitch with this formula:

Scientific Achievement → Clinical Impact → Financial Outcome

If your tool improves diagnosis speed, translate that to earlier interventions, improved patient outcomes, and cost savings.

2. Complexity Isn't Credibility. Clarity is.

“Founders fail when they don’t nail down the primary ICP and compress their message. They get too generalized, losing investor interest.” — Sabrina, PulsePoint Path

Your deep understanding of the technology is a strength—until it becomes a wall.

The smartest founders aren’t the ones who show off the most. They’re the ones who say, "Here's exactly who we serve, how it works in 30 seconds, and why it pays off."

Founder Fix:

Use the one-line test: Can you explain what your product does and who it’s for without a single acronym?

A confused investor doesn’t write checks.

3. The FDA Isn’t a Red Flag—It’s a Moat (If You Frame It Right)

“A lot of startups ignore regulatory risk or make assumptions about reimbursement that are wrong.” — Jasper, MedStarter

Yes, regulatory approval is hard. But that’s exactly why it creates defensibility.

Investors don’t want friction. But they love barriers to entry.

Founder Fix:

Turn your FDA roadmap into a strategic asset:

• Show you’ve already had a Q-sub meeting

• Map timelines, not just hurdles

• Name advisors with FDA experience

Be the founder who says, “We’ve de-risked this already.”

4. Jargon Kills Attention. Use Metaphors That Map to Money

“You can’t be wide and shallow anymore. You have to be narrow and deep. Founders must understand that trust is more valuable than tech now.” — Jesse, DFX Capital

Investors see 20+ decks a day. What they remember is the founder who made it feel real.

Founder Fix:

Instead of: “We use an ensemble AI model to integrate EHR and biomarker data.”
Try: “Think of it like a diagnostic autopilot — reading patient signals in real-time so clinicians don’t miss what matters most.”

Your tech should be the engine. The investor is buying the car.

5. AI Isn't the Moat. Founder-Market Fit Is.

“Many founders lack domain knowledge. AI is just amplifying the need for that expertise… You need someone who has lived the problem.” — Christina, Founder Institute

Founders who win aren’t just coders. They’re translators. They’ve been in the clinic, the policy room, the payer meeting.

Founder Fix:

Make your founder story part of your moat:

• "We built this after seeing 2,000+ misdiagnoses first-hand."

• "I spent 10 years in Medicaid approvals—I know where tech gets stuck."

This isn't vanity. It’s investor signal that you see around corners.

6. The Flow That Turns Investor Curiosity Into Term Sheets

Founders often confuse explaining with enrolling.

Your pitch is not a lecture. It’s a vision.

Founder Fix:

Follow this narrative spine:

1. The cost of inaction (the urgent problem)

2. The elegant edge (your unique solution)

3. The early proof (traction, validation)

4. The unfair advantage (moat, team, timing)

5. The financial upside (revenue paths, ROI)

Make it visual. Make it specific. Make it inevitable.

Closing the Gap

If you're a mission-driven founder building breakthrough AI for healthcare, FemTech, or diagnostics, your story deserves funding. But mission alone isn't enough.

Investors fund belief.
And belief starts with clarity.

Here are 3 ways we can support you right now:

🎤Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s Edge
Have traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina

🎯 Get You In Front of Investors
We match you with the most aligned investors and decision-makers who care about your niche already. Apply at CapitalEngine.vc 

📊 Need clarity on finding your ideal co-founder or executive advisory board?
Let’s create your people-powered growth blueprint in under 6 hours 👉PulsePointPath.com/Leadership-Maximizer

About Sabrina Runbeck
Sabrina Runbeck, MPH, MHS, PA-C helps healthcare technology companies scale sustainably without burning out their teams or running out of cash. She is the Co-Founder of PulsePoint Path and works alongside an integrated 12-member board of advisors to help founders make strategic decisions that multiply impact and protect capital. Her signature 5D Integrated System helps companies move beyond one-dimensional problem solving what they think the issue is and instead, builds an Empowered Ecosystem across leadership, team dynamics, and system alignment. This is how founders evolve from early traction to 10x growth. Sabrina is also a TEDx speaker, former Cardiothoracic Surgery PA, and trusted advisor with over 15 years of experience in public health, neuroscience, and business acceleration.

★ NEXT STEP ★
Book an alignment call to see how we might support you: PulsePointPath.com/Call