Cosmic Conversations

Clarity beats clever in the pitch room.I sat down with Edward Keelan, Partner at Octopus Ventures, to unpack what really drives a yes from investors.We cover: • The VC hierarchy of needs and why the founder comes first • Commercial acumen that matters at pre-Series A and beyond • Capital efficiency, burn ratio, and controlling headcount • Lean teams using AI and tooling to scale with discipline • The right time to hire a VP Sales and how to avoid the merry-go-round • GTM that works: repeatable pipeline before more salespeople • How founders should diligence a VC and get real post-investment support • The hidden cost of a bad early commercial hireFind out more:Edward Keelan (guest)Connect with Edward on LinkedInFind out more about the Octopus VenturesMatthew Codd (host)Connect with me on LinkedInFind out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

Why do some startups stand out to investors while others struggle to raise?I sit down with Richard Harley, Ventures Director at Blackfinch Ventures, to uncover how VCs really evaluate founders, traction, and the difference between innovation and hype.Richard shares what makes a pitch stand out, looking at founder mindset and the early signs of product–market fit that separate investable startups from the rest. He explains why Blackfinch rarely backs pre-revenue businesses and how traction and data shape investment decisions.We also dig into the biggest post-funding mistakes founders make, like hiring a Head of Sales too early, and why founder-led sales are often still critical up to £1 million ARR. Richard talks about what he expects to see in early-stage AI companies, and how VCs balance backing ambition with protecting founders from unnecessary pressure.Find out more:Richard Harley (guest)Connect with Richard on LinkedInFind out more about the Blackfinch VenturesMatthew Codd (host)Connect with me on LinkedInFind out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

Why do certain founders land investment while others fall short?I sit down with Oli Hammond, Partner at Fuel Ventures, to unpack how seed VCs evaluate startups, and why early signals like revenue and customer references matter more than hype.Oli shares what convinces him a startup is worth backing and how gross margin and churn data influence decision-making at the earliest stages. He also explains why pre-revenue bets now rest almost entirely on founder quality.We dig into what founder-VC fit means and the realities of fundraising when you only have one term sheet on the table. Oli also shares his view on when to move beyond founder-led sales, and why, in most cases, the founder is still the best person to close deals between Seed and Series A.If you’re building towards a seed round or want to understand how VCs like Fuel separate promising startups from the rest, this episode is for you.Find out more:Oli Hammond (guest)Connect with Oli on LinkedInFind out more about the Fuel VenturesMatthew Codd (host)Connect with me on LinkedInFind out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

Why do some founders build investor trust fast while others struggle to get a second meeting?I sit down with Brad Scott, Investment Manager at Maven Capital Partners, to unpack what catches his attention before a pitch and why rushing into slides can cost you the deal.Brad explains why building genuine relationships early can create more opportunities than a one-off pitch. He talks about how consistent investor updates help founders stay top of mind, and how having firsthand industry experience can be a decisive advantage.If you’re gearing up for your next raise or trying to understand how VCs weigh founder, product, and traction at the early stage, this one’s for you.Find out more:Brad Scott (guest)Connect with Brad on LinkedInFind out more about the Maven Capital PartnersMatthew Codd (host)Connect with me on LinkedInFind out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

Why do some founders get a "yes" from top VCs, and others don’t?I sit down with Freddie Kalfayan, Principal at Smedvig Ventures, to unpack how Series A and B investors really assess SaaS startups, and why some pitches still miss the mark.Freddie shares what separates a ‘maybe’ from a ‘must-invest’ and how founder clarity can be the deciding factor in a crowded market.Freddie shares the red flags that turn VCs off fast, the real impact of founder storytelling, and why trying to manufacture hype often backfires. We also dig into what great traction actually looks like at A/B stage, and why seeing multiple reps hit quota often says more than having a heavyweight VP of Sales.If you’re building towards a Series A or B raise, or trying to reverse-engineer what top funds really care about.Find out more:Freddie Kalfayan (guest)Connect with Freddie on LinkedInFind out more about the Smedvig VenturesMatthew Codd (host)Connect with me on LinkedInFind out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

In this episode, I sit down with Kenneth Thomas, Principal at BackFuture Ventures, to dig into what makes early-stage SaaS startups actually fundable, and why so many promising founders still fall short.We talked about what VCs really look for at pre-seed and seed stage, how to spot a backable founding team, and why too many startups miss the mark by overcomplicating their story or failing to show progress in a tangible way.Ken shares what he sees from both sides of the table, including why community and founder support are baked into BackFuture’s approach, what makes investor updates so valuable (even before you’ve raised), and the telltale signs a founder actually knows how to sell.Plus, we got into some classic early-stage pitfalls, overspending on the wrong things, hiring sales too early, and the common pitch mistakes that turn off VCs fast.If you’re an early-stage SaaS founder thinking about raising capital, this is the episode you need to watch before you reach out to another VC.Find out more:Kenneth Thomas (guest)Connect with Kenneth on LinkedInFind out more about the BackFuture VenturesMatthew Codd (host)Connect with me on LinkedInFind out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

In this episode, I sit down with Mattias Ljungman, founder of Moonfire, to dig into what sets apart the most investable early-stage B2B tech startups.We covered what too many founders still get wrong when it comes to pitching, how to build real legitimacy in the eyes of VCs, and why great products aren’t enough if your sales motion isn’t repeatable.Mattias shares his perspective as a seasoned investor, explaining what separates founders who scale from those who stall, including why mission-driven founders with relentless executional energy tend to win, how the best founders think about GTM strategy, and when it’s actually the right time to make your first sales hire.Plus, we talked about overlooked fundraising basics, from why warm intros matter to how to avoid looking transactional when you’re building relationships with VCs.If you’re a B2B tech founder thinking about raising capital, this is the episode you need to hear before you send another pitch deck.Find out more:Mattius Ljungman (guest)Connect with Mattius on LinkedInFind out more about the MoonfireMatthew Codd (host)Connect with me on LinkedInFind out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

In this episode, I sit down with David Levine, founder of Manchester Angels, to dig into why so many early-stage B2B tech startups struggle to secure funding. We addressed the biggest misconceptions about VC funding, the real reasons founders get rejected, and why investors aren’t short on cash - they’re short on investable businesses.David shares his perspective as both a founder and investor, explaining why go-to-market strategies are often the weakest part of a startup’s pitch, what VCs and angels really look for in a founding team, and why warm introductions matter far more than cold outreach. Plus, we talked about the fundraising “pay-to-pitch” trap that too many founders fall for and how to avoid wasting your time chasing the wrong investors.If you’re a B2B tech founder thinking about raising capital, this is the episode you need to hear before you send another pitch deck.Find out more:David Levine (guest)Connect with David on LinkedInFind out more about the Manchester AngelsMatthew Codd (host)Connect with me on LinkedInFind out more about my business, Cosmic Partners

In this episode, I sit down with Oliver Kicks, Partner at Concept Ventures, to explore what it really takes for early-stage B2B tech startups to raise their first institutional round.We unpack why Concept backs founders before traction, the three founder archetypes they look for, and why a strong go-to-market isn’t about slick decks, it’s about actually knowing how to sell.Oliver explains why some teams break through and others stall, what separates founders who find product-market fit from those who build in isolation, and why adaptability is a more powerful predictor than experience.We also get into the commercial traits that make a team investable, what’s changed in the UK early-stage ecosystem, and why hiring too early, especially in sales, is often a bigger risk than founders realise.If you're an early-stage founder trying to figure out when to hire, how to scale sales, or what VCs are really looking for, this is the episode to listen to before you go out to raise.Find out more:Oliver Kicks (guest)Connect with Oliver on LinkedInFind out more about the Concept VenturesMatthew Codd (host)Connect with me on LinkedInFind out more about my business, Cosmic Partners