EP. 188 | Why Investors Hesitate Before Saying Yes in Femtech with Maria De Santis

Most founders chase funding. The smart ones chase strategic capital. In this episode, Maria De Santis reveals what separates a check from a true growth partnership—and how women founders can position themselves for both traction and investment in today’s market.You’ll hear how we both connected around the real-world challenges founders face, especially those underrepresented in venture conversations. It’s a vulnerable and powerful dialogue on being intentional about who’s in your corner.In this episode, you’ll learn:♦️ Why team dynamics matter more than product features in investor decisions♦️ How to master one revenue channel before diversifying♦️ The truth about today’s tougher VC environment—and how to stand out♦️ What makes a funding partner strategic, not just transactional♦️ How to use your capital wisely and avoid costly mistakes♦️ Tips on building a real support network that can guide execution and scalingTimestamp:00:00:55 – Welcome to Provider's Edge Podcast 00:02:52 – The women founders funding gap: Less than 3% of VC capital 00:03:28 – Key factors investors look for: Team expertise and market opportunity 00:04:51 – Team dynamics: Why business partnerships are tougher than marriage 00:06:49 – Customer acquisition costs: A major reason startups fail 00:08:12 – Revenue diversification strategy: When and how to expand channels 00:10:46 – Current fundraising environment: How the market shifted from 2021 to 2024 00:11:43 – The strategic investor advantage: Beyond just capital 00:13:36 – Best practices for approaching investors: Warm introductions vs. cold outreach 00:15:02 – The relationship-based investment game: Building long-term connections 00:16:53 – Investing in women's health: Economic opportunity meets social impact 00:18:11 – Episode wrap-up and final thanks🎧 Related Episodes You’ll LoveEp 130- Why Most HealthTech Solutions Fail: The Hidden Gap Between Innovation and Implementation – This episode digs into the common pitfalls that healthtech founders face (particularly in scaling and market fit).Ep 154- Is Your Startup Built on Swiss Cheese? with George Pappas – A strong fit because it explores structural weaknesses in startups (teams, roles, funding) that align directly with what we unpacked with MyPhuong.Ep 177- What Traction Signals Investors Say Yes To – Especially relevant for founders looking for their first backers, this episode zeroes in on what investors are actually looking for.✅ Want to Keep Growing Without Losing Clients?Here are 3 ways we can help you today:🎤 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 📊 Make Your Pitch Investor-Ready Send us your draft and let me rewrite it so it becomes a funding magnet 👉 PitchToYes.com 🚀 Get in Front of Investors Who Already Want What You’ve Built Apply for a contestant spot at PulsePointPath.com/Pitch-Application and pitch to active investors and decision-makers in your niche.