startup catch-22: chasing validation in the vc maze
Applying to VCs and accelerators is like:
No customers and no revenue — "there's no validation of the market need"
Got to customers and revenue — "there's not enough validation of the market need"
Received this response today:
While your business meets most of the criteria for the Incubator program, its market traction—actual business conducted with real users—is insufficient to demonstrate the validation of the need in your target market, or your capability to address this market effectively. We would be eager to hear from you once you have achieved more substantial and consistent traction, evidenced by factors like recurring revenue, contracts, etc.