James Palmer is a Principal at Blackbird Ventures, one of Australasia’s largest VC firms with more than $7B under management. He invests in ambitious Aussie and Kiwi founders from the earliest stages, often before the idea has a name. James has led investments into Cotiss, Ivo, Kwetta, Nextwork, Vertus Energy and Watchful and supported Blackbird’s bets on OpenStar and Ternary Kinetics.
This guide distills insider insights on what VCs really want — how investors think, what they need to believe before saying “yes,” and the signals that turn a pitch into a funded round.
James Palmer | Blackbird Ventures
Inside the VC Mindset: How Investors Really Decide What Gets Funded
Venture capital isn’t validation—it’s fuel for outliers. This guide unpacks how VCs actually decide, the patterns they bet on, and the traction that matters—so you can see your startup the way investors do.
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What VCs Want
Part 1: Is VC Even Right for You?
Learn what makes a company a true VC fit, why power-law returns drive every decision, and the three non-negotiables investors look for before writing a cheque.
Part 2: What VCs Look For (and What They Don’t)
Cut through the noise and understand the filters investors actually apply — from market size to timing, and why “good” businesses often get passed over.
Part 3: How VCs Evaluate Startups
VCs aim for fund-returning outcomes—companies capable of $1B+ valuations. That journey begins with you, the founding team.
Part 4: What Traction Really Means
Traction is proof — but it looks different in SaaS, consumer, and deep tech. Learn what signals matter at each stage and how to show credible momentum.
Part 5: The Power of Narrative
Turn VC theory into practice by mastering the pitch deck and the storytelling arcs that win investors, customers, and teams.
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We invest in companies, not rounds. From the very beginning, and at every stage of the journey to come.
Blackbird is a leading venture capital firm in Australia and New Zealand, backing founders from the earliest stages through every stage of growth. With over $7B under management and a portfolio of 100+ companies—including Canva, SafetyCulture, and Culture Amp—Blackbird invests across all technologies, from software to space, with a focus on the boldest ambitions.
