What VCs Really Want in 2026: Traction, Runway, and the "Signal-to-Burn" Ratio

This week on Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy breaks down what investors actually look for when founders raise capital—especially in today's tighter 2026 environment.

Richard explains the real-world meaning of traction (and why pilot customers and reference calls can make or break a raise), then goes deeper into the "behind-the-scenes" language VCs use: capital efficiency, runway, and the powerful signal-to-burn ratio—a simple way to think about what you produce for every dollar you burn.

They also tackle listener questions like:

• How much traction should you have before approaching institutional investors vs angels?

• Are investors prioritizing growth or profitability right now?

• How much does the founder matter compared to the product?

• Which startup categories are attracting the most attention—and which are fading?

Plus, Richard shares a cautionary lesson from legacy brands (including why Sears could have been Amazon) and why founders should avoid buzzword-heavy decks that don't clearly convert metrics into dollars.

📩 Have a question for Richard? Email: [e-mail]

Topics in this episode: Venture Capital, Startup Traction, Fundraising, Pitch Decks, Runway, Capital Efficiency, Founder-Market Fit, Valuation, Healthcare Innovation, AI, and VC Trends.