The question that separates successful rounds from failed ones

Before you walk into an investor’s office, ask: “If they asked for my last 18 months of unit economics by cohort, could I produce it in 24 hours?” If no, your round is at risk — no matter how good the product, market, or growth.

What institutional investors actually audit

Most founders over-prepare the deck and under-prepare the data room. Investors look for:

• Monthly cohort revenue and margin data, 18 months back
• Unit economics reconciled to audited financials
• Clean segregation of one-time vs. recurring revenue
• Vendor and customer contracts digitally organised
• Statutory compliance — GST, TDS, ROC, ESI — current and auditable
• Cap table that ties to share register with every SH1 filed

The six-week DD-readiness sprint

• Weeks 1–2: financial hygiene
• Weeks 3–4: data room build
• Weeks 5–6: narrative + FAQ with 50+ pre-answered questions

Done right, this compresses your DD timeline from 60 days to 20 — and dramatically improves valuation.