Alexey Bashkirov, private investor and founder of the Donum charitable initiative, offers perspective on what young startups need to succeed in today’s highly competitive landscape. While innovative products remain important, He emphasizes that capturing investor interest goes far beyond technology alone. Founders must know how to communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence, while building the operational strength to follow through.

Startups Are Built by People, Not Just Ideas

According to Bashkirov, investors don’t invest in concepts—they invest in teams. A startup’s success often hinges on the chemistry and balance between its founders. In his experience, the most resilient and investable teams have a clear division of responsibilities: one founder typically leads the vision, outreach, and investor relations, while the other manages execution, timelines, and internal operations. When these roles are unbalanced or poorly defined, it can be a red flag. Investors are drawn to partnerships where skills complement each other and execution is grounded in discipline.

The Business Plan as a Living Strategy

Too often, early-stage entrepreneurs treat a business plan as a box to check. Alexey Bashkirov warns against this mindset, arguing that a strong business plan is a critical strategic foundation. It’s what helps investors gauge how well the team understands its market, financial dynamics, and long-term direction. The plan should not only forecast revenue and expenses with realism, but also serve as a communication tool that establishes credibility. Internally, it becomes a framework that guides decisions and helps a startup stay aligned as conditions change.

Investor Expectations at the Early Stage

When it comes to evaluating seed-stage ventures, Bashkirov Alexey believes numbers alone rarely tell the full story. What matters more is the quality of the founding team, their ability to adapt to uncertainty, and their understanding of the market landscape. Startups are often chaotic by nature, and those that can pivot intelligently in response to feedback or challenges have a better chance at survival. An awareness of emerging trends—paired with a clear idea of how the product fits into the broader picture—is another trait investors look for. It signals vision and maturity.

Execution Is What Separates Winners

What ultimately captures an investor’s attention is a startup’s ability to balance ambition with grounded execution. Big ideas are essential, but they must be matched with the discipline to deliver. Startups that plan realistically, use their resources efficiently, and move quickly when change is needed are the ones that tend to rise above the noise. In his view, those that combine a strong narrative with operational substance are best positioned to attract and retain investor interest.

Veeramachineni Lalitha

I am Finance Content Writer. I write Personal Finance, banking, investment, and insurance related content for top clients including Kotak Mahindra Bank, Edelweiss, ICICI BANK and IDFC FIRST Bank. My experience details : Linkedin