The new year is upon us. Your resolutions are set. The next big step is to move from intention to action. If you’re a startup founder, that could be capturing the attention of a venture capital investor. Whether you’re building a startup or raising your first round, the new funding advantage for 2026 is hidden in plain sight.
One of the strongest advantages available to founders is not new or flashy. It isn’t a trend or a tactic. It’s something many of us overlook precisely because it feels obvious. Ready to find out what it is? Read on.
Why Investor Attention Works Differently Now
There has been a quiet shift in what investors are looking for from a startup. The criteria for being considered “fundable” in 2026 looks materially different from just a few years ago. Venture capital has become more selective, more concentrated, and more exacting in what it rewards.
Compared to the free flow of cash from around 2018 to 2021, capital has become harder to access. Investors are being drawn to stronger signals that reduce uncertainty and make a company easier to support.
The emphasis has moved away from who can tell the most compelling marketing narrative to who can show data-based evidence that their product is being used, valued and paid for.
When Optics Mattered More Than User Behavior
Historically, many startups were encouraged to build for investors first. The pressure was on to show rapid growth, market expansion, and ambitious roadmaps. Real-world use was an afterthought.
Products were designed to perform well in pitch meetings. Strategies were written to sound theatrical. Metrics were chosen to support a narrative rather than reflect how customers were committed to using the product. In a period of easy money, this approach worked. A strong story could hide weak fundamentals.
But, as you can imagine, it came at a cost. Products drifted away from the people they were meant to serve. Teams chased investor signals instead of customer feedback.
From Optics to Evidence
In 2026, user behaviour is what will drive the conversation. The focus is on products that are integrated into daily workflows and maintain demand even as growth slows.
To gain a clearer way to think about what matters to investors now, we spoke to Alexander Kopylkov. Kopylkov is widely respected in the field of venture capital with decades of experience across real estate, infrastructure, and technology. He has worked on both sides of the table – as a founder and an investor – and has spoken openly about what influences investment decisions before funding talks even begin.
He points out that early user behavior often provides a clearer signal of long-term viability than projected growth alone. “When users return independently and continue to pay, perceived risk decreases significantly,” he says.
What Founders Need to Do Differently in 2026
The strategic shift to user focus requires founders to adopt a change in mindset and execution.
Startups are competing in a more concentrated funding market. Those most likely to succeed will focus on practical applications, respond to genuine customer needs, and treat user experience as a core asset.
As Kopylkov points out, behavior during slower growth periods will serve as a meaningful indicator of strength. “Retention, repeat usage, and willingness to pay are no longer secondary metrics. They are early indicators of resilience.”
So, for founders that are taking that next step this year to attract venture capital, it’s important to know that this reality is already reshaping the field. User focus will be your biggest advantage and should be used as the operating principle that quietly underpins everything you build.
