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Burak Buyukdemir

My Post-Meeting Prompt (I Use It After Every Founder Call)


You can have all the data, charts, and numbers — but the real insight often hides between the lines. - The way someone pauses before answering. - The topic they avoid. - The confidence (or hesitation) in their tone.

I’ve learned to read these moments slowly — like Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory decoding human behavior one clue at a time.

After every founder meeting, I take a few minutes to ask myself: “What was not said — but still mattered?”

That’s where the real decisions come from.

Here is the prompt I use after each startup meeting.

[ Additional Insights from Transcripts

Check for important points in the interview transcripts that may be relevant for the investment decision, even if these were not specifically asked in the meeting or provided question document.

Interpret hidden meanings or understand insights not explicitly stated (”read between the lines”) to uncover potentially impactful subtext.

At the end of the investment memo, add a final sub-section titled

“The Subtext: What’s Not Said”

Include any inferred insights or observations that could influence the investment decision but were not directly addressed in other sections ]

WHY YOUR TAM IS WRONG?

Most founders make the same mistake: they open their pitch with a multi-trillion-dollar “global market” number. Investors don’t buy it. They skip the slide and do their own math.

If you want to win, you need a real, bottom-up market size built on customers, usage, and pricing.



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Jan 19 · Brainwaves
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Burak Buyukdemir

Entrepreneur, VC, and storyteller. I invest in early-stage startups worldwide, share candid lessons from 20+ years in tech, and spotlight founders shaping the future. Join 100,000+ readers each week.

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