What we look for before we back an early-stage startup
We build software for a living, so we judge startups the way engineers do. Five questions we ask before we put capital or a team behind a founder.
Xoft builds and invests in young companies. Because we are an engineering firm first, we look at startups the way we look at any system we are about to take responsibility for: what does it depend on, and what breaks first?
A buyer who already feels the problem
The best early companies solve a problem someone is already paying to work around, with spreadsheets, extra staff or a slow manual process. If we cannot name that person and what they do today, the idea is not ready.
A team that ships
Pitch decks are easy. A working product in front of real users, however rough, tells us far more. We look at how quickly a team turns feedback into a release, not at how polished the first version is.
A realistic route to customers in the Gulf
Selling to governments and large enterprises in Oman and the UAE takes relationships, local presence and patience with procurement. We ask founders how they will reach their first ten customers, and who will make the introductions.
Regulation understood early
Fintech, health, real estate and anything touching government data have rules. Founders who have already spoken to the regulator, or know exactly which licence they need, save themselves a year.
Capital used for growth, not for rebuilding
We prefer companies where money goes into customers and distribution, not into rewriting the product. Where the technology needs work, that is often where we help most: our engineers can strengthen the platform while the founders focus on the market.
If you are building something that fits, we would like to hear from you.
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