How to
Prepare for your Allocator One interview.
Read this first.
If any of the following sounds onerous, or too much to prepare for just a 30 minute call, you might currently be wasting enormous amounts of time in your fundraising efforts. This is the bare minimum most institutional grade investors need.
Why this format?
We run fast, evidence–driven conversations. Expect a 30‑minute call with 2 of us (usually Michael Ströck and Arushi Sharma). We’ve already studied your application, but you should not assume we know anything, for the most part. Start at first principles and your personal experience for most topics. The interview exists to pressure‑test hypotheses, and get to know you, not to judge polish. Have data at your fingertips, speak plainly, and be ready to defend assumptions—or change your mind.
Logistics checklist.
Tech
Stable video connection, headset, camera on.
Secondary screen with various documents you might want to screen-share.
People
Ideally, every GP on this fund.
Operating partner or other core team members if they are available AND inform investment decisions.
Time
Join on time; hard stop at :30.
5 min after the call for your own debrief.
Materials
We will ask to go through your pitch-deck. Make sure you have it ready and know how to screen-share in GMeet. “I prefer to just chat” does not work for us, even if that’s how you usually pitch.
Have other potentially interesting documents from your data-room ready to share.
Numbers you should know cold.
Have the sheet open so you can quote exact figures—don’t try to memorise every decimal.
What we’re looking for.
Edge
Proprietary sourcing channel, domain‑expert credibility, high visibility brand for your founder ICP.
Generic “we see everything” claim; “we just have great network”; no effort with regards to branding and visibility.
Decision velocity
Clear, time‑boxed IC process; proof of past fast moves.
“Consensus only” voting, > 2 weeks IC cycles.
Fund size fit
Vehicle size that maps to strategy and GP capacity.
Size driven by ego or “market standard”.
Learning loop
Demonstrated iteration between memo, market feedback, and numbers.
Defensiveness, no evidence of course‑correction.
Character
Candour about risks; willingness to say “I don’t know”.
Hand‑waving, narrative over evidence.
Sample questions you’re likely to hear.
Prepare by writing honest, one‑sentence answers. Brevity forces clarity.
Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them).
Over‑rehearsed pitch → Drop the script; answer the exact question asked.
Metric drift → Don’t quote different numbers than in your deck; don’t make up numbers or statistics. Keep a single source‑of‑truth sheet.
Vision without chassis → Huge TAM story with no concrete sourcing/IC mechanics.
Pretending risk doesn’t exist → We prefer explicit risk matrices over bravado.
Inconsistency and just making stuff up. This is by far the worst impression you can leave with us.
After the call.
Decision window: We aim to revert within 10 days.
If we pass: In most cases, you will receive very concise feedback; use it to iterate and feel free to re‑apply next batch.
If we advance: Expect a deeper data‑room request and reference calls within 7 days.
Final advice.
Progress beats polish. Between now and the call, the single best use of time is to advance something real—close a deal, sign an LP, tighten your pipeline model. Evidence of momentum and performance is the strongest signal you can send.
Resources.
Allocator One application page – timelines, batch details, anchor‑deal terms.
