Different investors look for different things depending on their background, expertise and interests.
The common themes among professional investors and venture capital firms are the following:
Quality founders
An investor particularly seek suitably qualified founders. A technology startup should have a founder or co-founder with strong technical expertise. Your team should give an investor confidence that you are in a strong position to deliver a quality product or service.
Great product/service
Typically, an investor will look for a product or service that has undergone testing, is launched and there must be proof that it works.
Scalability
How much demand is there for your product/service and what is your business’ growth potential? An investor wants to understand what their investment can potentially result in. While a startup is a risky investment, it is one with potentially high returns. Consequently, proving that your startup is of a scalable nature is extremely attractive to investors.