Many founders obsess over product, pitch decks, and projections—yet overlook one of the biggest red flags investors catch immediately: your growth isn’t actually scalable.In this episode of Margin for Error, Plug and Play Ventures investor Kayon Moshiri breaks down the signals founders miss when trying to raise capital. Kayon shares why early traction built on personal networks doesn’t impress investors, what real customer acquisition looks like, and how to prove you can grow beyond the “first five customers.”Drawing from his experience evaluating hundreds of startups across retail, commerce, and AI, Kayon reveals what actually moves an investment forward—and what quietly kills a deal. From solo-founder risks to unrealistic projections, he lays out the patterns investors pay attention to long before founders do.Here’s what’s covered:• The red flag that instantly weakens your pitch• Why first customers don’t equal repeatable traction• What scalable growth looks like (and what it doesn’t)• The founder traits that build investor confidence• When “working harder” becomes a liability• How to avoid fundraising too late• Why ownership, team composition, and accountability matter• What today’s macro environment means for early-stage foundersIf you’ve ever wondered why investors aren’t buying in—even when you think you’re ready—this conversation shows you the blind spots that matter most.