Due Diligence Checklist for Shruti Gandhi: Docs, KPIs, and Demo Flow She’ll Expect

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If you’re preparing for Shruti Gandhi due diligence, you already know she is one of the most persistent, detail-oriented seed investors in the tech world—and her diligence process reflects just that. Founders across Silicon Valley hear whispers about what to expect, but clarity is hard to come by. This article provides a transparent, usable checklist of the docs, KPIs, and demo flow Shruti Gandhi will expect, plus best practices for your data room, answers to common questions about SOC 2, and a quick head-to-head review of Ansarada vs Capitaly.vc deal rooms. If you want to nail the seed process with Shruti, read on.

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Shruti Gandhi, '12 | The University of Chicago Booth School of Business — Due Diligence Checklist for Shruti Gandhi: Docs, KPIs, and Demo Flow She’ll Expect

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What Makes Shruti Gandhi's Due Diligence Unique?

Shruti Gandhi's due diligence process is famously thorough. She brings a background in engineering and VC, so she blends technical and business perspectives. Expect a grilling on both fundamentals and your vision. Here’s what sets her approach apart:

Hands-on review of documentation—not just superficial checks
Emphasis on clear, verifiable metrics
Demand for robust security readiness early—even at seed
Focus on team dynamics and founder resilience

Her process isn’t just a checkbox exercise; it’s about de-risking the story you’re selling. Shruti wants to see your conviction, but backed up by hard facts.

Essential Documents for Shruti Gandhi Due Diligence

Let’s talk docs. Shruti expects founders to be buttoned-up. Here’s your must-have checklist:

Pitch deck (latest version)
Cap table (fully diluted and current)
Financial model (realistic, not just hockey-stick projections)
Customer contracts or LOIs (with redacted sensitive info if needed)
Product roadmap
Team bios and org chart
Demo video or access info
Security policy overview (even pre-SOC 2)
Key product and technical documentation
Fundraising history and SAFE/convertible docs

Double-check these before your intro call. It signals to Shruti that you respect her time and you’re ready for real scrutiny.

Data Room Setup: Best Practices

A sloppy data room is an instant strike against your professionalism. I’ve seen founders lose investor interest over messy files. Here’s how to set up a founder-friendly data room the way Shruti Gandhi expects:

Organize docs by folder: Corporate, Finance, Product, People, Security
Label everything clearly; use consistent naming
Add brief README.md or summary for each section
Grant view-only access; keep a log of who’s viewing
Remove internal notes or ‘founder confidential’ docs

For a step-by-step guide, see our blog post: How to Build a Modern VC Data Room.

Critical KPIs Shruti Gandhi Will Analyze

It’s not just MRR and user growth. Here are the KPIs Shruti Gandhi looks for during due diligence:

Customer acquisition cost (CAC) by channel
Customer lifetime value (LTV)
Churn rates (and reasons for churn)
Sales cycle length
Net new logos per quarter
Conversion rates (demo, trial, paid)
Margin trends (esp. if SaaS, fintech, or infra)
Month-on-month or quarter-on-quarter revenue growth
Key product engagement metrics (DAU/WAU/MAU, retention)

Don't just share numbers—annotate them. Add context, highlight improvement actions, and be ready to break things down by customer segment.

Structuring Your Product Demo for Shruti Gandhi

Shruti values demos that are tight, relevant, and focused on the user journey. Your demo script should cover:

1-minute context: the problem, for whom, and your unique insight
Show real onboarding flow—no demo accounts or dummy data if possible
Highlight the core "aha moment," not every feature
Walk through a typical customer workflow (especially first value delivered)
Mention scalability/security if platform or infrastructure (Shruti loves this!)
Wrap up with recent customer usage data or testimonials

Practice so you can nail this in under 8 minutes, plus time for live Q&A.

Security Readiness and SOC 2: How Much Is Enough?

If you're B2B or infra, Shruti Gandhi will ask about security controls and SOC 2 plans. Even at the seed stage, show you’re thinking ahead:

Basic written security and privacy policy
Encryption and authentication practices
Incident response protocol (even if draft)
Vendor review checklist
Roadmap for reaching SOC 2 readiness (see our blog post: Founder's Guide to SOC 2)

I once saw a founder win favor by sharing a simple timeline to SOC 2 audit, even before they had paying customers.

Ansarada vs Capitaly.vc: Which Data Room Wins?

Choosing the right data room for Shruti Gandhi due diligence can make or break your experience. Ansarada is a common choice, but Capitaly.vc offers a lighter, founder-centric approach. Here’s a quick head-to-head:

Ansarada: Best for complex or later-stage deals, granular permissions, and multinational compliance needs. Can feel heavy and pricey at seed.
Capitaly.vc: Built for seed stage, fast setup, transparent access tracking, integrates with your deck and pitch workflows. Lower friction and easier for founders focused on speed.

For most seed rounds, see our blog post: Modern Venture Deal Rooms—Pros and Cons.

How to Articulate Your Go-to-Market Strategy

Shruti expects founders to own their go-to-market like an operator, not just talk in broad strokes. You should be able to:

Name top channels (and why they will work for you)
Show tested tactics, not just plans
Explain pipeline building and first 10/50/100 customers roadmap
Admit what’s failed and how you’ve iterated

Show traction anecdotes or early customer love. Even a cold outbound win is better than slides packed with theory.

Why Team Fit and Founder Resilience Matter

Shruti emphasizes founder dynamics more than resumes. Tell simple stories of (a) overcoming customer pushback, (b) a team conflict you solved, or (c) how you bounced back from underestimated product launches. She’s also known to do back-channel checks, so be authentic and humble.

Handling Legal and IP Documents in the Seed Process

Every founder dreads legal document prep, but Shruti always asks for proof that you’re diligent:

Incorporation docs and certificates
IP assignment and invention agreements
Employment and offer letters (template is fine)
SAFE/Convertible Note agreements

For a quick, founder-friendly overview, see our blog post: Seed Stage Legal Checklist.

Proving Product-Market Fit in Your Seed Round

Don’t fake PMF—Shruti will know. Share:

Actual user feedback and usage patterns
Shortlist of reference customers (they don’t need to be huge logos)
Key engagement metrics that show habitual use
Evidence of word-of-mouth or referrals

Quotes and anecdotes beat graphs here.

Real-World Example: Data Room Organization That Won the Deal

I saw a founder use a Capitaly.vc data room structured by "story chapters"—not just folders—with short intro videos for each section. Shruti commented on how easy it was to find key facts, and the deal closed in two weeks. Takeaway: a little extra UX for your data room can go a long way.

How to Handle Questions about Technical Debt

Tech due diligence is no joke. If Shruti asks about your technical debt, be honest. Step through:

Where you’ve taken shortcuts and why
What’s on your refactor or replatform roadmap
How technical debt impacts velocity (show % of sprint dedicated to fixes)

Own the tradeoffs. Shruti respects candor over cover-ups.

Ideal Timeline from Intro to Decision with Shruti Gandhi

The process moves fast if you’re ready. A typical timeline:

Week 1: Intro/pitch call, send materials post-call
Week 2: Data room review, async follow-up questions
Week 3: Partner call/demo, final Q&A
Week 4: Decision (sometimes on-the-spot if things click)

The bottom line: diligence doesn’t drag if you’re over-prepared.

Handling Customer References During Due Diligence

Shruti likes to talk to at least one real user, ideally without you present. If you can’t deliver this, explain why. Pro tip: prep your refs, but don’t tell them to “pitch” her. Honest, non-scripted feedback gives you more credibility.

How to Frame Your Competitive Landscape

Don’t dismiss competitors, even if you're unique. Shruti expects:

Clear competitive map (direct/indirect, legacy/new entrants)
How and where you win (with specific examples or user feedback)
A realistic view of competitive threats (don’t pretend Google can’t touch you)

For frameworks, see our blog post: The Founder's Guide to Competitive Analysis.

Shruti Gandhi on Pricing Strategy and Gross Margins

You need a clear pricing philosophy, not just a price list. Be prepared to discuss:

How you set pricing (anchored to value, not cost alone)
Gross margins by product and customer segment
Early pricing experiments and lessons

Shruti will poke holes in unsustainable models. Margin transparency buys goodwill.

How Shruti Gandhi Evaluates Founder-Market Fit

This is big. Shruti scores founders for market insight, network, and personal story. Share:

Your prior experiences and why you care about this problem
Unique customer insight only you have
Proof you can hustle in this vertical

Authenticity beats pedigree every time.

How to Handle Financial Model Questions in the Seed Process

Shruti understands that seed financials are speculative, but expects:

Defensible assumptions (explain your logic)
Cohesive model—drivers tie to your go-to-market reality
Focus on what matters: runway, burn, unit economics, and key growth levers

For model templates, see our blog post: Seed Financial Modeling—What Actually Matters.

Final Prep: Mock Diligence with Your Angel or Advisor Team

Before going live with Shruti Gandhi’s process, run a mock diligence with your strongest angels or trusted advisors. Treat it as a dress rehearsal; you will surface blind spots and explanations that sound less convincing out loud than in your head. A couple of hours now saves weeks of post-call scrambling later.

How to Communicate Progress & Updates During Diligence

Proactive communication is a winning edge. When you solve open items, update your data room and ping a polite summary note (not ten little emails). Share milestone wins in real time—product launches, new contracts, etc. Shruti will appreciate responsiveness and visibility.

Shruti Gandhi Due Diligence: Key FAQs

Q: How technical are Shruti Gandhi's diligence questions?
A: If you're infrastructure, expect deep dives; otherwise, product and security basics will be enough.
Q: What if I don’t have SOC 2?
A: Be honest. Explain your plan and timeline. A lack won’t kill the deal, but no roadmap might.
Q: Does Shruti Gandhi ever skip references?
A: Rarely. Be ready to connect at least one real user or design partner.
Q: Should I use Ansarada for my seed round?
A: Only if you have complex needs; most seed deals will do better with something lighter like Capitaly.vc.
Q: How long do Shruti Gandhi’s deals take to close?
A: If your data room is spotless and you’re engaged, 2-4 weeks is very possible.
Q: Can I update my pitch deck after starting diligence?
A: Yes, but document the “what and why” so changes don’t look like backpedaling.
Q: What KPIs matter most for non-SaaS?
A: Engagement metrics, conversion rates, and channel efficiency. Be metric-literate regardless of model.
Q: How do I demonstrate market size?
A: Use a bottom-up forecast, reference public comps, and be cautious with TAM slides.
Q: Will Shruti Gandhi sign NDAs?
A: Most VCs do not, but protect your key trade secrets in how you share materials.
Q: Is a perfect data room enough?
A: It’s necessary, not sufficient. You still need market insight, clarity of vision, and founder grit.

Conclusion

Shruti Gandhi due diligence isn’t meant to intimidate founders, but to find the right fit and spot potential early-stage winners. Organize your documents, prep your demo script, emphasize security readiness, and pick the best data room for your stage—whether that's Ansarada or Capitaly.vc. Show traction with real KPIs, provide customer proof, and communicate with clarity and integrity every step of the way. For founders who go the extra mile, Shruti Gandhi’s seed process is an opportunity to stand out, not a hurdle to avoid. Subscribe to Capitaly.vc Substack (https://capitaly.substack.com/) to raise capital at the speed of AI.