What Is Deal Flow Signal? 4 Signal Types, 6-12 Week Lead Time (2026)

Deal flow signal is any data-driven indicator that surfaces a promising startup before traditional channels - warm intros, pitch decks, press - bring it to investors. The four main types are engineering signals (GitHub, 6-12 weeks lead time), hiring signals (job boards, 4-8 weeks), web traffic signals (4-6 weeks), and social signals (1-2 weeks). GitHub engineering activity provides the longest lead time and is the hardest to game, making it the most reliable early deal flow signal for venture investors.

References

[1] The Rise of Alternative Data in VC: Harvard Business Review

[2] GitHub Octoverse 2024: GitHub Blog