"Not hearing no"

I've never heard an investor actually say "no". They will hem, haw, delay, excuse, etc. and do everything except give a definitive "no". You just have to learn to treat "maybe" as "no" until you decide it's worth talking to them again.

I'd love to have an actual "no" from an investor.

It's like dating: "no" is no. "maybe" is no. "yes" is maybe until you've closed the deal.