The way you manage your investment process is also an indication of how you manage your business. A structured and organized process, with set tools, meetings and agendas, and clear messages, shows the type of discipline that investors value. When an investment process seems ad hoc, with days going by between asks and a scramble to put materials together, investors notice the lack of structure and discipline of the business. Don’t forget investors are always watching.

“While the process may vary slightly, your goal here is to control the process versus the process controlling you.” 

Regardless of the type of investor or the stage you are at, the following process should serve you well. You may not need all of the steps, or you may want to add additional pieces over time, but this basic framework will help not only streamline the process but help you improve at how you and your team function in the process. Think of it this way – if you drive to work the same way each day, you get to know where all the potholes and traffic jams are.

With a standard process, you can train your team on the documents, the process and the key messages you want to deliver. Hold training sessions with team members and rehearse their specific parts. With the Key Messages document as your guide, develop and train on messages that you want to reinforce in each area of the business.