That’s why we created Investor Plus – a solution to make collecting, tracking, and managing company updates simple and standardised across the entire portfolio. Below, we offer some useful tips and tricks for both investors and founders on how to make post-investment communication smoother and more useful for everyone involved.
Here’s the problem: most startups don’t send regular, structured investor updates. As a result, investors lack visibility into performance, risks, and support needs, and often only hear from founders when a new round is being raised. This damages trust and reduces the likelihood of follow-on funding.
Often, founders don’t want to give updates when the news isn’t good. Also, they may not know what to report, which KPIs to use, or how to structure the update, so the whole task seems daunting. Without a clear format, it’s easy to report hopes instead of reality. And once the report goes out, the founder has to deal with the investors asking questions – especially if the news is bad. So no wonder that it seems easier to bury bad news or take cover completely – until it’s time to raise another round.
All this can be avoided with simple, short, regular updates built around a clear set of metrics and questions.
Tips and tricks about investor updates
For angel investors
- You need updates, you have the right to get them, and silence is rarely a good sign. So don’t hesitate to ask.
- Be clear and upfront. Let founders know it’s not personal – you expect regular updates from all your portfolio companies so you can prioritize help and follow-on decisions.
- Set expectations early. At the time of investment, tell them you want 5 key KPIs and a few lines on specific questions every month or two. If you don’t get them, follow up – and consider giving a simple template.
- Make it easy for founders. They can cc updates directly to your Investor Plus account using a dedicated email. Make sure they know you monitor updates regularly – silence is worse than bad news, and bad news is normal.
For founders
- You’re one of many companies in an angel’s portfolio. Don’t stand out for the wrong reason – silence worries investors more than bad news.
- You don’t need to share every minor issue, but never bury serious problems. If things are really bad – like running out of cash – investors should never be surprised. They are literally invested in keeping your company alive, as long as it makes sense.
- Be clear in your asks and next steps. If you need an introduction, say so. If you want them to forward a few lines to their network, let them know.
- Highlight successes you want amplified, like a new contract win.
- Investors have limited time. They want short, consistent updates that give a clear picture without triggering endless back-and-forth. Tools like Investor Plus help them track who needs help, funding, or is at risk.
- If you’re unsure what they expect, ask. Even better, check the metrics and questions they track in Dealum and report against those.
- Angels invest for different reasons – some are hands-on, some monitor silently. Respect offers of help, but don’t ignore those who are quiet. Strong reporting leads to fewer questions but higher-quality interactions when you do eventually speak.
For accelerators
- Don’t let startups finish your accelerator program without understanding why reporting matters – it’s a habit investors will expect later.
Investor Plus helps angels collect and manage company updates and flags when a company hasn’t reported in a while. It allows investors to track the same key metrics and questions across their whole portfolio. When founders report in a structured way, investors can easily see what’s improving, what’s slipping, and where help is needed. That means fewer reminder emails, clearer conversations, and a much better chance of getting support and follow-on funding when needed.
You can find step-by-step instructions on how to set up your portfolio reporting with Investor Plus from our help centre.
