While some VCs have a very structured process for responding to entrepreneurs, others do not. In my post, What To Expect After The First Meeting, I mentioned that VCs with less structured processes may not respond to you after your first meeting because of a lack of interest.

There are things that you can do to increase their interest and add momentum to the process after the first meeting. These tactics are also relevant when a VC is interested in your company, as they will enable you to further increase momentum and further improve your likelihood of receiving an investment.

Before I dive into what you can do to create momentum, I want to re-emphasize that this is a critical part of the process. A VC has to learn a lot about your company before they will make an investment. As a result, if a VC isn’t moving through the evaluation process rapidly it could take a long time for them to decide to invest, leaving more opportunity for them to become distracted by another opportunity. Creating momentum is ultimately achieved by maintaining consistent periodic communication with the VC.

1. Checking in can create the perception that there is some urgency and a real process in place (with them and the other VCs you may be talking to). The more there is a process in place the more likely they are to move quickly.
   
   If there is nothing compelling them to move quicker, they usually won't since taking longer to evaluate a deal can provide them with more information about your ability to execute (e.g., growth and performance), reducing the riskiness of the investment.
   
   When you check in and ask for the next step, be sure to listen to the answer. If you don’t listen to them, you will frustrate them and damage the relationship.



2. Periodically provide the VC with relevant market research to help them understand and get excited about the opportunity. Frequent touch points can keep you top of mind.
   
   Be strategic about how much information you send and when you send it. If you send all of your market research and news to a VC in one email, you won’t have an excuse to reach out to them again in the future.



3. Periodically notify the VC of your progress. Sending an occasional email with an update on newsworthy progress, such as partnerships, new hires, product development, favorable press, etc. can help the VC see you ability to execute and can help the VC become both more interested in you as a manager and more comfortable with the viability of your company.

With all of your outreach be sure not to be annoying. Reaching out more than once or twice a week can make the VC not want to work with you since you are demonstrating a lack of awareness about boundaries.

One other thing to be aware of is that you can’t always create momentum. If the VC has told you that they are not interested, you need to listen to that response and leave them alone. Continuing to harass them will only damage the relationship limiting your ability to work with them in the future.