A VC may offer to send your executive summary to one or more investors. If they do they will often ask for your permission before doing so. Feel free to say 'no' if you feel compelled. However, you should consider saying 'yes', as a referral from another VC is usually well received.

When giving permission to forward their executive summary, it's common for entrepreneurs to ask for the names of the other investors or to be copied on the email. However, some VCs may tell you that they prefer to keep their contacts anonymous. Typically they do this to avoid creating work for the other investors; engaging in a chain of emails with entrepreneurs can take significant time. As a result, keeping other investors anonymous is often considered etiquette in the VC community, as it helps VCs work together without creating additionally work for one another.

If you find yourself in this situation and it makes you uncomfortable, feel free to pass on the offer – your VC contact won’t be offended.