During the meeting VCs may ask you to send them some material after the meeting. When they make a request you should do two things:

1. Clarify when they need it by so that you don’t delay their due diligence process – you want to keep the momentum going.
2. Plainly put – take notes. It can be hard to remember all of the information requests while you’re selling your company to investors and you don’t want to forget any of the items and timing as it could make you look disorganized.

You should view follow-up items as an opportunity to do more than provide information – this process can keep your company on top of the VCs list enabling you to maintain momentum. To build the most momentum from this process you should make sure that:

• Your follow-up items are complete and delivered promptly.
• You offer to review the materials over brief phone call or meeting.
• You ask if there is any other information that they want.

Comments

[Peter]

There's really very little a startup can do to control either the momentum or the process. He who has the gold maketh the rules. If you push too hard the VC is most likely to label you a pain in the ass and delete your files. In my experience getting venture capital first requires a relationship building phase which can take a fews months during which the VC monitors your progress. Yes, he wants to see real progress being made despite your lack of funding. Business plan edits are not considered progress.

A startup's cashflow crisis is of no concern to the VC unless it's already a portfolio company. What I'm saying is that you can't push the VC into abandoning the slow, methodical, and proven system he has developed over many years for evaluating potential investments.