In the course of the process of fundraising for startup companies, it is important to provide information about your company to investors. It can help speed up the process, boost trust and increase your chances of obtaining the term sheet. However, the number of documents that you need to share with potential investors can quickly get out of hand. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to run an investor data room efficiently and efficiently.
The first step is to design separate rooms for different stages of the investment process. This lets you segment the accessibility of documents based on investor interest. For instance, you can utilize an easy folder system to organize documents for investors in the early stages who have expressed interest in the company but not yet ready to invest. This stage usually includes documents like strategy documents such as pitch decks, pitch decks, and product plans.
In the second phase you will be able to provide more specific information to investors who are getting closer to making a decision. This could include a comprehensive financial model and forecasts (both projected and historical), legal documentation including customer and supplier contracts, intellectual property information and market research.
Including these additional documents can provide the investor with an in-depth overview of the company and let them know that you've been thorough. You can also include past updates to investors, which will show investors that you value transparency and communicating with investors seriously. Also, your investor data room should permit you to track who has access to which documents and for how long. This lets you identify any suspicious activity and take corrective action if necessary.