Best Practices for Founders

5 min read timeOver the last few weeks, we have had the opportunity to speak with tens of startup founders and investors as part of our Private Beta launch for Truealpha. Through these discussions and hours of research, we have collected great insights and practical tips from both sides of the table on many aspects of building successful founder-investor relationships.

4 minute read timeSecuring funding for your startup can be a huge achievement. Remember that getting funding is just the first step in scaling up and growing your business. Building and maintaining strong investor relations is a key part of this journey.The function of investor relations, or IR, is to manage relations between a company and its investors. In order for it to work, communication, transparency, and trust must be maintained in both directions.Investors should receive regular updates about the company’s performance and future plans, along with the chance to provide feedback.

5 min read time Getting investors to work with your startup is just the beginning of the entrepreneur/investor relationship. Even though you’ve worked harder than you dreamed possible to secure the necessary funding for your operation, there’s no time to rest on your laurels. Investors release funds right away and they expect their money to be put to good use as soon as possible. When the investment funding rounds end, it’s time to deliver what you promised in your pitch. Investors expect updates on the progress you’re making, so be sure to keep them in the loop.

5 min read timeAfter months of hard work to secure funding, entrepreneurs can finally take a breath when the money hits the bank. But once the check has been written, the most interesting—and rewarding—part is to come.

8 min read time Investors aren’t patrons—they’re business partners, and startups should treat them as such. Regular updates and the occasional call for advice go a long way toward optimizing the relationship.

3 min read time Strong investor relations give investors confidence in a Start-up’s ability to deliver on commitments, create value, and drive investability at every stage of the journey to exit. Like anything worthwhile, IR will favor those who start early.