Investor updates are a regular way for startup founders to communicate their business’s progress with stakeholders. These updates are typically sent out monthly or quarterly and can be in the form of presentations, Word documents or emails. The goal of an investor update is to keep investors informed and engaged, while building trust and confidence in the company’s leadership. In addition to providing insight into the business, these updates can also serve as a tool to gather resources and advice from investors, particularly with regards to fundraising, hiring and market opportunities.
The investor update structure can vary depending on the needs of each individual company, but most investor reports share similar key components:
Overview of Successes & Challenges
The first section of an investor update highlights successes, such as achieving milestones, reaching sales goals, winning new customers or growing customer retention rates. Including these metrics helps investors gauge your company’s performance and allows them to compare you against your competitors. In addition, addressing challenges is important because it lets your investors know that you are transparent and open to feedback.