How can you maintain venture capitalist interest after a pitch?

1 Follow up promptly

The first thing you should do after a pitch is to follow up with a thank you email to each investor who attended. This shows your professionalism, your appreciation, and your enthusiasm. It also gives you a chance to restate your key points, share any relevant updates, and attach any additional materials they requested. You should aim to send this email within 24 hours of the meeting, and keep it short and clear.

2 Provide updates regularly

One of the best ways to keep investors interested is to show them your progress and achievements. You should provide them with regular updates on your key metrics, milestones, customer feedback, product development, and any other news that demonstrates your traction and potential. You can use a simple format like a monthly newsletter or a dashboard, and make sure to highlight your growth, your challenges, and your next steps. This will help you build trust, credibility, and excitement among your potential backers.

3 Seek feedback and advice

Another way to maintain investor interest is to seek their feedback and advice on your business. This shows that you value their input, that you are open to learning, and that you are willing to improve. You can ask them specific questions about your strategy, your product, your market, or your pitch, and listen to their suggestions and insights. You can also ask them for introductions to other relevant contacts, such as potential customers, partners, or mentors. This will help you deepen your relationship, demonstrate your coachability, and expand your network.

4 Showcase social proof

Investors are more likely to be interested in your startup if they see that others are interested too. You can showcase your social proof by sharing testimonials, endorsements, awards, media coverage, or referrals from your customers, users, partners, or influencers. You can also share your traction on social media, blogs, podcasts, or events, and invite investors to follow you or join you. This will help you increase your visibility, credibility, and desirability among your target audience.

5 Be transparent and honest

Finally, one of the most important things you can do to maintain investor interest is to be transparent and honest. You should communicate clearly and consistently, and avoid exaggerating, omitting, or hiding any information that might affect their decision. You should also be realistic and humble about your goals, your risks, and your challenges, and show how you are addressing them. You should also be respectful and courteous, and avoid being pushy, desperate, or arrogant. This will help you earn their respect, trust, and confidence.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?