What are the best ways to maintain your VC network?

I haven’t yet quite mastered this, but feel I’m getting there. I thought about email newsletters or using LinkedIn more, but feel this doesn’t quite encapsulate the full me. I’m finding a YouTube show helps me better. But everyone has to find their niche.

-Regular Check-ins: Touch base with investors, even without immediate business needs. Genuine interest goes a long way. -Share Insights: Distribute valuable market insights or emerging trends. It positions you as a thought leader. -Attend Industry Events: Conferences, webinars, and retreats keep you visible and informed. -Collaborate: Partner on projects, co-invest, or exchange deal-flow insights. -Provide Value: Offer introductions or mentorship; reciprocal relationships last longer. -Stay Active Online: Engage on platforms like LinkedIn, X, or VC-specific forums. Remember, VC networking is not about quantity but quality. Nurture relationships authentically

Selecting the right VC is one of the most critical decisions. Alignment is essential. Does their vision and business model align with yours? Do they have expertise in your industry? What is their track record? Do they have connections in your industry that may be beneficial, not just financial support? Conduct due diligence on your potential VC. Such as investment size, stage, and how they will handle challenges that you will eventually have. Are they currently investing or at the tail end of a fund? Most importantly, what are their terms and conditions? Are they accessible when you need to communicate? Could you discuss their expectations for an exit? Remember, choosing the right VC is important to the success of your compnay.

VC or Business Network is about constant engagement to know the objectives they want to achieve and also aligning to opportunities that best suits them, while opening up the variables or allowances they are willing to explore.

I host the Down Lo YouTube show where I interview various founders, VCs, and guests - I find that deepens the relationship with people rather than superficial networking, and we really get into the topics rather than just knowing people.

It's important to leverage online tools to find/ maintain your VC network. You can do that by building a solid online presence. Use LinkedIn to connect, as well as join groups and participate in online discussions. Angel List platform is a great place to do this as well. You can find more information on VCs on Crunchbase, CB Insights, and PitchBook, which are some of the top sites. Attend as many Virtual and in-person events and webinars,. When attending online, have a 300-character message to connect on Linkedin that is ready to go. Crowdfunding platforms are also a great place to check out. Join startup accelerators and incubators to be better prepared. Craft an email campaign and automate it. Make sure your one-pager and deck are updated

Demo days are a great way to do this - I’m convinced that’s actually the main reason why accelerators like TechStars and YC do theirs, other than investors seeing the startups

The follow-up is one of the most important aspects of getting funding from a VC. It is important to send a thank you email right after the meeting. Some people say you have 24 hours. I know the quicker you message, the better. Update any progress about your startup, such as Milestones, hitting revenue projections and targets. Do not bombard them with numerous emails. Be prompt to schedule a follow-up when requested by the VC. If concerns are raised, or they have questions provide clear responses to their roadblocks. Remember that fundraising can take time and can be very challenging. YOu may have to talk with hundreds of VCs before landing one. Be persistent, and work hard. By abiding by these rules, you increase your chances of funding.

Managing expectations is essential in fund raising: Be realistic about the timeline for funding. Setting and managing expectations can prevent misunderstandings. So many founders are naive to the fact that even if you invented the world's greatest mouse trap, the Venture community may not be interested. At an accelerator I had intimate knowledge of, they guaranteed 10, 20, or 30 intros to venture funds as part of their offering. Many founders thought that those 30 intros would suffice, and when they were not successful in a capital raise, they blamed the accelerator. They should have realized it may take hundreds of outreaches to get funding. They should have built out a list for outreach themselves and not relied on the accelerator intros.