When I was doing my startup, the one thing that I had hoped the VCs would have told me were their processes. Thus, I strive be as transparent as possible on the process and timeline and why we ask for certain things. At the same time, being genuine, authentic, respectful and consistent are also important to build trust with founders as well as their existing & prospective investors.

Para estabelecer confian?a com os fundadores durante a due diligence, comunique-se abertamente e regularmente, explicando cada etapa do processo. Demonstre respeito pelo seu tempo e conhecimento, valorizando suas opini?es. Seja transparente sobre suas expectativas e preocupa??es, ouvindo ativamente as deles. Ofere?a feedback construtivo e mostre como sua parceria pode agregar valor. A empatia e a clareza s?o essenciais para construir uma rela??o de confian?a e colabora??o mútua.

During due diligence, I build trust through transparency, prompt communication, and demonstrating genuine interest in their vision while outlining our value beyond capital.

Be transparent about the process from the start, and aim to keep interactions conversational rather than too formal or audit-like. Offer constructive feedback on the pitch and data room, and share best practices on what works well—like using Notion for data rooms or including a Q&A doc. Address your concerns and potential challenges for the business early on, and let the founders share their perspective. Any questions you’re looking to clarify are likely things the founders have already considered at some point. Above all, be upfront about anything unclear that’s essential to build a sufficient understanding of their business to make an investment decision.

I would approach it as a partnership, not an audit. Dive deep into their vision and challenges, offering meaningful feedback or insights they might not have considered. Share examples of how you've helped other founders succeed, showing you’re more than capital—you’re a collaborator. Respect their time by being efficient and transparent in your requests, and stay accessible throughout the process. Trust isn’t built by just ticking boxes; it’s earned by demonstrating that you’re invested in their success from day one.