Insights from a Senior Analyst

I have a great talk with Casey Van Maanen is a Senior Analyst at LOI Venture, an early stage venture capital fund focused on young entrepreneurs in British Columbia. He has experience in venture capital, finance, and business management through roles at different funds.

Here are my 3 key takeaways from the conversation with Casey:

• Be transparent and provide actionable feedback in rejection emails to founders Clearly explain reasons for declining a deal and provide constructive feedback entrepreneurs can learn from. Maintain good relationships.
• Build a strong founder-investor relationship post-investment Regular communication through progress updates builds trust and keeps investors informed on key traction metrics, product launches, team changes etc.
• Tailor your fundraising approach (for startup founders)Target investors strategically in your space, craft a tight pitch deck, and focus on volume when fundraising. Leverage networks like accelerators too.

He also talked about how the rejection process works. Here are my 3 key notes:

1. Provide clear and transparent feedback in rejection emails explaining why you declined the deal. Don't leave founders guessing.
2. Advise founders not to take rejections personally. It's often not a reflection on them or the business itself.
3. Encourage founders to listen to feedback objectively, strengthen their pitch, and persist through inevitable rejections. Grit and resilience are critical.