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Raise money

How do I actually get value out of my investors beyond the cheque?

Make specific, concrete asks in every update, whether it's an intro to a hire, a customer, or a follow-on investor, because vague 'let me know if you can help' gets ignored. Investors help the founders who make helping easy and low-effort. Treat them as an on-demand network you activate deliberately, not a distant scoreboard.

Go deeper

3 resources, 3 link-checked.

📄 Article
✓ Link checked Free Beginner

The most practical guide to investor updates, from a company that exists purely to help founders send them. Concrete structure plus real templates you can copy this month.

How to Write the Perfect Investor Update (Tips and Templates)

From Visible.vc by Visible.vc 15 min read

  • Five core parts: summary, KPIs, highlights, lowlights, and specific asks
  • Consistency and cadence matter more than polish; send it every month
  • Make asks specific and easy so investors can actually act on them
Open visible.vc →
📋 Template
✓ Link checked Free Beginner

A ready-to-use version of the update format YC recommends to its founders. Removes every excuse for not sending a clean, professional monthly update.

Y Combinator Investor Update Template

From Visible.vc by Y Combinator / Visible.vc copy-paste template

  • A simple, proven structure: asks, key metrics, highlights, lowlights, team updates
  • Designed for the monthly cadence seed-stage founders should keep
  • Copy it, fill it in, and ship it in under 30 minutes
Open visible.vc →
🛠️ Tool
✓ Link checked Free Intermediate

Turns the a16z metrics framework into a concrete, reportable template so your investor updates carry the numbers investors actually want. Great bridge between knowing metrics and reporting them consistently.

a16z Startup Metrics Template (for updates and reporting)

From Visible.vc by Visible.vc (based on a16z metrics) template

  • Standardizes the core metrics (revenue, growth, burn, runway, retention) for monthly reporting
  • Consistent definitions make your trends readable over time
  • Report the handful of numbers that tell the real story, not vanity metrics
Open visible.vc →

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Also in D2C

The same ground, over in Scale, fund & exit, our D2C track.

Should I even bother with offline distribution, or stay D2C-only? 3 → What is the Thrasio/roll-up model, and would my brand actually get acquired by one? 4 →

Also in How Founders Use AI

How founders actually use AI for this, over in Fundraising.

How do founders use AI to research investors and personalize outreach? 13 → Why draft your deck narrative, FAQ, and data-room answers with AI? 11 →

Also in Wealth

The same ground, over in Startup equity & liquidity, our Wealth track.

What actually happens when my ESOPs vest? 3 → Should I sell some of my equity in a secondary? 2 →
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