Investor Meeting Preparation Checklist

MEETING PHILOSOPHY

Meeting Preparation Principles

INVESTOR MEETING PHILOSOPHY

WHY PREPARATION MATTERS:
☐ First impressions are lasting
☐ Prepared = credible
☐ Confidence comes from preparation
☐ Every question is anticipated
☐ Time is respected
☐ Relationship starts here

MEETING PRINCIPLES:

1. KNOW YOUR INVESTOR
   ☐ Research before every meeting
   ☐ Understand their thesis
   ☐ Know their portfolio
   ☐ Customize your pitch

2. KNOW YOUR STORY
   ☐ Practice until natural
   ☐ Have multiple versions
   ☐ Lead with the hook
   ☐ Build to the ask

3. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS
   ☐ Every metric cold
   ☐ Trends and context
   ☐ Honest about weaknesses
   ☐ Clear on projections

4. KNOW YOUR ASK
   ☐ Clear amount
   ☐ Clear use of funds
   ☐ Clear timeline
   ☐ Clear next steps

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COMPREHENSIVE PREPARATION

72-Hour Meeting Prep Checklist

COMPLETE MEETING PREPARATION

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72 HOURS BEFORE
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INVESTOR RESEARCH:
☐ Review investor website
☐ Read recent blog posts/writing
☐ Check Twitter/LinkedIn for themes
☐ Review recent investments
☐ Understand fund stage/size
☐ Identify similar portfolio companies
☐ Note any competitive conflicts
☐ Find common connections

PARTNER RESEARCH:
☐ Partner background (LinkedIn)
☐ Career history
☐ Investment thesis areas
☐ Recent public statements
☐ Communication style (if known)
☐ Questions they typically ask

PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS:
☐ Similar companies in portfolio
☐ How to reference without competing
☐ Success stories to mention
☐ Any founders to quote

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48 HOURS BEFORE
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MATERIALS PREPARATION:

Deck:
☐ Latest version saved
☐ Customized for this investor
☐ PDF and editable versions
☐ Mobile-friendly version
☐ Screen-share tested

Supporting Materials:
☐ One-pager/executive summary
☐ Key metrics summary
☐ Financial model (access ready)
☐ Appendix slides
☐ Customer case studies

Demo:
☐ Demo environment tested
☐ Backup demo ready
☐ Key flows identified
☐ 3-minute version practiced

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24 HOURS BEFORE
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NARRATIVE PRACTICE:

Pitch Versions:
☐ 30-second elevator pitch
☐ 60-second version
☐ 3-minute version
☐ 10-minute version
☐ Full 30-minute presentation

Story Elements:
☐ Opening hook
☐ Problem story
☐ Solution moment
☐ Traction proof points
☐ Vision narrative
☐ Ask and close

Objection Preparation:
☐ Top 5 objections identified
☐ Responses prepared
☐ Pivot strategies ready
☐ Honest about weaknesses

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DAY OF MEETING
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LOGISTICS CHECK:
☐ Meeting link tested
☐ Backup dial-in ready
☐ Camera and lighting checked
☐ Microphone tested
☐ Quiet environment confirmed
☐ Professional background
☐ 30-minute buffer before
☐ 15-minute buffer after
☐ Backup device ready

MATERIALS ACCESS:
☐ Deck open and ready
☐ Demo prepped
☐ Metrics at fingertips
☐ Notes on investor ready

MENTAL PREPARATION:
☐ Review key points
☐ Check investor's latest activity
☐ Clear mind
☐ Energy high
☐ Ready to listen

Question Preparation Matrix

ANTICIPATED QUESTIONS FRAMEWORK

TEAM QUESTIONS:
☐ Why are you the right team?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What's your unfair advantage?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ Have you worked together before?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ Who are your key hires planned?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What happens if a co-founder leaves?
   Answer: _______________________________________________

MARKET QUESTIONS:
☐ Why now for this market?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ How big is the market really?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ Why will you win this market?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What's your wedge strategy?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What macro trends support you?
   Answer: _______________________________________________

PRODUCT QUESTIONS:
☐ What makes your product unique?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ How defensible is your technology?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What's your product roadmap?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ How long to replicate?
   Answer: _______________________________________________

TRACTION QUESTIONS:
☐ Why should I believe this growth?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What's driving the growth?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What happens if growth slows?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ How repeatable is your sales motion?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What's your retention look like?
   Answer: _______________________________________________

COMPETITION QUESTIONS:
☐ Who are your main competitors?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ Why haven't the big players done this?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What if [Big Co] enters?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What's your moat?
   Answer: _______________________________________________

FINANCIAL QUESTIONS:
☐ When do you become profitable?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What are your unit economics?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ How much are you raising?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What milestones with this capital?
   Answer: _______________________________________________
☐ What if you can't raise more?
   Answer: _______________________________________________

During-Meeting Checklist

Phase	Activity	Time	Status
Opening	Build rapport	3-5 min	☐
Hook	Grab attention	2 min	☐
Problem	Frame opportunity	3-5 min	☐
Solution	Show product	5-7 min	☐
Traction	Prove it works	5-7 min	☐
Ask	Clear request	2-3 min	☐
Discussion	Q&A	10-15 min	☐
Close	Next steps	2-3 min	☐

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POST-MEETING

Follow-Up Framework

POST-MEETING FOLLOW-UP PROTOCOL

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IMMEDIATELY AFTER (Within 1 hour)
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Document:
☐ Key questions asked
☐ Concerns raised
☐ Interest signals
☐ Follow-up items promised
☐ Next steps discussed
☐ Overall sentiment (1-10)

Internal Debrief:
☐ What went well?
☐ What could improve?
☐ Red flags?
☐ Excitement level?
☐ Likelihood to proceed?

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SAME DAY (Within 4-6 hours)
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Thank You Email:

Subject: Great meeting - [Company] follow up

Hi [Partner name],

Thank you for taking the time to meet today. I really
enjoyed our conversation about [specific topic].

As promised, I'm attaching:
- [Material 1]
- [Material 2]

To address your question about [topic], [answer].

Next steps: [Confirm what was discussed]

Looking forward to [next step]. Let me know if you'd
like any additional information.

Best,
[Your name]

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WITHIN 48 HOURS
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☐ All promised materials delivered
☐ Questions fully answered
☐ Reference list prepared
☐ Additional context sent (if helpful)

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IF NO RESPONSE (5-7 days)
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Gentle Follow-Up:

Subject: Re: [Original subject]

Hi [Partner name],

Wanted to follow up on our conversation last [day].
Happy to provide any additional information or
schedule a follow-up call.

Let me know if there's a good time to reconnect.

Thanks,
[Your name]

Meeting Outcome Tracker

Meeting	Date	Partner	Sentiment	Next Step	Status
			/10		☐ Follow-up sent
			/10		☐ Follow-up sent
			/10		☐ Follow-up sent

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