Meetings with investors are essential for entrepreneurs because they allow them to exhibit their progress, discuss future goals, and perhaps gain further money. When meeting with an existing investor, it is critical to approach the subject strategically and intelligently in order to achieve a fruitful and successful meeting.

At Malpani Ventures, we prefer founders who are honest about their present situation and learn & improve from every experiment they run. Our agenda as an investor is to primarily piggy-back on a founder's learnings and cross-pollinate them across our portfolio to help our founders grow

Let's say you are the founder of a startup that has already secured funding from an investor, and you have scheduled a meeting with them to discuss progress and future plans. Here's how you can go about doing so:

Set specific goals:

Before the meeting, take some time to think about what you want to accomplish. Do you need feedback on your most recent product development? Do you want to talk about marketing plans for your upcoming launch? Or do you need advice on how to grow your team? Knowing your goals will assist you in preparing for the talk and making the most of your time with the investor.

Prepare a succinct agenda:

Once you've determined your objectives, create a concise agenda that covers all of the issues you want to cover. This could include an update on your company's growth figures, a look at your most recent product demo, or a talk on how to optimise your sales funnel. Share the agenda ahead of time with the investor so they can arrive prepared and contribute helpful views.

Highlight your progress and accomplishments:

Take time during the meeting to highlight your accomplishments and successes since the last time you met with the investor. Metrics like as user acquisition, revenue growth, or new collaborations may be included. Share any success stories or customer testimonials to demonstrate the influence of your organisation. This will help to establish trust and confidence with the investor and demonstrate that you are making progress toward your objectives.

Brainstorm challenges and opportunities:

Be honest about challenges and areas of opportunity for your business. This could include anything from technical hurdles to market competition. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback or guidance on how to overcome them. Be open to constructive criticism and take the opportunity to learn from the investor's experience. This will demonstrate your commitment to growth and help build a stronger relationship with the investor.

Next actions should be discussed:

Discuss next steps and create clear expectations for follow-up at the end of the meeting. If you need more money, talk about the method and schedule for getting it. If you're seeking for direction, talk about the next steps for incorporating the investor's input. Schedule a follow-up meeting to continue the discussion and track progress.

Set a cadence for future discussions:

Following the meeting, send a follow-up email thanking the investor for their time and highlighting the major points. This will help to strengthen the bond and keep the conversation going. Ensure that any action items or next steps addressed at the meeting are followed up on.

Following these steps will allow you to plan a productive meeting with your existing investor while keeping the conversation focused on reaching your business goals. Keep in mind that investors want to see progress and growth, so be open and proactive in your communication. With a well-planned meeting, you'll be able to build a stronger partnership with your investor and position your company for success.