Managing investors
Getting investor-ready, surviving the raise, and reporting like a pro afterwards.
The founder's guide to managing investors (without a finance team)
A plain-English guide to managing investors when you're a non-finance founder — getting ready, surviving due diligence, and keeping investors warm — without hiring anyone.
Read the guide →Getting investor-ready
Before you pitch: getting your numbers in order. Clean financials, a lean data room, an accurate cap table, and the metrics investors actually look for — MRR, burn, runway and CAC.
- Get your startup financials investor-ready in a weekendA weekend plan for UK founders to get financials investor-ready — reconcile the books, fix the gaps, produce clean exports — without an accountant or finance team.5 min
- How to build a data room for your raise (the lean version)A plain-English, lean data room checklist for UK founders — what investors actually want during due diligence, how to organise it, and how to produce the exports in clicks.4 min
- The startup metrics investors care about (MRR, burn, runway, CAC)A plain-English guide to the startup metrics investors actually want — MRR, burn, runway, CAC and more — what each means, why it matters, and how to keep them current.5 min
- What investors actually want to see before they investA plain-English guide to what investors really check before backing a startup — the numbers, the documents and the signals — and how to have them ready on demand.5 min
- What is a cap table and how do I keep mine clean?A cap table is the list of who owns what slice of your company. Here's what it means in plain English, a simple UK example, and how to keep yours clean and investor-ready.5 min
During the raise
Surviving the raise itself. Answering due diligence, explaining your burn and runway, issuing shares and filing the SH01, and giving your investors the SEIS/EIS relief they backed you for.
- How much runway do you need to raise? (and how to prove it)Raise too late and you look desperate; too early and you can't justify it. Here's how much runway looks credible to investors, and how to prove your number on demand.6 min
- How to answer investor due diligence (the financial checklist)Investors asking for everything at once? Here's the financial due diligence checklist — exactly what they want, why, and how to hand it over in an afternoon instead of a fortnight.5 min
- How to calculate and explain your burn rate to investorsInvestors will ask about your burn rate — and judge you on the answer. Here's how to calculate burn (gross and net), what's healthy, and how to prove your number on demand.6 min
- How to issue shares and file an SH01Closed your round? Now you have to issue shares and file an SH01 at Companies House. Here's the plain-English process, the deadline, and how to keep your cap table tied to it.6 min
- SEIS and EIS explained for founders (and how to give investors their relief)SEIS and EIS are the tax reliefs that make UK angels say yes. Here's what they are in plain English, your obligations as a founder, and how to issue the SEIS3/EIS3 certificates investors need.7 min
After the raise
Keeping investors happy once the money's in. Monthly updates people actually read, reporting without a finance team, and the SEIS/EIS compliance you must not miss after you raise.
- How to keep multiple investors updated (without 12 separate emails)Raised from a dozen angels and SEIS investors? Here's how to keep them all updated without sending 12 separate emails — one source of truth, scoped access for each.5 min
- How to report to investors without a finance teamNo CFO, no finance team, still expected to report to investors? Here's how to do investor reporting properly at seed stage — plan vs actual and a scoped investor room.5 min
- How to write a monthly investor update (template + the faster way)A simple monthly investor update template you can copy — what to include, in what order — plus the faster way to write one in minutes from your live numbers.6 min
- Investor update examples that actually keep investors engagedReal investor update examples — the good, the boring and the worrying — plus what actually keeps investors engaged, and the faster way to write yours.5 min
- Plan vs actual: how to show investors you're on track (or own it when you're not)Plan vs actual is how you show investors you're tracking the plan you raised on — or own it honestly when you're not. Here's how it works, and how to run it automatically.6 min
- SEIS/EIS compliance after you raise: what you must not missRaised under SEIS or EIS? The relief can be clawed back if you slip up in the three years after. Here's what to watch — including the 3-year rule — in plain English.6 min
Numbers founders fumble
The finance concepts that trip founders up in a raise. SAFEs and convertibles, dilution, pre- vs post-money valuation, and an investor-grade cash forecast — demystified.
- Convertible notes and SAFEs explained for UK foundersSAFEs and convertible loan notes let you raise without agreeing a valuation today. Here's how each works, how they convert into shares later, the UK reality (ASAs and SEIS/EIS), and the bits to take legal advice on.7 min
- Dilution: what happens to your ownership when you raiseDilution is what happens to your slice of the company when you issue new shares to raise money. Here's the plain-English version — with cap table scenarios — and why a smaller slice of a bigger pie is usually the point.6 min
- How to forecast cash for your next 12 months (investor-grade)A cash flow forecast is just a month-by-month map of money in and money out. Here's how to build an investor-grade 12-month forecast — what to include, how to find your runway, and why plan-vs-actual is what investors actually trust.6 min
- Pre-money vs post-money valuation explained simplyPre-money is what your company is worth before the investment lands. Post-money is after. Here's the plain-English difference — with a worked £ example — and why it quietly changes how much of your company you give away.6 min