Fundraising
Start Governance Early
Good governance is a positive signal to downstream investors. Start it early — even if it feels premature.
Hold board meetings from the start
Hold board meetings even if it's just two founders and an advisor. The point is not the formality; it's the discipline of stepping back from the day-to-day to review the business at a strategic level.
Add board minutes to your data room from the very beginning — even if the attendees are just you and your co-founder, or an angel investor you've brought on.
Cadence and agenda
Meet quarterly. You don't need to meet for three hours, but the time should be structured and cover:
- Strategy and direction
- Key metrics and performance against plan
- Headwinds and risks
- Any major decisions coming up
Why it matters for fundraising
Investors doing diligence look for signals that founders run a tight ship. A data room that includes board minutes from day one — even informal ones — signals maturity and seriousness. It's a small investment that pays dividends later.