The Boring Reason Founders Don't Get a Second Call

Hey there, it’s Ryan from Breakout Capital Group.

One of the most important things you can do when an investor is reviewing a deck of yours is to be organized.

This is so simple it almost sounds stupid - but here’s why.

For 95% of investment groups, deal flow is abundant.

But GOOD deal flow is not.

Founders don’t have decks ready, data rooms prepared, they’re unorganized with where materials are, etc.

This creates added friction in a review process and is a one way ticket to “we’ll be in touch”.

I had a founder come to us recently. Solid business. Real traction. Seven months into his raise with nothing to show for it. When I asked to see his materials, I got a Google Drive link with twelve unorganized files and a financial model buried underneath a pitch video from two years ago.

The investors who passed on him didn't pass because of the business.

Here's what a messy data room actually communicates to an investor - without you saying a word. If you can't organize a folder:

• How are you managing your cap table?

• How are you going to handle reporting after they wire the money?

They don't ask those questions out loud. They just stop responding.

The organized founder gets a second call. Not always because the business is stronger - often just because the review felt effortless compared to the other 22 an IC is going over.

Organization is an extremely underrated part of the review process. And investors are reading it whether you know it or not.

Hope this is helpful. Keep it up.

Ryan Bryden