Make your investor updates the highest-leverage tool to unlock intros, hires, and your next round.

In this episode, you get a full, practical breakdown of how to write investor updates that actually work. We cover how to keep them fast and simple, what to include (and what to leave out), how to structure wins, losses, and asks, and how to turn a simple email into a system that builds trust, momentum, and fundraising advantage over time.

Why investor updates are one of the most underused growth tools
How to use updates to activate your investors (not just inform them)
The ideal structure: reflection, highlights, metrics, wins/losses, asks
How to balance transparency with confidence when things go wrong
What changes from pre-seed → Series A and beyond
How to keep updates short, readable, and high-signal
When and how often to send them (and why consistency matters more than length)
How to use updates during a live fundraising round to create momentum and FOMO
Common mistakes: radio silence, overdesign, inconsistent formats, and bloated content

Investor updates are not newsletters—they are operating tools
“Radio silence is a kiss of death” → consistency builds trust
Investors want both wins and problems—and how you handle them
Short, structured, and regular beats long and sporadic
Your asks are the leverage point—don’t bury them
A strong update builds a track record over time, not just a snapshot

Daniel Ruben’s article on investor updates (Solvable Syndicate):
https://www.solvablesyndicate.com
Newsletter platforms:
https://www.beehiiv.com
https://mailchimp.com
Writing reference:
On Writing Well by William Zinsser

FoodTech Weekly newsletter:
https://www.foodtechweekly.com
Solvable Syndicate:
https://www.solvablesyndicate.com
LinkedIn:
(link in episode description)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmidt-marina/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
marina@wearekinetik.com

Could use some help with your comms?
Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekinetik.com/⁠

Scaling Nerds helps science and tech founders master the communication skills behind fundraising, hiring, and growth—so you can scale faster without relying on luck.

Keywords

Investor updates, startup investor communication, founder communication strategy, fundraising strategy, startup fundraising tips, venture capital communication, investor relations startups, startup growth strategy, founder updates, startup metrics reporting, pre-seed startup advice, seed stage fundraising, Series A preparation, startup storytelling, founder transparency, startup email strategy, investor engagement, startup accountability, startup communication systems, scaling a startup, deep tech founders, startup leadership communication