The Most Overlooked Fundraising Strategy? Monthly Updates.

When founders come to us at Henson Venture Partners asking how to raise capital faster, our advice isn’t about pitch decks or cold outreach.

It’s about execution. And more importantly, it’s about showing your execution over time.

That’s why we always recommend a habit that most founders overlook: Send consistent monthly investor updates.

Yes — even before you raise your first dollar.

Why Monthly Updates Are a Fundraising Cheat Code

Here’s what we’ve learned across hundreds of founder-investor conversations:

• ✅ Investors don’t fund potential — they fund momentum. If they’re not seeing regular progress, they assume there is none.

• ✅ Consistency is rare — and trust-building. The majority of founders say they’ll send updates. Few actually do. If you follow through, you’re already in the top 5%.

• ✅ Updates build relationships before the raise. Keeping warm leads in the loop gives them a front-row seat to your growth story. That way, when you do raise, they already know you’re legit.

What to Include in a Great Update

You don’t need a 10-page memo. A good update is short, scannable, and high signal. Here’s a structure we recommend to all our portfolio companies:

1️⃣ TL;DR

Start with a one-paragraph summary. Is the business trending up, steady, or facing challenges? Use red/yellow/green to give a gut-check.

📌 Example:

🚦Green: Revenue grew 18% MoM, launched our referral program, and added 2 new enterprise customers. Next focus: onboarding efficiency and CAC reduction.

2️⃣ Asks

List 2–3 very specific requests. The best asks are easy for investors to act on, like:

• “Intro to a healthcare GTM advisor”

• “Feedback on our new pricing page”

• “Warm intro to VC firms investing in vertical SaaS”

Make it easy for them to say yes.

3️⃣ Top KPIs (Bar Chart)

Share your top 1–2 metrics — typically revenue and one other core driver (e.g., active users, signups, CAC, etc.).

Show a simple bar chart with monthly performance to visualize progress.

📊 Investors love trends. One strong graph beats 10 paragraphs of explanation.

4️⃣ Supporting Metrics (Table)

Include a table with 6–10 supporting KPIs. Think:

• MRR, churn, LTV, burn rate, runway

• DAUs, MAUs, activation rate, funnel conversion

• NPS, CSAT, etc.

Good investors will use this to spot red flags, coach you, or compare against their portfolio benchmarks.

5️⃣ Highs & Lows

Keep it real.

✅ 3 Wins: What worked this month?⚠️ 3 Challenges: What didn’t? Where are you stuck?

This makes your update more human — and opens the door for help.

6️⃣ Optional Add-Ons

Rotate in fresh content to keep it engaging:

• Screenshots of new features

• Team photos

• Press mentions

• Quick video updates

You’re not just reporting — you’re building a relationship.

7️⃣ What’s Next

Close with clear goals for the next 30–90 days.

This shows you know what game you’re playing — and how to keep score. It also sets the stage for accountability in your next update.

What If You Haven’t Raised Yet?

Perfect — this strategy is even more powerful.

Sending regular updates to mentors, friendly investors, or warm leads builds trust before you ever ask for money. And when it’s time to raise, they’ve already seen your growth story unfold.

They’re not taking a risk — they’re placing a bet they’ve been watching you earn.

TL;DR: Don’t Pitch. Build a Narrative.

Monthly updates aren’t just a reporting tool — they’re a trust-building, fundraising, founder-differentiating superpower.

So if you're not sending them yet, start this month. No matter what stage you’re at, it’s one of the simplest, smartest things you can do.

Need a template? We’re happy to share.📩 Just message us at hello@henson.vc

At Henson Venture Partners, we don’t just invest in companies. We invest in founders who execute. Show us your story — one update at a time.