⏱️Quick Win: Walk into investor calls fully prepared (in 5 minutes)
Your pre-meeting routine that ensures you nail every investor call
Hey there,
I used to walk into investor calls thinking I was prepared. I had my deck memorised, I knew my numbers, and I was ready to pitch.
I was treating every investor call like a performance — all about what I needed to say — instead of treating it like a conversation where I also needed to learn.
The result? I’d walk out of calls feeling like I’d delivered a solid pitch but having no idea if the investor was actually interested, what their concerns were, or what information would move them closer to a yes.
Then I created a simple 5-minute pre-call ritual that completely changed how I show up to investor meetings. I’m calmer, more prepared, and I walk away with way more useful information.
Here’s exactly what I do.
The Problem I Was Solving
Before this ritual, I was jumping into calls ready to pitch but not thinking strategically about the conversation itself. I wasn’t looking at:
What had been said in previous calls
What I needed to gain from this specific conversation
What questions I should be asking them
I was so focused on delivering my pitch perfectly that I forgot investor conversations are supposed to be two-way. I needed to be evaluating them as much as they were evaluating me.
The 5-Minute Pre-Call Ritual
Here’s what I do in the 5 minutes before every investor call:
Minute 1-2: Review Previous Notes
I pull up my CRM and quickly scan any notes from previous interactions with this investor:
Have we spoken before? What did they say?
Did they raise any concerns or objections?
What got them excited?
Any specific questions they asked last time?
This helps me pick up the conversation where we left off instead of repeating myself or missing key context.
Minute 3: Check the Agenda
I review what we’re supposed to cover in this call:
Is this an intro call or a follow-up?
Are we discussing specific metrics, strategy, or team?
What’s the goal by the end of this call?
Knowing the agenda helps me stay on track and not ramble.
Minute 4: Prepare My Questions
I write down 2-3 specific questions I want to ask them:
“What’s your typical investment timeline?”
“What would you need to see to move forward?”
“Have you invested in similar businesses? What made you say yes?”
These questions help me understand if they’re genuinely interested and what it would take to close them.
Minute 5: Grab My Pitch Script
For Zoom calls, I always have my pitch script ready on a second screen — just in case I forget something or get thrown off by a tough question. This isn’t a word-for-word script I read from; it’s bullet points per slide that I’ve memorised, but having it there removes the anxiety of blanking mid-pitch.
Why This Works
This 5-minute ritual does three things:
1. Reduces nerves: When I’m prepared with context, agenda, and questions, I’m not scrambling. I feel in control.
2. Makes me a better listener: Because I’m not just focused on delivering my pitch, I actually pay attention to what the investor is saying and can adjust in real-time.
3. Helps me qualify investors faster: By asking the right questions, I walk away knowing if this investor is worth pursuing or if I should focus my energy elsewhere.
The Real Impact
Before this ritual, I’d finish investor calls feeling uncertain. Did it go well? Are they interested? What do I do next?
Now, I walk away with clear information about the investor, their concerns, their process, and whether we’re a good fit. This has helped me build better relationships with investors and avoid wasting time on those who aren’t genuinely interested.
The 5 minutes of prep saves me hours of confusion and follow-up.
Your Quick Start
Before your next investor call:
Set a timer for 5 minutes
Review any previous notes (or LinkedIn profile if it’s a first call)
Check the meeting agenda
Write down 2-3 questions you want to ask
Have your pitch script accessible (even if you don’t use it)
Pro tip: Do this ritual even for calls you think will be “easy” or informal. The preparation compounds over time and makes you a sharper, more confident founder.
Try it before your next investor meeting and let me know how it changes the conversation!
Ciao for now,
— Jade