Fundraising is one of the most important jobs of an Executive. From finding potential investors and developing pitch decks to evaluating offer terms and securing the deal, fundraising is taxing. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get your Assistant involved. Even if they’ve never gone through a fundraising round, most Assistants can quickly learn the ins and outs of the process and start helping immediately.
We asked three Double Assistants to share how they’ve aided their Executive clients as they were navigating their way through Series A, B, C, and even D funding rounds. Abby, Michaelia, and Sandra gave us an inside look into their world and offered five different ways to utilize your Assistant so you can stay focused on your priorities. Abby, a Double Assistant with six years of experience said, “Assistants get caught up in the details (which is a good thing). During fundraising, detail and organization are important. We are here to focus on the management of this process and free up time for our Executives to do things that really matter.”
1. Keep the process organized
When there’s no process in place, things fall through the cracks. And that’s definitely not something you want to happen during a round of fundraising. Every email, connection, and piece of research is important. Leave it to your Assistant to keep everything organized. And if they aren’t sure what the process entails from the start, that’s okay. Lean on them to talk to others who have gone through fundraising and can advise on a system that works.
2. Follow up on investor updates
We don’t have to tell you that email is a time-suck. Add in the back and forth that goes along with fundraising and you have an inbox that feels overwhelming. If your Assistant is already managing your email, you’re ahead of the game. Ask them to own any correspondence about fundraising as well. Your Assistant can keep you abreast of necessary updates, but you won’t be burdened with “Reply All’s” and informational messages that aren’t urgent.
3. Review pitch decks
The task of wrapping everything you want to share about your company in one little pitch deck is daunting. And chances are you’ll go over those slides a thousand times. Michaelia, a Double Assistant with nine years of experience, suggests that, “Before you publish your pitch deck, send it to your Assistant and let them pick it apart. I can offer a second set of eyes to review the deck and see the mistakes that your investors are going to notice. You don’t want to blow a $30 million opportunity with an investor because the font is inconsistent.”
4. Make connections
“One of my Executives was fundraising, and another customer I supported was a Venture Capitalist who happened to invest in that area. The VC asked me to find an introduction to the company, not knowing they were also a Double customer. I was able to connect them right away!” Michaelia told this story while emphasizing that the opportunity to make connections is everywhere. Having your Assistant help you in this area is like having a “Double” of you!
5. Do research
Fundraising requires an immense amount of research. There’s no one better to handle that part of the process than your Assistant. “There’s a certain dynamic to fundraising; it’s a delicate situation. I research each fund and look at their website, their people, and their values. I find out what the investors are like in real life, so I can prep my Executive with icebreakers to help start the conversation,” said Sandra.
These five ways to involve your Assistant in fundraising will quickly lift some of the weight of the process. As Michaelia pointed out, “Executives hold fundraising so close to their chest. It’s personal to them because it’s what will keep their baby growing.” Allow your Assistant to help you through what can be an emotional process.