Investors move faster when the basics are already in place. Use this list to find the gaps before you start taking meetings.

Your story

• A one-sentence description of what you do and who it’s for

• A clear answer to “why now?”

• The problem, told through a real customer’s experience

• What you’ve learned that others in the market haven’t

Your numbers

• Current revenue, users or pilots, with month-over-month trends

• The key metrics for your business model, defined consistently

• Monthly burn and runway at today’s spending

• A simple 18 to 24 month plan showing how the money gets used

Your round

• How much you’re raising and why that amount

• The milestones this round should get you to

• The instrument, such as a SAFE or a priced round, and your target terms

• Who has committed so far, if anyone

Your company records

• Formation documents and a clean, current cap table

• Founder equity issued, with vesting in place

• IP assigned to the company by every founder, employee and contractor

• A summary of any existing SAFEs or convertible notes

Your process

• A target list of investors active at your stage and in your sector

• Warm introductions mapped wherever possible

• A timeline that keeps first meetings close together

• A data room ready to share after first meetings