How to Prepare for Investor Due Diligence

Get ready for the due diligence process before closing a funding round. Learn what documents investors request and how to organize your data room.

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4 minutes read
6 steps
1

Understand the Process

Due diligence typically happens after a term sheet. Investors verify your claims, review legal documents, check financials, and assess risks. The process takes 2-6 weeks depending on round size.

Pro Tip
Clean records from day one make due diligence smooth. Messy records cause delays and red flags.
Related AI Agent: Funding Advisor
2

Set Up Your Data Room

Create an organized virtual data room (Google Drive or Notion works early). Standard folders: Corporate Documents, Financials, Cap Table, Contracts, IP, Team, and Product. Keep it updated.

Pro Tip
Investors notice organization. A clean data room signals operational competence.
Related AI Agent: Funding Advisor
3

Prepare Corporate Documents

Gather: certificate of incorporation, bylaws, board minutes, cap table, stock option agreements, founder agreements, and any previous funding documents. Everything should be signed and dated.

Pro Tip
Use a service like Clerky, Stripe Atlas, or Carta to keep corporate records in order.
Related AI Agent: Funding Advisor
4

Organize Financial Data

Prepare: historical financials, bank statements, current burn rate and runway, financial projections with assumptions, and unit economics. Be ready to explain variances and projections.

Pro Tip
Know your numbers cold. Investors will ask follow-up questions to test your understanding.
Related AI Agent: Business Model
5

Document IP and Product

Include: IP assignment agreements from all founders and employees, patents or trademarks if any, technology overview, and product roadmap. Ensure the company owns all IP created for it.

Pro Tip
IP assignment gaps are a common deal-killer. Fix them before fundraising.
Related AI Agent: Funding Advisor
6

Anticipate Questions

Prepare explanations for: any unusual cap table entries, founder departures, legal disputes, customer concentration, and competitive threats. Transparency builds trust; surprises kill deals.

Pro Tip
Surface potential issues proactively with a brief explanation. Hiding problems backfires.
Related AI Agent: Funding Advisor

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