Oh absolutely! It is. Infact, I remember reading Brad Feld’s blog about LP relationships back when I started working in VC and this was the most important advice he had.
💯 - the more we're led the happier we are or look the other way - the more we think the business should be run in a different way the less comfortable we feel about the founder
I recently wrote an article on a very similar subject. Here is the metaphor I used-hopefully someone finds it helpful.
“A garden doesn’t pause. Neither should our relationships.
Picture the strongest rose or the hardiest indoor tree. If you skip just one week of water, one month of pruning, one season of weeding—the leaves will begin to turn yellow, the roots will start to rot, and the beautiful bloom never comes. Neglect is slow murder.
Relationships are the same living organism.
If you decide to allow a conversation go stale, or choose to let a check-in slide; even if you let a positive memory or interaction fade—then the bond starts to withers.
It won’t collapse overnight.
But it absolutely will start to die in inches:
• one missed call,
• one “we’ll catch up soon,”
• one silence that stretches too long.
Every uncultivated day is a step backward.
One step, no matter how small, is still motion—but motion towards death.
So water it. Sun it. Prune it. Daily.
Only then does the garden—and the relationship—explode into the full, wild, unstoppable life it was born for.”
It’s the reality - Post investment is when the real hard work begins. Regular updates outside the boardroom are a requirement not just a nice to have. This is why choosing who is the right investor for your company to partner with is critical.
💯 - my great work with a founder is outside of the board meeting. Working on some kind of unlock that the team thinks is more critical. Thanks for sharing your wisdom 🌞
Oh absolutely! It is. Infact, I remember reading Brad Feld’s blog about LP relationships back when I started working in VC and this was the most important advice he had.
His advice is excellent! Thanks for sharing
The ‘build allies, not auditors’ - great mindset shift.
Love all these frameworks you create, Chris, so useful for founders
Thanks! I really appreciate the thoughtful comment 🌞
This whole idea of building allies, not auditors, is the key.
💯 - the more we're led the happier we are or look the other way - the more we think the business should be run in a different way the less comfortable we feel about the founder
Absolutely agree—keeping investors close with regular, transparent updates truly builds trust and unlocks support.
I too agree on that.
💯 right! Totally in line with your thoughts Burak. I hope all is well 🌞
I learnt this: "great founders don’t manage investors —
they lead them."
They need high levels of magnetism 👏
I recently wrote an article on a very similar subject. Here is the metaphor I used-hopefully someone finds it helpful.
“A garden doesn’t pause. Neither should our relationships.
Picture the strongest rose or the hardiest indoor tree. If you skip just one week of water, one month of pruning, one season of weeding—the leaves will begin to turn yellow, the roots will start to rot, and the beautiful bloom never comes. Neglect is slow murder.
Relationships are the same living organism.
If you decide to allow a conversation go stale, or choose to let a check-in slide; even if you let a positive memory or interaction fade—then the bond starts to withers.
It won’t collapse overnight.
But it absolutely will start to die in inches:
• one missed call,
• one “we’ll catch up soon,”
• one silence that stretches too long.
Every uncultivated day is a step backward.
One step, no matter how small, is still motion—but motion towards death.
So water it. Sun it. Prune it. Daily.
Only then does the garden—and the relationship—explode into the full, wild, unstoppable life it was born for.”
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and wisdom 🌞
Thank you Chris! I appreciate you letting me share my thoughts!
Your message is a great one! I look forward to reading more!
It’s the reality - Post investment is when the real hard work begins. Regular updates outside the boardroom are a requirement not just a nice to have. This is why choosing who is the right investor for your company to partner with is critical.
💯 - my great work with a founder is outside of the board meeting. Working on some kind of unlock that the team thinks is more critical. Thanks for sharing your wisdom 🌞