A data room is an effective tool for demonstrating the value of your business and its potential to investors. It is generally used for due diligence in M&A deals but it could also be beneficial for fundraising, IPOs, and other investor gatherings. However, the process of preparing a data room is a tedious and sometimes overwhelming task. What do you decide on which documents to include? How should they be organized and grouped? And how do you establish permissions for them?
As a startup, you should provide data that can support your narrative. This will vary by stage, for example the seed stage startups might want to share data about trends in the market, regulatory changes and compelling “why now” forces; whereas growth-stage companies should focus on the trends in key metrics, including new customer acquisition, revenue and the like.
Don’t overload your presentation with too excessive information. Too much information can cause investors to become overwhelmed and could indicate that your team doesn’t understand what is needle-moving for the business. Make sure any metrics you present are representative of all data and not just a few (such as showing only “bright spots”)
An annotation tool lets users to add their own comments and queries on any document that is part of the virtual data room. This keeps discussions focused and makes it easier to manage the Q&A process. In addition, access permissions which can be customized at the level of folders and documents are crucial to minimize the possibility of sensitive information being shared with third-party parties. Look for a service provider that provides a variety reporting tools to monitor the activities of users. For instance, what documents are most frequently viewed by users when they are.
