Communicate With Investors

ROUGH SEAS AHEAD?

Talking to Investors in Tough Times

Every business goes through uncertain times now and then. Want to navigate these waters with confidence? Ensure your investors that good things lie just on the horizon? Then you need to have a heart-to-heart conversation with them.

Whether you’re wrestling with insufficient cash flow. Your financial projections fell short this month. You lost a key employee. Or lead generation isn’t generating what you thought it would. Don’t leave your investors adrift. They’re the lifeblood of your business or company.

Explain your problem. How long will it last? How are you addressing the issue? Then measure yourself against your original set of expectations. You need to be candid about your failure to meet your company’s goals and how you’ll avoid repeating this in the future. But above all, convince them you have it under control.

Your investors put their trust in you. Put your trust in them. Learn to rely on your professional relationships between your company or business and your capital partners. You want everyone’s knowledge in tough times. Some of them may have experienced a similar situation. Keep the lines of communication open. And let them know you’ve invested their money in a respectful and appropriate way.

After you’ve weathered the storm, assure them that everything is under control and you’re back to playing offense. You might begin looking for organic or possible acquisition growth? Peers will be assessing their business needs. Maybe it’s time for a business combination?

Whatever the course, we can assist you in making those major decisions. Help you prepare. Facilitate communications with investors and creditors. When you’re ready to set sail, give us a call. We’ll get you to your destination without so much as a ripple.

Schedule a Consultation

dOWNLOAD 2-PAGER

As Featured In

News & Insights

How to Successfully Collaborate With a New Capital Partner

Gaining a new capital partner offers a business not just funds but also expertise and management support. Learn how to collaborate with business partners.

4 Tips for Pitching Investors in Today’s Economy

Read the article in CFO.Any company that intends to grow past a certain point eventually reaches the familiar milestone of pitching to private capital sources in hopes of securing additional funding. Those businesses that tend to be most successful are the ones...

Who We Helped in 2022

At the start of every year, we at Oaklyn Consulting like to look back at the past 12 months to reflect on projects accomplished and lessons learned from our clients. Building on our achievements from 2021, Oaklyn Consulting worked with 34 organizations in 2022 on...

Oaklyn’s Leah Williams Featured in Business Insider; She Shares 5 Strategies for Crafting Memorable Pitch Decks

We were proud to see our own Leah Williams recently spotlighted in Business Insider! Leah joined Oaklyn in June 2021 as an investor communications consultant and helps us with the important work of crafting persuasive, compelling pitch decks to help our clients...

BOSS Magazine: How Entrepreneurs Can Create a Seamless Exit for Early Investors

Thanks to BOSS Magazine for having me — I enjoyed sharing my thoughts on how to get your early investors their money back and keep them happy during the process. Read the article in PDF.A successful business might start with a good idea. But turning that idea into...

Who We Helped in 2021

We learned these 10 lessons from our 30 clients last year and believe they reflect the times: 1. Companies faring well and poorly are evaluating strategic alternatives We worked with 14 clients that came to us with questions about strategic alternatives, because...

CFO: Five Key Elements of a Successful Investor Pitch

Crafting a solid pitch involves answering the overarching question on investors’ minds: “Why should I believe that this company will make me money?” Here are five elements of a pitch that can build trust with investors and convince them to provide capital. Thanks...

CFO Dive: Bankers’ Main CFO Gripe: Lack of Transparency

CFOs and their treasurers can get more from their banking relationships if they treat them more as partnerships than customer-seller transactions, banking specialists say. Thanks for the mention, Ted Knutson and CFO Dive! Read the article in PDF.A CFO that was...

CEOWorld: Pitching to Investors: 5 Critical Components to Include

Now more than ever, businesses are seeking capital. How do you break through the competition and present a pitch that resonates with your investors? Thank you to CEOWorld for allowing me to share my thoughts on this timely topic. Read the article in PDF.Most CEOs...

Who we helped in 2020

As we all look forward to the possibilities of 2021, it’s tempting not to look back on 2020 at all, happy for it to disappear in the rearview mirror. But sometimes a review can hold helpful lessons. We found that the turmoil of the last year provided opportunities...

36|86: Building Relationships with Investors

Thanks to Launch Tennessee for hosting another great year of 36|86, a festival connecting innovators, pioneers, investors and visionaries to shape the business community of the future. A big thanks to all who joined my session on building relationships with...

CFO: How to Keep the Bankers and Investors on Your Side During a Recession

It’s important to communicate to your banker and investors that you have a handle on the issues facing your company — but that you need their support. Thanks to CFO for having me share my thoughts on communicating with bankers and investors during uncertain times....

BOSS Magazine: 5 Tips for Talking to Your Banker and Investors During a Looming Recession

Your capital providers understand that your business has been affected by the coronavirus and market volatility. It’s your responsibility to ensure them that you have the situation under control so they will confidently support you moving forward. Thanks to BOSS...

Memphis Business Journal: How to Use Emotional Intelligence to Improve Business Negotiations

Because the mergers and acquisitions process is naturally complex, it’s important to continuously look for ways to make the process smoother and more harmonious. One way to do that is by practicing emotional intelligence, whether you’re on the buying or selling...

Chattanooga Times Free Press: How to Talk to Your Banker and Investors During The Coronavirus Crisis

I’ve now experienced four recessions throughout my career in finance, and one thing I’ve learned is that business leaders must ensure competence and confidence to their capital partners. in times of uncertainty, there are six ways of communicating with your banker...

AM&AA MidMarket Talk: How to Improve Business Negotiations Using Emotional Intelligence

As a transaction attorney, you may find yourself acting as a counselor, helping your client weigh their options to make a positive business choice. In this role, you can encourage the practice of emotional intelligence to help the negotiation process run smoothly....

How to Talk to Your Banker and Investors During Uncertain Times

NOTE: This blog was written in March 2020.I’m now four recessions into my career. Each one is different, and this is the first one associated with a health crisis. But in some ways, they follow a similar pattern — signs of strain followed by crisis, complacency and...

Enterprise Suite: How to Improve Business Negotiations Using Emotional Intelligence

This article originally appeared in Corporate Counsel on March 3, 2020. Emotional intelligence (EQ) can make business negotiations smoother and more harmonious. As a transaction attorney, you can encourage your clients to adopt EQ, increasing the chance that both...

Who We Helped in 2019

During the holiday season, our tradition is to reflect on the year and assess how we fulfilled our purpose as a firm. Maybe you do something similar. Oaklyn Consulting's purpose is to be a good citizen of the business communities where we operate. In particular, we...