Three Newsletters Every VC Should Have
After years of avoiding it, I finally got on Twitter.
Right away I noticed 2 things:
- People are on twitter all. day. long. Does anyone even work anymore?
- VCs on twitter constantly push their newsletters.
This got me thinking: There are so many things VCs can be doing with their time... especially if they are solo GPs and/or emerging fund managers just getting started.
They've gotta fundraise, source deals, meet founders, support portfolio companies, deal with back-office operations...
Do they also need to write a newsletter?
As it turns out... no. VCs don't need to write a newsletter. They need to write 3 newsletters.
- 1 newsletter for their LPs
- 1 newsletter for their portfolio companies
- 1 newsletter for the general public
So that's the bad news. The good news is that every newsletter doesn't need to go out weekly. Let's break down each one.
The LP Newsletter
Who gets it: your existing LPs and prospective LPs
Frequency: Quarterly
What's inside:
- updates on existing portfolio companies
- new investments
- company updates – new hires, events you're hosting, etc.
- LP info – the next capital call, upcoming AGM dates, etc.
The Purpose:
- To keep your existing investors informed + excited about what's happening at the fund
- To give your investors confidence in the work you're doing
- To give prospective investors insight into the kind of performance they can expect from your fund
The Portfolio Newsletter
Who gets it: your existing portfolio companies
Frequency: Monthly
What's inside:
- upcoming events that will benefit your founders – your events or other people's
- tactical advice – eg: how to find your first technical hire, growth channels to explore, how to set OKRs, etc
- your calendar link so your founders can book time with you
The Purpose:
- To build trust with your founders
- To be a value-add investor
- To give your portfolio founders a competitive advantage through exclusive tactics and insights
The General Newsletter
Who gets it: anyone in the startup / VC ecosystem
Frequency: Weekly
What's inside:
- your unique take on something related to startups and/or investing
The Purpose:
- To increase dealflow
- To attract LPs
- To build a brand such that people want to be part of your orbit – eg: send you companies, invite you to speak, intro you to LPs, co-invest alongside you, etc.
Ugh, that's a lot.
I agree. It's a lot. This is why more and more VCs are investing in a marketing person or outsourcing to an agency.
Can you build a successful VC fund without having 3 newsletters? Yes, probably.
Will your newsletters eventually become a critical way that you fundraise, build relationships, and grow your brand?
Also yes.
PS: Strut, is a VC consulting firm that (among other things) helps funds increase engagement and build community. Want more tips on marketing your fund? Then you'll love their session at Camp Hustle, happening May 17 2023.
Grab your ticket here.
