Vous faites face à des demandes contradictoires d’investisseurs pour votre entreprise. Comment décidez-vous lesquels privilégier ?

Before investors coming in, they should have the goals and investment strategies. To a certain extent, they should have agreed to these. With the passage of time, they might have other thoughts on the strategies etc. Open communication is important for everyone to discuss how to best achieve the goals and better returns. The pros and cons of each demands should be evaluated and then agreed with all the investors.

The primary factor should be how well each investor's demands align with your venture's long-term vision and strategic objectives. Stay true to your core mission and values. Assess the potential impact and tradeoffs of each investor's demands. Evaluate which ones will have the most meaningful impact, positive or negative, on your business growth, product development, market positioning, and other key areas. Prioritize demands from investors who can provide the most strategic value beyond just capital, such as industry knowledge, connections, and mentorship. Some investor demands may provide short-term benefits but undermine long-term sustainability. Prioritize what will drive lasting success for your venture.

Uma grande fonte de conflitos é a definição das metas, algo que precisa ser deixado bem claro desde o início. Metas devem estar pautadas em dados e objetivos claros, pois dessa forma todos os envolvidos podem desempenhar seu papel sem que isso atrapalhe o desenvolvimento da empresa no longo prazo

Examine if the requirements match your vision for the project by focusing on those that support your fundamental mission and strategic objectives.

Navigating conflicting investor and community demands is a common challenge in venture capital. Founders and CEOs must prioritize effectively, aligning investor demands with the venture’s long-term vision and strategic goals. At Projects RH, we assist in evaluating the impact of each demand on growth, sustainability, and market positioning. Seek smart money, considering each investor’s expertise and value beyond capital. Open communication is key; engage in transparent discussions with investors. Prioritize demands that align with the venture’s mission and drive significant value, balancing short-term gains and long-term success. This approach ensures your venture remains focused and resilient despite diverse investor expectations.

The challenge many founders face is feeling beholden to investors to do things they don't believe are in the best interest of their business just because the investor has the money. Over the years I have heard numerous (often egregious) stories of investors who prioritize their own needs over a founder's needs, and quite frankly it's troubling. Every founder at some point will face a conflict with an investor and the important thing to remember is that you (the founder) have the final say in what actually happens in your business. Investors should provide guidance/suggestions, but they should not dictate operational decisions. Contrary to popular opinion, investors are not always right.

The first step in addressing conflicting demands is to evaluate the potential impact of each on your venture's core objectives—growth, profitability, and sustainability. Prioritizing demands that offer clear, measurable benefits to your business is a practical approach. These benefits could manifest in various ways, such as increased revenue, market expansion, enhanced customer satisfaction, or product improvements that provide a competitive edge.

Examine the consequences of each request thoroughly as certain ones could greatly influence your business operations more than others do; prioritize those that have the potential to boost growth, in revenue or enhance your market position.

In managing conflicting investor demands, focus on strategic alignment with your long-term vision. Evaluate demands for their potential to enhance growth, market positioning, and sustainable value creation. Distinguish between genuine strategic insights and investor-specific agendas that might not serve your venture's core interests. Use board dynamics to foster open dialogue, ensuring decisions are transparent and strategically sound, thereby reinforcing investor trust and commitment.

Distinguish genuine urgency by considering risks and opportunities impacting core viability and competitiveness. Filter out artificial pressures from investor timelines. Use a risk assessment framework to align demands with strategic inflection points. Engage in dialogue to adjust timelines, ensuring actions are responsive, sustainable, and maintain investor confidence.

It's important to prioritize those that directly impact the venture's viability or competitive positioning, as these can be pivotal moments for the business. However, it's equally important to recognize when an investor's request might be premature or not aligned with the current stage of the company’s growth. In such cases, having an open and transparent discussion about a more strategic timeline is essential. This approach not only ensures that decisions are made in the best interest of the company but also helps to build a stronger, more trusting relationship with your investors.

Assess urgency by distinguishing between critical demands and those that can wait. Prioritize investor requests that address immediate risks or significant opportunities impacting your venture's viability or competitive edge. For demands that seem premature, propose a strategic timeline aligned with your company’s growth plans. Focus on maintaining alignment with your long-term vision and ensuring that each demand supports transformative progress and strategic value.

Balancing investor input with your startup's vision is key to sustainable growth. While their expertise is invaluable, it’s important to assess their demands critically against your long-term goals. Prioritize those that align with your core objectives, and be ready to explain why some recommendations might not be feasible right away. This approach keeps your venture on course while respecting investor insights. By fostering open dialogue and mutual understanding, you can build a partnership that drives success without compromising your company’s vision and values, ensuring your startup stays agile and true to its mission.

Leverage the expertise of your investors by prioritizing demands grounded in their extensive knowledge. Focus on suggestions that address gaps in your skill set or market understanding. Engage in discussions to grasp their reasoning and integrate their insights effectively. Ensure that their input aligns with your strategic vision and accelerates your company’s growth "and do it with a smile"

Have discussions with investors to address differing needs and find mutual agreements; there may be opportunities for compromises, along the way.

Investor relationships start even before a check is written. And, in so far as possible, being able to determine early which cohort of investors are cumulatively the best fit is ideal. But the world does not operate that way and we don't always get to pick and choose. So it is not unusual to find investor demands vary or potentially conflict. Ideally, we should try to find a middle ground that takes everyone's best interests into consideration. Sometimes that should do the trick. However, if more deliberate decisions need to be made, prioritize those investors who most closely align with your medium to long-term vision of the organization.