The level of accepted laziness in this business is just pathetic. I’m no Harry Stebbings. I don’t do 996. But day after day, I find myself shocked at the total lack of standards investors have for themselves.

This laziness hurts startups. It also hurts investors, whose net worth (and reputation) is tied to those startups.

Let’s go through what I consider to be the absolute bare minimum for an investor…

1) Answer Your Messages. Respond to founder and investor messages within a reasonable period of time, preferably 24 hours or less.

Founders are out there busting their butts. They can’t wait a week for you to get back from Italy and maybe, possibly respond to their e-mail.

Can I say I’ve never missed a message? Of course not.

But I try my best to get back with everyone, especially if we know each other. I can usually manage that in 12 hours or less.

If I get a cold message that doesn’t give me any useful detail or seem compelling in any way, sometimes I don’t respond. And even then, I probably should be, even if just to decline.

That’s something for me to work on.

2) Reply to Investor Updates. Can you believe that many investors don’t do this?

An incredibly busy founder took the time to write you an update. You backed him, and you should be his biggest supporter.

But you couldn’t see your way clear to write “Great growth, keep it up!”?

Come on, people.

You don’t need to write them a novel. One friendly, positive line is enough.

But say something, just so they know they’re not screaming into the abyss.

Many founders report never getting a single reply to their updates! No wonder they stop sending them.

3) Boost Them on Socials. Yesterday, I screamed at my computer “WHAT THE @#%$!”

The reason: yet again, I’m the one and only person commenting on one of my startup’s LinkedIn posts.

Folks, we all know how these algos work. Like, comment, follow, and their posts reach more people.

LinkedIn is a critical sales channel for many startups. We should all be boosting our companies every chance we get.

The same goes for X and other social platforms as well. Pick a platform or two and boost your companies regularly.

It’s easy, anyone can do it, and it really does help!

It also lets founders know you notice them and you give a crap. Sometimes, that alone is enough.

Wrap-Up

Think of everything founders do for us.

Sleepless nights. Low pay. Lost relationships. Crippling stress.

And we can’t reply to an e-mail? Give me a break.

I’ve kept quiet about this for a long time. But I’m finally fed up.

For those of you out there doing the right thing, I see you and I appreciate you. And founders do too.

For those of you slacking, this is your wake up call. Step it up.

More on tech:

My New Investment Strategy

Meet My Latest Investment: Mozi

How to Tell If Investors Are Really Interested

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