VC horror stories are flooding my timeline on X. Founders getting ghosted, dismissed, and disrespected.

How do we investors behave better? Here are four simple rules we should all follow…

Rule #1: Show Up On Time

Founder time is the scarcest resource in the universe. Don’t waste it.

Be sure you’re on time to meet a founder. I like to click into the Zoom a couple minutes early just in case.

Want to make sure you show up on time? Fine yourself $10 for every minute you’re late.

You can give the fines to charity.

Rule #2: Get Off Your E-Mail

You showed up to the meeting on time. Now, give the founder your full attention.

I don’t care how many messages are in your inbox. Stay off your email.

Not one quick little reply. Nothing.

If you’re dealing with a crisis, reschedule the meeting. Otherwise, leave the email for later.

And enjoy a little break from the torrent of messages!

Rule #3: Put Down Your Phone

You stayed out of your email. Good job! But there’s another distraction machine to avoid: your phone.

No quick text. No checking X.

Silence the phone and keep it away from you. I like to keep mine in a different room so there’s no temptation.

For note taking, I use an old school composition book. This way, the founder knows I’m listening to them, not playing Angry Birds.

Rule #4: Don’t Say “It’ll Never Work”

I’ve met with thousands of founders. How many times have I said “that will never work”? Zero. 

How can I possibly know that? No one knows the future.

Sometimes, the strangest ideas turn into the biggest companies.

If Airbnb pitched me in 2009, I’d be thinking, “Staying in a stranger’s spare room sounds like a good way to get murdered.” But if I’m smart, I’d have the humility to realize their idea might work. 

Wrap-Up

These four rules establish a bare minimum for investor behavior. 

Following them is not difficult. Anyone can do it.

Never forget that these 30 minutes could be the most important ones of this founder’s professional life.

We don’t owe them a check. But we do owe it to them to pay attention and be respectful.

What other rules would you add? Leave a comment and let us know! 

More on tech: 

Start Your Deck the Right Way: By Selling Yourself

How to Write Cold Emails to Investors That Actually Get Replies

You’ve Got Your First Customer. Now, How Do You Raise Money?

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