Spot the signs, protect your time, and don’t let slow decisions from investors drag your business down.
Founders are taught to pitch to an investor and all and sundry.
To follow up.
To keep conversations warm.
But sometimes the smartest move is to walk away.
Not every investor is the right fit. Not every “maybe” is worth chasing.
And if someone keeps circling without clarity or commitment, it’s probably time to step back.
It happens more often than you think
A founder gets interest. A call goes well. The follow-up seems positive.
Then… nothing.
Or worse — just enough noise to stay in the loop.
A request for another update. A comment like “We’re still watching.”
A soft suggestion to “check back in after your next milestone.”
Meanwhile, no real progress is being made.
And the founder? Still hopeful. Still sending updates. Still waiting.
Time is your most limited resource
It’s easy to feel like the investor has all the power.
But your equity has value. Your focus has value. Your momentum matters.
An investor who doesn’t respect that is showing you something important.
This is likely how they’ll behave if they do invest — unclear, slow, vague.
The best investors move with intention.
The rest just talk.
Signs it’s time to let go of an investor
You don’t need to be cynical, but you do need to be honest. Here are signs I look for when advising founders:
1. They ask for updates, but never give a timeline
If you’ve sent three updates and still don’t know where you stand, that’s not active interest.
2. They give vague praise, but no substance
“Looks promising” means nothing if it’s not followed by a serious conversation.
3. They keep talking about their past, not your future
Name-dropping exits or famous connections is nice, but irrelevant unless they’re showing real engagement now.
4. They move the bar every time
“If you hit X.”
“Once you hire Y.”
“After the next round.”
This is often a soft no in disguise.
Saying no to an investor isn’t dramatic — it’s smart
You don’t need to send a long explanation. You don’t need to burn bridges.
Try this:
“We’re focusing our time on a few aligned investors right now and want to be respectful of yours. We’ll reach out if a future round is a better fit.”
It’s polite. It’s clear. And it gets your time back.
The right investors respect your time
When you stop chasing the wrong ones, you make space for real conversations.
Real alignment. Real support.
This isn’t just about raising money.
It’s about building with the right people beside you.
And if someone is already draining your energy before they’re even on the cap table, that’s a sign.
A cheque isn’t worth regret
Sometimes the investor is willing to invest — but the terms feel off. Or the communication is awkward. Or the vibe is just not right.
Trust that feeling.
Ask yourself:
- Will this person help when things get hard?
- Do they understand what we’re actually building?
- Do I want them in this with me for the next five years?
Because once someone is on your cap table, you can’t easily take them off.
You’re building something real. Act like it.
Saying no doesn’t make you difficult. It makes you clear.
It tells the world — and yourself — that you’re serious about what you’re building.
Not every investor will get it.
And that’s okay.
The ones who do will respect your time, your thinking, and your business.
Raising money soon?
Raising money and not sure if the interest you’re getting is real?
I help founders build smart, fair, and focused funding strategies. If you want to attract the right kind of investors and avoid the time-wasters, let’s talk. Get in touch.