Due diligence for startup investing: The key people data VCs need to see.

The world of startup investing is constantly changing, and with that comes a greater need for due diligence.

Venture capitalists (VCs) are now evaluating more than just financials and market potential; they are also taking cultural risks and organizational health into account when making investment decisions. In this blog post, we will explore how due diligence is changing in the evolving landscape of startup investing and the importance of prioritizing organizational health in private markets.

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The Changing Financial Landscape

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many VCs and startups to give out capital with little to no due diligence. However, with the ongoing economic challenges, investors are becoming more cautious with their money. This shift in investor sentiment has made it more challenging for startups to secure funding, making due diligence more critical than ever.

The Importance of Due Diligence

Due diligence is the process by which VCs evaluate potential investments to determine their potential risks and returns. Thorough due diligence enables VCs to identify potential risks and opportunities, make informed investment decisions, and provide value to their portfolio companies.

VCs are now taking a more holistic approach to due diligence, evaluating not only traditional areas like management, market potential, financials, and legal compliance, but also cultural risks and organizational effectiveness. By doing so, VCs can identify potential issues that may not be apparent at first glance, enabling them to make more informed investment decisions and help their portfolio companies thrive in a competitive market.

The Due Diligence Process

To conduct proper due diligence, VCs are scrutinizing potential investments more closely than before. They are asking questions about how the company handles conflict resolution, approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion, communicates with employees and stakeholders, measures and promotes employee engagement and well-being, approaches employee feedback and performance management, and what the company's leadership style is and how it impacts the organization's culture and effectiveness.

By asking these questions and conducting thorough research, VCs can identify potential cultural risks and organizational issues that may not be apparent at first glance. This information enables them to make more informed investment decisions and provide value to their portfolio companies by offering guidance and support in areas such as team building, culture development, and leadership training.

Improving Your Due Diligence Process

To improve due diligence, it is recommended that business development and deal sourcing teams adopt a "due diligence mindset." Investigate new opportunities more heavily against investment theses and basic due diligence checklists before submitting them to the investment committee for consideration. Additionally, VCs can revamp their current due diligence checklist and keep a secure knowledge bank of insights on failed startup postmortems to identify warning signs and avoid eventual catastrophe.

The Due Diligence Checklist

When conducting due diligence, VCs should use a checklist to ensure that they cover all necessary areas. The following provides a sample due diligence checklist for VCs to use:

Management:

• Who are the key members of the management team?
• What is their experience?
• What is their track record?
• Are they aligned with the company's goals and vision?

Market:

• What is the size of the market?
• What is the company's market share?
• What is the competitive landscape?
• What are the growth prospects for the market?

Product:

• What is the product or service?
• What are the key features and benefits?
• How does it compare to competitors' products or services?
• What is the product roadmap?
• Are there any regulatory or legal issues with the product?

Financial:

• What is the company's revenue and profit history?
• What is the revenue and profit growth rate?
• What is the burn rate?
• What is the cash runway?
• What is the company's fundraising history?
• What are the company's financial projections?
• What is the company's cash position?
• What is the company's valuation?

Legal:

• Are there any legal issues with the company?
• Has the company been involved in any lawsuits?
• Does the company have any intellectual property?
• Are there any restrictions on the company's ability to operate?
• Are there any outstanding debts or liens against the company?
• What is the company's legal structure?
• Are there any potential legal or regulatory risks?

Team Fit:

• Do the founders and management team work well together?
• Are the founders and management team open to feedback?
• Does the team have a track record of executing on their vision?

Operations:

• What are the company's key operational metrics?
• What is the company's customer acquisition strategy?
• What is the company's customer retention strategy?
• What is the company's sales process?
• What is the company's distribution strategy?
• What are the company's key operational risks?
• Are there any potential scalability issues?
• What is the company's technology stack?

The Business Case for Prioritizing Organizational Health in Private Markets

Private equity and venture capital firms are increasingly recognizing the importance of organizational health in maximizing returns on their investments. Prioritizing organizational health encompasses a range of factors, including a company's culture, leadership, and employee well-being, as well as its impact on the environment and society. Companies that prioritize organizational health tend to have better financial performance, lower risk, and higher employee satisfaction.

Research by McKinsey shows that companies with higher organizational health scores have twice the average return on assets compared to those with lower scores. However, the benefits of prioritizing organizational health extend beyond just higher returns on assets.

According to a study by Cambridge Associates, private equity firms that prioritize organizational health factors in their investments generated an IRR of 16.6%, compared to 12.9% for those that did not prioritize organizational health. Similarly, venture capital firms that prioritize organizational health factors generated an IRR of 18.7%, compared to 14.9% for those that did not prioritize organizational health.

In addition to the potential financial benefits, prioritizing organizational health can also help private equity and venture capital firms address some of the proposed changes in ESG regulations. For example, the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation requires firms to disclose their approach to ESG factors, including how they integrate these factors into investment decisions. By prioritizing organizational health, private equity and venture capital firms can demonstrate their commitment to ESG factors and improve their chances of meeting these regulatory requirements.

Technology and Due Diligence

In addition to adopting more thorough due diligence methods, VCs are also adopting technology to work more effectively and outperform their rivals. Technology can help streamline the due diligence process and provide VCs with valuable insights into potential investments.

One technology solution that VCs are using is LEON. LEON is a platform that prioritizes organizational health for private equity and venture capital firms looking to maximize their returns. By using technology to quantify the impact of organizational health across portfolio performance, investors can gain a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their portfolio companies and make informed decisions that drive better financial performance.

LEON's technology-driven solutions provide investors with the tools and insights needed to unlock critical information about their investments and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. With LEON, investors can spend less time collecting data and more time building strategies and mitigating impacts.

Conclusion

Due diligence is crucial in the current landscape of startup investing. VCs must take a more holistic approach to due diligence and evaluate potential investments in multiple areas, including cultural risks and organizational health. By conducting thorough due diligence and adopting technology solutions like LEON, VCs can make more informed investment decisions and outperform their rivals. Startups should be prepared to provide detailed information on all aspects of their business, and VCs should take the time to evaluate all potential

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