"Staying on an investor's radar is more difficult than getting on it," says Azizbek Kurbonov on strategies for interacting with investors

Azizbek Kurbonov, city — Tashkent, co-founder of the startup Sug’urta Bozor, Instagram

Often, company founders find a way to get in touch with the right venture investor, but it is not always successful on the first try. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how to maintain contact with the desired fund or investor. Funds have a "short memory," and without regular reminders, there is a high chance of simply disappearing from their radar.

If I consider a particular investor or fund important to me, but not right now, or if they are not yet ready to invest, I follow this tactic:

1. Send regular updates — monthly or quarterly. This is a short slide deck of two to three pages where I report on the growth of key metrics and plans for the next period.

2. Attend industry events to strengthen connections with the desired investors.

3. Publish articles in publications read by investors.

4. Actively manage my LinkedIn page, sharing important updates and news.

5. Show the investor that I am friends with their portfolio companies.

It is important to make the investor understand that you are similar to the portfolio companies. In other words, a person is judged by their friends, and this also works in business. If your friends inspire trust, it is likely that you will be trusted as well.

6. Communicate not only about business matters.

Companies and investment funds consist of people, so first and foremost, it is necessary to build human relationships, and it is important that they are sincere. Therefore, it is important to present yourself as a person first, and only then as an entrepreneur.

All these steps require time and effort, but in the medium term, they will definitely bring results.