What’s inside the investor update template
| Section | Content | Filled by |
|---|---|---|
| Asks | Up to three specific requests | You |
| KPIs | ARR, net new ARR, NRR, pipeline created, net burn, each vs. last month with a 12-month sparkline | Kimo |
| Highlights | Two to five wins, proposed from the largest metric changes | Kimo drafts, you edit |
| Lowlights | Two to five problems and what you are doing | You |
| Team and product | Hires, departures, shipped milestones | You |
| Cash | Cash at month end, net burn, runway in months | Kimo |
The order comes from Elad Gil’s format, which puts asks first because some investors will not read much past the opening section, and closes with cash, burn and runway1Source 1 · Elad Gil, 2015Investor Update Emailsblog.eladgil.com. The KPI block shows monthly values rather than cumulative totals, which a16z warns can rise even when a business is shrinking2Source 2 · Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), 201516 Startup Metricsa16z.com.
Example KPI block
| KPI | September | October | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARR | $2.41M | $2.58M | +7.1% |
| Net new ARR | $174k | $169k | −2.9% |
| NRR (trailing 12 months) | 112% | 113% | +1 pt |
| Pipeline created | $610k | $720k | +18.0% |
| Net burn | $402k | $415k | +3.2% |
Each KPI keeps the same definition as your board deck and the SaaS metrics model, so a number quoted in October’s update is exactly the number that appears in next quarter’s deck. When a metric moves sharply, Kimo flags it and proposes a highlight or lowlight line. You decide whether it belongs in the update and how to explain it.
Who it’s for
Founders from seed to Series B who want to send a consistent update every month without rebuilding a spreadsheet each time. It is especially useful in the year before a fundraise. Twelve updates with consistent numbers are strong evidence that your metrics are reliable, and they make the data room much easier to assemble.
Data it needs
How to set it up
- Step 2:
Pick your KPIs
Keep the five defaults or choose others from your models. Use the same set every month; changing it is a signal investors notice.
- Step 3:
Set the schedule
In Board decks, choose the investor update template and a draft day. The default is the third business day after month end.
- Step 4:
Finish the draft
Write your asks and lowlights, edit the proposed highlights, and add team and product notes. Plan on about 30 minutes.
- Step 5:
Send
Export to email or PDF and send to your investor list. The archived copy keeps the exact values you reported.
Read The monthly investor update, rebuilt on live data for the reasoning behind each section, and pair this template with the quarterly board deck so both documents always agree.
Frequently asked questions
Can Kimo send the update automatically?
Can I use it before I have revenue?
Does it work with a quarterly cadence?
Sources
2 references- Investor Update Emails (opens in a new tab)Elad Gil2015blog.eladgil.com
Asks first; long and short update formats; cash, burn and runway section.
- 16 Startup Metrics (opens in a new tab)Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)2015a16z.com
Cumulative charts hide declines.
External sources were accessed at the time of writing. Kimo product details, customers and figures in examples are illustrative unless a source is cited.
