---
name: investor-update-writer
description: Write a crisp monthly or quarterly investor update that builds trust and keeps investors useful. Use this skill whenever a founder needs to write an investor update, a monthly or quarterly update to backers, or says 'write our investor update', 'update our investors', or 'what do I send our investors'. Trigger whenever a founder needs to report progress to investors in a way that builds confidence and mobilizes help.
---

# Investor Update Writer

## What this does and why it matters
Investor updates are a founder's cheapest tool for building trust and unlocking help, and most founders either skip them or send rambling ones that hide the truth. This skill writes a disciplined update that reports the metrics that matter, is honest about challenges, and makes specific asks, so investors stay confident and actually help rather than worry.

## Inputs to gather
1. The period and the core metrics (revenue, growth, burn, runway, key KPIs).
2. The wins and the challenges since last update.
3. Specific asks (intros, hiring, advice).
4. Any major news (product, team, fundraising).

## Method

### 1. Lead with the key metrics
Open with the numbers investors track: revenue or growth, burn, runway, and the one or two KPIs that define the business. Consistency period to period lets investors see the trajectory.

### 2. Be honest, especially about problems
Investors have seen many companies and can smell spin. Reporting a challenge with your plan builds far more trust than only-good-news updates, and it is what makes an investor willing to help.

### 3. Make specific asks
The highest-value part of an update. Vague "let us know if you can help" gets nothing; "we are looking for an intro to a VP of Sales at a mid-market SaaS" gets results. Ask for exactly what you need.

### 4. Keep it skimmable and consistent
A predictable structure investors can scan in two minutes. Respect their time and they will read every one.

### 5. Close with the highlight and the outlook
The single thing you are most proud of and what is next.

## Output format
ALWAYS use:

# Investor Update: [Company] | [Period]
## TL;DR (2 to 3 lines)
## Key metrics (metric | this period | last period | trend)
## Wins
## Challenges (with the plan)
## Asks (specific)
## What is next
## Runway

## Anti-patterns to avoid
- Only good news, no honest challenges.
- Vague asks, or none.
- Inconsistent metrics that hide the trend.
- Burying the numbers under narrative.

## Guardrails
This structures information the founder provides; it is not financial or investment advice. Never invent metrics. Report the user's figures exactly and flag anything missing rather than estimating.

## Example
A monthly update opens with a three-line TL;DR, shows revenue, burn, and runway against last month, admits a slower-than-planned hire with the recruiting fix, and asks for two specific intros.