INVESTOR BACKGROUND

Do Your Research

Due diligence is a two-way process. Just as investors look into the performance record of a company they are planning to invest in, and learn as much as possible about the team running the enterprise, the entrepreneur who is expecting an investment should also learn everything he or she can about the people planning to invest in the business.

Important processes

Both processes are equally important to the parties concerned, since one should be as sure as possible that the people one has business dealings with are what they claim to be. A lot of problems can arise with fraudulent investors, and these can be easily avoided by researching your prospective investors before you accept their money.

There are many excellent firms who provide due diligence services, so you can ask for professional assistance in this regard. Any of these firms will check your investor’s background, and make sure that there is nothing negative in his or her past as far as investments are concerned. You will also be able to learn about your investor’s experience, positions held, reputation for integrity, general reputation and so on.

Prospective directors of your company should also be thoroughly investigated before you invite them to help manage your venture. You need to ensure that your directors fulfil legal and statutory requirements, and that they are the right people for the job. This could be a challenging expensive process, but it is essential.

1 | These pointers will help you find the directors you are looking for

Try to avoid inviting members of your family or friends to be directors – directors ideally should have no personal connections with those running the venture.
Look for a director who has some knowledge and experience of the business you are in. This will make a lot of difference when it comes to what the director can contribute to the success of your venture.
A ‘name’ director can be useful. Such a person, with recognised skills, experience and contacts, can cost a good deal, but would offer your venture a lot.

The background of company board members is another important aspect an entrepreneur should look into. Business experience as well as personal characteristics should be considered in this area.

Here are some of the things you should look for when you are looking into the background of potential board members for your company.

Competence
Honesty
Enthusiasm
Open-mindedness
Teamwork
An appreciation for challenges
Problem solving skills
A sense of humour

Avoid people who seem

Narrow minded or obsessed
Aggressive and belligerent
Opinionated
Inadequately informed
Busy but unproductive

The following suggestions will help you assemble your board of directors

The people you choose to sit on your board should add something to the team running the venture – for instance, an engineering team would find a board member who has a sound grasp of marketing skills a valuable addition.
Evaluate your enterprise to see what kind of skills are required to take your business forward, and look for people with such abilities and the necessary experience.
Don’t go overboard when it comes to the number of directors you recruit. A smaller group of people is more likely to work productively, especially when the enterprise they are helping to manage is a start up venture that doesn’t need ‘name’ directors on its board. An enterprise which is planning to expand significantly, though, may need a larger number of people on its board of directors.
Prospective board members should be approached by the head of the company, who will present information about the company and invite them to be a part of the venture
Remember that people with fund-raising abilities will be a valuable asset to any board of directors. A financial background is also an advantage.
Do background checks to ensure that your prospective directors have a reputation for integrity

As an entrepreneur, you should take as much care choosing and recruiting your board of directors as you would in selecting a manager for your enterprise. An effective board of directors made up of the right people can help take your business forward by leaps and bounds, so make sure you make the right choice when you are hiring the members of your company’s board.