From the outside, investor meetings can look like confident CEO, sharp desks, metrics, a few laughs over coffee, and a lot more easy-going, making it seem very sophisticated. But as the Executive Assistant to the CEO of a unicorn startup, I can tell you what it truly feels like: controlled chaos, barely managed with some caffeine and character.
These meetings are usually critical decision makers. Months of planning, coordinating, directing and hiring has to take place before the CEO begins the talk. And all of this can move on the basis of how the meeting goes . The prep for all of this starts long before the actual pitch. That’s where I come in; I gather numbers from finance, coordinate with legal to scrub anything sensitive, and sit with the CEO to rehearse until his talking points feel effortless.
But honestly, nothing is ever effortless; half of the time, meetings are rescheduled at the last minute, either by them or us. There was this one time I had to rebook a flight, courier a printed deck across town, and get the CEO from a product review to a VC office in just 20 minutes flat without him missing a heartbeat. Another time, I watched as one of the partners zoned out mid-pitch because their lunch ran late; all of this stress came down to catching them at the wrong hour.
Then there is the emotional toll; no matter how much we put it off, it’s there, and we can’t really ignore it. My CEO plays it cool, but just before a big meeting, I see it: the pacing, the silence before we leave, and constant glances at the phone for reassurances. Investors are always evaluating the founder more than the company. Every pause, every slip-up, every slight crack in confidence can shift their perception.
With all of this, I have also learned that fundraising isn’t just about getting money; it’s much more than that. It’s about performance, ego management, storytelling, and leadership skills. Some investors look for a visionary speech, and some of them want hard numbers and no beating around the bush. My work is to figure out all of these ahead of time, brief the CEO accordingly, and make sure logistics look flawless so that he can focus on the pitch.
And if the meeting goes well? It’s Euphoric. The relief is so relaxing, but the celebration is brief because there is always another one lined up to take charge of.
Another pitch, another deck, another room to convince.
People usually think that EAs are just managing calendars and running small errands, but during the fundraiser, I manage anxiety, expectations, losses, and sometimes even wardrobe emergencies. Because in the pressure cooker of investor meetings, everything matters.
Every second, every slide, every sip of water.