Sessions · Advisor session
Board Meetings & Investor Updates: What VCs Actually Want to See
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · 2–3 PM PDT
About this session
Once you've raised a real round, you have a board and investors to report to, and that changes how you run the company. How do you prepare for a board meeting that's actually useful? What should go into your investor updates, and what do VCs look for between the lines? And how do you build trust with your board over time, especially when the numbers aren't where you want them to be?
In this roundtable, Ben Nahir, Partner at Elevate Capital, shares the investor's side of the table with a small group of founders who are working through exactly these questions.
What we'll talk about:
How to prepare and run board meetings that help you, not just inform your investors
What a strong investor update looks like and what investors actually read
How to communicate bad news and missed targets without losing trust
Building a working relationship with your board as the company grows
Format
Each founder introduces themselves: name, company and their specific question
Ben introduces himself
Open roundtable discussion around the founders' questions
Please come with one concrete question about your board or investor communication. What founders share stays in the room.
Why attend
- Hear how a VC partner reads board decks and investor updates
- Learn how to share bad news and missed targets without losing trust
- Small roundtable with founders who recently raised and now report to a board
Hosting this session
Benjamin Nahir
Partner, Elevate Capital
Ben is a neuroscientist-turned-investor who uses a data-driven approach to identify, research, and recommend investment opportunities. At Elevate, Ben oversees investments across Elevate’s expanding funds and helps scale early-stage companies into thriving, sustainable businesses. He is well known throughout the ecosystem for his collaborative approach and commitment to serving as a mentor, advisor, and connector within Elevate’s portfolio community.
Beyond his work at Elevate Capital, Ben has been a cornerstone of Oregon’s startup community for over a decade through his involvement with TiE Oregon Angels and TiE Global Angels, providing strategic guidance and capital insights to early-stage entrepreneurs. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute (OTRADI) and the Oregon Biosciences Incubator (OBI).
Ben received his BS in Mathematical Biology from Harvey Mudd, his MBA from Portland State University, and a Doctorate in Philosophy in Neuroscience from the University of Florida.
Next step
Have a question behind the session?
Share what you’re working through. If your company qualifies, we’ll reply personally within 24 hours.
For companies that have raised at least $1M from venture firms.