A data room is a virtual space where startups can store all the data they require for prospective investors or acquirers in an M&A deal. They’re usually used to help field questions and due diligence from potential investors during the process of fundraising, but they can also be beneficial in streamlining an investment round by giving investors access to all of the documents and data they require in one place.
Startups can include a variety of items in their investor data rooms, depending on the stage and the scope of their business. A stage 1 dataroom will typically only contain the pitch deck and publically available information. This will give investors an overview of the business and the company. A stage 2 dataroom is usually shared by a company after it has received an Term Sheet and is planning to close an investment. This data room needs to be organized in a way that makes it easier to conduct due diligence with detailed documents and data.
For instance, a stage 2 investor data room might include things such as historical financial information and projections that are based upon your current business model. This gives investors an understanding of the company’s financial health and provides them with more precise information to analyze and compare to your competitors. Founders should also include their investor updates during this stage of the fundraising process so that investors can see how the company’s progress is going and if they’re executing the plan they have set.