How to handle investors’ decline email like a PRO

Declines emails are quite common in the VC world. There are a gazillion reasons why a VC would decline an investment opportunity - the majority of those reasons have nothing to do with the startup.

But when an investor does decide to decline an opportunity, there are ONLY two kinds of emails they would send back:

1. Decline: “Thanks for the opportunity…(lot of stuff in between)…. We have decided not to invest in the startup because of (reasons for decline). Wish you good luck.”

2. Decline with the expression of continued interest: “Thanks for the opportunity…(a lot of stuff in between)…. We have decided not to invest in the startup because of (reasons for decline). We would like to stay in touch/ keep us updated/provide us quarterly updates / perhaps in the next round. Wish you good luck.”