1
Confirm legal close and disclosure clearance before drafting
Verify that all transaction documents are fully executed and that your legal counsel has confirmed no regulatory disclosure restrictions apply. For publicly traded companies, coordinate with securities counsel on Reg FD compliance.
💡 Set a single internal 'go/no-go' sign-off date so the release does not circulate externally before the deal is legally complete.
2
Draft the headline with the five key facts
Include the company name, the round amount, the round type, the lead investor name, and the primary use of funds. Every word in the headline should carry weight.
💡 Write three headline variants and test them with a colleague unfamiliar with the deal — the one that generates the most questions is the clearest.
3
Write the lede with the full deal summary
Compress the most newsworthy facts into the first two to three sentences: company description, amount raised, round type, lead investor, co-investors, and primary use of proceeds.
💡 Read the lede aloud. If it takes longer than 15 seconds, it is too long.
4
Insert verified traction metrics in the context paragraph
Pull two to three quantified metrics that demonstrate business momentum — revenue, customer count, ARR growth, or geographic footprint. Confirm each figure with the CFO before including it.
💡 Match the metric to what matters most to your investor audience: ARR for SaaS, GMV for marketplaces, units shipped for hardware.
5
Obtain and finalize all executive and investor quotes
Draft proposed quotes for the CEO and lead investor, then circulate for written approval from each party. Do not finalize the release until every named individual has approved their own quote in writing.
💡 Send quotes with a 48-hour approval deadline so approval tracking does not become the bottleneck on your release timeline.
6
Add the investor list with written consent from each party
List every participating investor by their fund's legal name. Obtain written approval from each fund's communications team before naming them.
💡 Create a simple approval tracker spreadsheet — fund name, contact, approval status, date received — and archive it with your deal documents.
7
Insert the safe harbor disclaimer if required
For publicly traded or late-stage pre-IPO companies, include a forward-looking statement disclaimer drafted or reviewed by securities counsel. Include references to the applicable securities act for your jurisdiction.
💡 Use a jurisdiction-specific safe harbor template rather than copying a generic disclaimer — US, Canadian, and UK/EU formulations differ in material ways.
8
Update the boilerplate and verify the media contact
Confirm the boilerplate accurately reflects current headcount, headquarters, product description, and website. Assign a single named media contact who will be available on the day of distribution.
💡 Create a calendar hold for the media contact on the release day — inbound press inquiries typically arrive within 30 minutes of wire distribution.