Tips on investment and finance in times of crisis

Read on for some personal suggestions and thoughts from Wilco Schoonderbeek, our Team Lead for Scale-Ups and Innovations, as he responds to questions he has encountered in his recent contacts with entrepreneurs.

• Tip 1. Make sure you have your story straight when you talk to your investors

During a crisis, investors like to keep their finger on the pulse when it comes to the companies they invest in. That’s why you need to give your investors a clear account of how things stand.

• Tip 2. Financing logic in times of crisis

In times of crisis, cash flow, rounds of financing and valuations are as important as ever. However, the extreme circumstances often cause a shift in the underlying logic when it comes to financing.

• Tip 3. Use your talent as an entrepreneur and keep an eye out for opportunities

Every entrepreneur can name at least a few: those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that only occur in a crisis. The current coronavirus pandemic is no exception.

• Tip 4. Always keep your networking channels open

Never forget to engage with the stakeholders in your environment. No entrepreneur is an island: you thrive by being part of a network. Update them on how you are doing, how the crisis is impacting your company and the key moments of decision facing your company in the short term. Your company won’t be the first to receive an unexpected helping hand in a crisis. A chance that might never have come if you hadn’t opened the conversation.

For questions about the coronavirus and the consequences for you as an entrepreneur, you can contact the government advisory team set up at the Chamber of Commerce .https://www.kvk.nl/corona/

For questions about the national approach to combatting the virus, the latest updates and essential information, consult the government .https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19