Investors Wish List
At 173tech, we work with fast-growing companies and their investors to transform how data is used. We have been a key partner to investment firms for over six years and in that time we have come to appreciate both sides of the table: the pressure on founders to deliver, and the need for investors to see clear, trustworthy insights.
In this article we dig into common complaints from investors we talk with, what they wish for and how we can make these wishes can be made a reality.
A Clearer Picture of Portfolio Performance
The wish: “I want to know how my companies are really performing, not just in isolation but compared to their peers.”
The challenge: Investors are often presented with a flurry of updates, monthly metrics, board decks, ad-hoc founder reports, all in different formats and levels of detail. It is easy to get stuck in the weeds, comparing apples to oranges and difficult to see the bigger picture. Competitor benchmarking adds another layer of complexity: how do you know if growth is impressive if you cannot see it against a wider context?
The solution: Bringing portfolio data together in a way that is consistent, comparable, and easy to digest. That is what we helped Founders Circle Capital achieve; tracking growth systematically, logging performance over time, and setting it against relevant benchmark. They are now able to track the progress of more than 5,000 companies and compare more than 440 metrics.
Reporting You Can Actually Trust
The wish: “I want reporting that I can rely on, without having to second-guess the numbers.”
The challenge: Trust in data breaks down quickly when numbers do not match up. Maybe the founder’s update shows one revenue figure, the finance spreadsheet another, and the board pack something else entirely. You are then left playing detective, chasing clarifications, and spending valuable time on reconciliation rather than insight. Over time, misaligned reporting can create friction in investor-founder relationships, as both sides waste time defending their version of “truth.”
The solution: Establishing a single source of truth that underpins investor reporting. That is why we built our Investor Dashboard, a way to bring core metrics together, automatically updated, so both investors and founders are looking at the same picture. Reliable reporting not only saves time; it builds trust, and with trust comes speed in decision-making.
Wasted Time (& Money) on Data
The wish: “I want portfolio companies to spend their resources wisely, no more endless data projects that drag on and deliver little value.”
The challenge: Many companies, especially in their early stages, know they should be more data-driven, but they do not always know where to start. The result is a cycle of trial and error: investing in tools they do not need, hiring expensive data teams too early, or sinking months into projects that never quite land. From an investor’s perspective, this is painful to watch. Valuable time and capital disappear into projects that were never properly scoped or aligned with business needs. Worse, the outcome often leaves founders burned and reluctant to try again, stalling progress even further.
The solution: Structured, upfront guidance that cuts through the noise and sets companies on the right track from the beginning. Our Data Workshops are designed to do just that: focus attention on the most impactful data opportunities, avoid costly detours, and give founders clarity on what not to do as much as what to prioritise. For investors, this means peace of mind that portfolio companies are building lean, effective data strategies without wasting precious runway.
Truly Data-Driven Companies
The wish: “I want my portfolio companies to actually operate as data-driven businesses, not just talk about it.”
The challenge: Many teams describe themselves as data-driven, but in reality their efforts stop at reporting. Numbers are pulled from scattered systems, cleaned up just enough to build a slide deck, and then shelved until the next cycle. What is missing is the next step: using data not just to look back, but to drive action. Instead of enabling automation; whether that is faster customer insights, streamlined operations, or predictive forecasting, teams are stuck reconciling figures and debating accuracy. For investors, this is more than an operational inefficiency; it is a signal that the company is not yet unlocking the full leverage of its data. A business that cannot move beyond static reporting risks leaving both growth and efficiency on the table. But to do this, you do of course need solid foundations…
The solution: Building a single source of truth from the ground up. Our Data Launcher helps companies establish a central data foundation early, connecting systems, standardising metrics, and creating clarity across teams. The result is a culture where data is not an afterthought, but an asset that everyone can trust.
A Wish List Within Reach
Clarity on portfolio performance.
Reporting that can be trusted.
Confidence that time and money are not being wasted.
Portfolio companies with a genuine data culture.
At 173tech, we exist to make this wish list real. By combining investor experience with data expertise, we help you and your portfolio companies turn data from a frustration into a source of clarity and confidence. Because in the end, good data is not about dashboards or pipelines, it is about giving you back time, certainty, and conviction in your decisions.
