How to Communicate Value to Stakeholders and Investors

20 July 2025

Let’s face it—trying to get stakeholders and investors on board with your business vision can feel a lot like trying to sell ice to a snowman. You know your product or service is valuable, and you're bursting with excitement about your growth potential. But if you can’t clearly communicate that value, well... it might just stay your little secret.

Don’t worry—we’ve all been there. The good news? Communicating value isn’t just an art; it’s a skill you can learn and master. And that’s exactly what we’re going to unpack today.

In this guide, we’re going to chat (yes, chat, not lecture) about how to connect the dots between what you’re offering and what your stakeholders or investors actually care about. Whether you're mid-pitch, prepping an email update, or making a presentation deck that won’t put people to sleep, this is for you.

Ready? Let’s get rolling.

What Does “Communicating Value” Even Mean?

Okay, before we dive in too deep, let’s set the stage.

Communicating value means clearly showing why your business, product, or project is worth someone’s time, money, and attention. It’s about helping your audience see what’s in it for them—whether that’s a strong return on investment, long-term growth potential, or the chance to be part of something truly innovative.

It’s not just about numbers (though yes, we’ll talk metrics!), it’s about crafting a compelling story.

You’re not just building a product or delivering a service—you’re solving problems, filling gaps, and creating opportunities. That’s the real magic.

Why It’s Important: A Quick Reality Check

Let’s be real for a second.

If your stakeholders or investors don’t get your value, they’ll get out. Plain and simple.

In today’s endlessly busy world, people don’t have time to decode jargon or read through 16-page reports to guess why your business matters. You’ve gotta hand it to them on a silver platter—concise, clear, and compelling.

When you get this right, magic happens:
- Investors open their wallets (and their networks).
- Stakeholders become champions.
- Teams rally behind your vision.
- You build trust, credibility, and momentum.

All great stuff, right?

Step 1: Know Your Audience (Hint: They’re Not All the Same)

You wouldn’t speak to your grandma and your college roommate the same way, right? (Unless Grandma's super into cryptocurrency, which—cool.)

Same goes for stakeholders and investors. One size does not fit all.

🎯 Identify Who You're Talking To:

- Investors want returns, scalability, market potential.
- Stakeholders (employees, partners, board members) want to see alignment, impact, sustainability.

🧐 Ask Yourself:

- What does this person care about most?
- What kind of metrics or outcomes matter to them?
- How involved are they in the day-to-day?

When you understand their perspective, you can tailor your message like a custom suit. And guess what? People pay attention when you speak their language.

Step 2: Lead with Outcomes, Not Features

Here’s a trap many founders and business leaders fall into: feature overload.

You get so pumped about your techy, shiny, complex features that you forget to mention why any of it matters.

🙏 Please, lead with results.

Say you’re developing a new SaaS platform. Don’t just say:
> “We use a proprietary algorithm to automate financial projections in real-time.”

Okay… and? 😐

Instead, say this:
> “Our platform helps CFOs cut budgeting time by 40% while giving them accurate, real-time insights for better decision-making.”

Ahhh. Now we’re talkin’.

Features are the "how." Outcomes are the "wow." Big difference.

Step 3: Data + Storytelling = Jackpot

Of course, data matters. But data alone won’t get people to care. That’s where storytelling comes in.

🧠 Fun fact: People remember stories way more than stats.

Here’s the Formula:

Pain Point → Solution → Result

Let’s say you’re pitching your health-tech startup.

> “Before using our platform, clinics were manually tracking patient visits—leading to tons of scheduling errors and frustrated patients. We introduced our easy-to-use scheduling system, and within 3 months, they saw a 25% increase in operational efficiency and a 30% boost in patient satisfaction.”

Boom. Numbers + narrative. Now that’s stickiness.

Step 4: Make it Visual (Seriously, Please)

Let’s put it this way—if your value proposition can't fit on one slide, it’s too long.

Visuals help people grasp complex ideas quickly. They also keep your audience engaged (and awake, thank you very much).

Here are a few tips:
- Use charts and graphs to show trends.
- Include infographics to break down processes.
- Highlight KPIs with dashboards.
- Use before/after visuals to show impact.

Keep it clean, punchy, and aligned with your brand.

Step 5: Be Transparent, Always

You might think communicating value means painting the rosiest picture possible.

Not quite.

Stakeholders and investors appreciate honesty. They’re not expecting perfection—they’re expecting integrity.

Instead of hiding challenges, show how you're addressing them:
- Acknowledge what’s not working.
- Share your learnings.
- Emphasize the plan to fix it.

This doesn’t undermine your value—it reinforces it.

In fact, many investors will tell you they’re more likely to back founders who are upfront and self-aware, rather than those stuck in the “everything is perfect” fantasy.

Step 6: Keep It Consistent

Communicating value is not a one-time thing. It ain’t just for pitch meetings or quarterly reports. It’s ongoing.

You’ve got to communicate consistently:
- Monthly updates
- Quarterly reports
- Investor newsletters
- Team meetings
- Press releases

This helps everyone stay in the loop and reinforces your narrative. It builds trust and allows people to track your progress in real-time.

Remember: consistency over communication is like compound interest—it pays off big over time.

Step 7: Invite Engagement, Don’t Just Broadcast

Want to know a secret? The best communication is two-way.

Instead of just sending out info and hoping it sticks, invite feedback.

Ask questions like:
- “What are your thoughts on this direction?”
- “Is there anything unclear or missing here?”
- “How can we better support your goals?”

When you involve stakeholders and investors in the conversation, they become more invested (pun intended). They feel heard, valued, and part of the journey.

Bonus Tips to Really Drive It Home

✔️ Avoid Jargon

Nobody wants to Google every other sentence. Keep it simple. Use plain language. You’re smart—your ideas should be too.

✔️ Be Personable

You're not a robot (and if you are, hello futuristic overlord 👋). Add a personal touch—show your passion, humor, even a little vulnerability. It humanizes your message.

✔️ Revisit and Refresh

What communicates value today might not tomorrow. Revisit your messaging often to make sure it’s aligned with where the business is heading.

Real-Life Scenario: The Investor Email Update That Nailed It

Let’s say you’re sending an investor update. Here's a quick idea for what not to do:

> "This quarter, we saw increased user activity and implemented new features."

Cool story. 😴

Here’s a better version:

> "Q2 was a game changer—our active users grew by 28%, thanks in part to our new onboarding flow that cut drop-offs by half. We also beta-tested a new AI feature that early adopters say saves them 30% more time. We’re tracking this closely and planning a full rollout next quarter."

Engaging, concise, and rich in value. That’s how it’s done.

Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This

Look, communicating value isn’t just about creating fancy decks or throwing around big words. It’s about connection. It’s about showing people—through words, numbers, and stories—why your business matters and how it’s making a dent in the universe.

And the best part? You already have the raw materials. You know your product. You live your mission. Now, it’s just about putting those puzzle pieces together in a way that clicks for your audience.

So take a step back, breathe, and think: What do I want them to feel, know, and do after hearing from me?

Start there. Speak from the heart. And don’t forget—a little humor goes a long way.

Now go forth and show them your value. Let your brilliance shine.