Building an investment network is an unconventional topic to discuss here. I believe that it can be extremely helpful in the long run as part of the Investment Process. An investor network, typically in VC or from an entrepreneurial perspective, is about the network of investors either looking to invest in your business or pooling together capital for an opportunity. However, the idea I am referring to has nothing to do with that.

What I mean by “Investor Network” is building your own personal network around your investment journey. Investing can be a lonely experience, especially as a full-time investor who travels around the world. That’s why my investment network is so crucial. This goes beyond Idea Generation, which we will get into later, though it forms a part of it.

This is about developing a network to find ideas, discuss ideas, bounce ideas off, and to be held accountable. It’s important to check your biases with opposing opinions, and look for all sorts of negativity to create feedback loops. It’s hard to keep things in your head, and that’s why having a strong investment network is essential.

Investing doesn’t necessarily require a large network.

A smaller network can be more effective in avoiding unnecessary noise. You can build your network by joining online investment forums, following company notice boards, connecting with bloggers, or using social media platforms like Twitter. You can also attend local investment meetups and networking clubs to discuss investment ideas and styles.

Even if you don’t actively engage in meetings, you can still build a great network on trusted chat rooms, or perhaps reach out to fund managers or other private investors.

Networking is more about farming than it is about hunting.

Ivan Misner

These feedback loops are essential for long-term improvement. Your network doesn’t have to be time-consuming, but it’s crucial to have a group of people you can discuss investment ideas with. There are times when investors get stuck on ideas, or they struggle with valuing a business. Discussing it with others can help you identify gaps in your understanding or your thesis.

A few ways you can build an investment network?

NETWORK	PURPOSE
Online Boards / Forums / Chats	This can help in gathering intel, discussing ideas, sharing your reasons and looking for feedback. There are a lot of smart private investors out there, the majority are very helpful.
Fund Managers of Funds you align with	If there are certain funds you align with, then seek out the fund managers. They love talking about investments and are quite open.
Social Media (With caution)	Twitter (x.com) can be helpful by tailoring your followers towards your philosophy. Just be cautious not to create confirmation bias by only following people who align with you.
Other Private Investors	If you connect with another private investor from a blog, social media or a chat room, connect with them. I’ve had great conversations and built relationships with very sophisticated investors like this.
Family, Friends or Spouse/Partner	If you have friends, family members or even a partner that likes investing, then create an accountability partner. Throw ideas around, get them out of your head and test what you think you know.
Meetups, Clubs, Summits and events.	There are some great organisations that do regular meetups, whether formal or social. Join them, build a small group of people who meet regularly to discuss ideas with.
The Stoic Investors	If your into growth, quality, micro-cap, small-cap and global equities then let’s chat!

These are just some ideas to prompt you to think about developing your own trusted network. It can be a lot more fun not keeping it all in your head. I’ve learned a lot from my network and over time it has saved me a lot of lost capital by seeing other people’s perspective.

What is my own Investment network?

I keep things simple when it comes to gathering information, sharing ideas, and discussing investments. There are a few trusted sources that I rely on for this purpose, including this blog. My network is small, but it meets my needs perfectly.

I participate in a couple of private chat rooms that focus on micro-cap and small-cap stocks. These rooms are great for discussing investment ideas, sharing experiences, and exploring potential investment opportunities. I also am involved in other educational groups to learn more about valuations, financial analysis and accounting irregularities.

In addition, I connect with a few fund managers around the world via email or phone calls. We discuss everything from investment philosophy to the hottest investment themes, and I learn a lot from these conversations.

I also participate in three investment platforms where sophisticated private investors discuss companies in detail. These platforms provide me with valuable intel that I can use to make informed investment decisions.

Finally, I have reached out to a few authors who share my investment philosophy and focus on the same market segment. One important piece of the puzzle is my wife. I am accountable to her, and we discuss investment ideas together. Being able to explain my investment decisions simply and concisely helps me to test my knowledge and understanding of a business. Always playing the devils advocate and asking:

• What does the company do?
• Why do I think this would make for a good investment?
• Is there a theme this company is playing out?
• What is the valuation?

That’s it. It’s a simple approach, but it can be a crucial aspect of the investment process.

I hope that through this blog, we can create a trustworthy and robust community of like-minded investors. If you’re interested in discussing ideas, reach out ➡️ CONNECT