Excel export for Founders

By the Mail → Excel team · Updated 2026-10-20

Commitments made in email are the ones that get forgotten. One table per fundraise keeps the process moving. This page lists the exact columns, an example row and the command that produces it.

Columns to keep

Column	Why it matters
`contact`	Who you are talking to (person or fund).
`topic`	The subject of the commitment or conversation.
`commitment`	What was promised, in concrete terms.
`deadline`	ISO date — empty means «no deadline», which is itself information.
`status`	Fixed vocabulary: open / in progress / done / blocked.

Example row

One real-shaped row from this role’s export:

contact	topic	commitment	deadline	status
VC Fund X	term sheet	share cap table	2026-10-30	waiting

Export it in one command

python mail_to_excel.py \
  --host imap.example.com --user you@example.com \
  --days 31 --fields contact,topic,commitment,deadline,status \
  --out founder.xlsx

The --fields option is what turns a raw dump into a report your role can use.

Provider notes

iCloud requires an app-specific password; two-factor accounts cannot use the main password.

Two pitfalls that ruin the file

Sensitive documents end up in a shared export — Keep fundraising exports separate and encrypted; never merge with the general inbox export.
Commitments lack dates — Write the date in the commitment text itself — «share cap table by 30 Oct».

Next step

Step-by-step: export founder email to Excel · all roles · ready script ($3)

FAQ

Is it safe to export investor threads?

Treat the file as confidential: local storage, encryption, no cloud converters.

Can the team share it?

Only with explicit access rules; prefer a per-person export over one shared file.

Is there a ready script for this?

Yes — the Python script exports any IMAP mailbox with the fields listed above; it costs $3 and runs locally.

Related guides

Export founder email to ExcelStep-by-step with the same columns and command.
All roles20 professions, one export method.