This is a question we hear a lot, both from first-time entrepreneurs and from founders who have raised before. There is no shortage of advice available on how to prep for a pitch meeting.

Here's the problem: if you're asking that question at the pitch stage, you're already too late. Most of the time, your first meeting with an investor isn't a pitch. Instead, it's a coffee, or a cocktail, or an introduction at an event. Often, it's not a meeting at all-it's an email conversation.

You know the saying, "you only get chance to make a first impression?" This is especially true for investors. While there's an awful lot of emphasis put on preparing for a pitch, an investor is going to form opinions about you based on your first interaction, well before the pitch takes place.

Here are 5 questions you should answer before that first interaction to help make sure your first impression is a good one.