The smart founders that I have met, they continuously look for ways to systematize the manual components so that ultimately they can productize it as a software solution.
3/ The key for Founders is to look at your business and highlight the characteristics or metrics that are telling you that you are on the right track. Make sure that it fits with the story of your business and utilize that.
Building a startup is incredibly hard. Investing in startups is hard. BUT, the investor can turn off at night and nothing in their direct control will likely blow up. A startup Founder cannot say the same. Let's remember that.