The Template
Use this template to both prototype and talk about your
venture. This is the general outline most investors are
expecting to see so stray at your own risk.
The minimum font is 30 pt for a reason: be concise.
The purpose of this template is (1) force yourself to be
specific about the many different aspects of a new
venture and (2) quickly communicate your current plan
to others.
Avoid filling your slides with text – people won’t read it
(or be able to). Keep it simple. If you can’t, you don’t yet
know what you’re doing.
Other tips:
- A person should be able to get a snapshot from your
slide in 5 seconds and then listen to you.
- Use the heading of each slide to convey something
real, e.g., what you want the person to conclude from
the slide.
Try to use images where possible to convey your
message.
Slides
• Title Slide
• The idea (elevator pitch)
• Problem, Solution & Value
Proposition
• The Market side
• The Technology side
• The Business side
• Revenue Model
• Financial Projections
• The Team
• Status, Milestones &
Funding
• Summary & Next Steps
1
[your company here]
your contact information here
2
The idea
Elevator pitch
In approximately 50 words or less, describe
what the company does, for whom, and why
it’s important (i.e., valuable to that customer).
You can also very briefly mention any significant
accomplishments/milestones reached so far, e.g.
have license to patent, proof of concept
completed, prototype completed, tested with
name brand customers, etc. This can attract
interest for the remainder of the presentation.
3
Problem, Solution & Value Proposition
The Problem & Solution
Describe the customer and their problem
(“pain”) in as clear and compelling language
possible.
Describe your solution in as clear and
compelling language possible.
Describe your value proposition: the costs and
benefits of the solution to the customer (not the
technical features) and how it provides value
based on the problem you’ve identified.
4
Market
The market & sales
Describe who your intended customer is (as a
particular market segment) and how you will get to
them.
Who is the customer?
How big is this market (in terms of sales)?
How fast is it growing?
Describe how you will reach your intended market in
terms of generating awareness, converting potential
customers, and distributing your offerings.
Note: if you envision multiple customers/market
segments, note them and which one you are pursuing
first.
5
Competitive Landscape
Your
Company
Feature 1
Feature 2



Company 1
Company 2
Company n


Feature n




The competition
Use this slide if you are going into a crowded
 market
and need to understand how you will differentiate
yourself from existing competitors.
It is sometimes easier to depict the competitive landscape
in terms of specific features that add substantial value
compared to your competitors. This can be shown easily
by careful consideration to the row and column headings in
the illustrated table.



List any direct competitors as well as competing
alternatives (including the status quo). Do your
research here. Who are they? What makes you different?
What gives you an advantage?
6
Technology
The technology
Describe how your solution works (without
revealing any enabling information and
definitely in language a non-technical
investor/advisor would understand).
What makes this solution effective, unique,
and/or defensible from competitors?
Is it robust and scalable?
Is it difficult to duplicate?
Is there any IP protection?
7
Business: Revenue Models
Revenue model
Describe how your company will make money:
Who will pay for the solution? Is the user different
from the customer?
How will they pay (per unit, subscription,
transaction fee, advertising, etc...)
How much will they pay per unit? Over the lifetime
of the customer?
8
Business: Revenue Projections
Revenue projections
Year 1
Year 2
$ 60
$ 401
net income
$ -325
$ -858
customers
5
13
headcount
10
14
revenue
(000)
** All $ are in 000
Provide a 3 – 5 year forecast of the key
metrics of the business (revenue, net
income, customers, headcount) and
Year
3 information
Year 4with measurements
Year 5 of
financial
financial progress (revenue, gross profit and
$ 3,000
$net
1,555
$ 2,401
profit). Focus
on describing the 3
biggest drivers of revenue growth and the 3
$ -85 drivers $of-625
$ -1,500
biggest
cost.
A key value of this table is that it reflects
30
40
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how much money the company will need
and how much it will make, and how other
15
27
34
key metrics (like customers or employees)
line up with the financials.
Revenue should be in line with your vision.
In other words, don’t tell investors it’s
conservative. Put down what you believe.
9
The Team
The team
On this page, describe your current (and
planned) management team and advisors.
Most importantly, describe how/why the
founders are well-suited to making this
venture successful.
Be realistic: if you don’t have the right skills,
note what you need and be ready to ask for
help in identifying the right people to fill out the
team.
Advisory boards and outside directors are
important to establish your credibility and
connections; but only if they are committed to
your success.
10
Status, Milestones, & Funding
Proof of Concept – 6 Status,
monthsfunding & milestones
Describe here where you are on the path towards
launching your venture.
• SBIR Phase 1, $75K
What have you done?
What do you plan on doing next?
Build Prototype – 12 months
How much will it cost (what funding will you need)?
• SBIR Phase 2, Each
$750K
milestone should be set, then reached, so that it is
compelling enough to inspire the next round of money.
Typical milestones might be:
• Completing a prototype
• Getting a first customer
• Scaling Marketing/Distribution
• Cash flow break even
Angel Round – 6 months, $500K
• Get 2 Reference Beachhead Customers
$7.5MM needed to reach
cash
flow
You don’t need
to cover
every break
milestone, just the ones
that will get you to the next round of funding (or to
even
becoming self sufficient).
11
Summary & Next Steps
Summary & ask
Summarize your venture and status, and be
clear in what you are asking for from this
audience. If you are pitching to investors, tell
them again what funding you need now and
whether it is for equity or a convertible note. If
you are pitching to potential advisors or
employees – be clear about what you’re asking
of them.
your contact
information here
12