Ready-to-send investor copy

Subject: {{idea name}}: {{one-line description}}

Hi {{investor first name}},

I'm {{founder name}}, building {{idea name}}.

In one line: {{one-line description}}

Where we are today: {{1-2 sentences of traction}}

We are raising {{ask amount}}. Saw your work with {{portfolio company you back}} — that's the closest analog to what we're building, which is why I'm reaching out to you specifically.

Deck and demo: {{website url}}

Worth a 20-minute conversation?

{{founder name}}

Replace: {{idea name}}, {{one-line description}}, {{investor first name}}, {{founder name}}, {{1-2 sentences of traction}}, {{ask amount}}, {{portfolio company you back}}, {{website url}}

Subject: Quick favor — intro to {{target investor or firm}}?

Hi {{warm intro name}},

Hope you're well. I'm raising for {{idea name}} — {{one-line description}}.

Quick traction snapshot: {{traction summary}}.

I'd love a warm intro to {{target investor or firm}}. I know you backed (or work with) {{portfolio company}} — would you be comfortable forwarding the one-pager below?

One-pager: {{one-pager url}}

Totally fine to say no — appreciate you considering it.

{{founder name}}

Replace: {{target investor or firm}}, {{warm intro name}}, {{idea name}}, {{one-line description}}, {{traction summary}}, {{portfolio company}}, {{one-pager url}}, {{founder name}}

Hi {{angel name or firm}} — I'm {{founder name}}, building {{idea name}} ({{one-line description}}).

Traction proof: {{traction proof}}.

I'd value your perspective for 15 minutes if you have a window in the next couple of weeks.

Whether or not it's a fit, I'm a fan of your work.

— {{founder name}}

Replace: {{angel name or firm}}, {{founder name}}, {{idea name}}, {{one-line description}}, {{traction proof}}

# {{accelerator name}} application draft — {{idea name}}

1. **What are you building?** (1-2 sentences)
   {{one-line description}}

2. **Why is this hard for others?**
   {{Defensibility — what existing players can't easily copy}}

3. **What have you shipped so far?**
   {{Concrete artifacts: prototype, beta users, contracts, demos}}

4. **What did you learn from your first 10 conversations?**
   {{The single most surprising customer insight}}

5. **Why this team?**
   {{The unfair advantage each founder brings}}

6. **What's the 90-day goal during the batch?**
   {{One concrete metric you'll move in the batch — usage, revenue, partners}}

7. **What would you do with the check?**
   {{The single biggest constraint $100-500k would unblock}}

Replace: {{accelerator name}}, {{idea name}}, {{one-line description}}, {{Defensibility — what existing players can't easily copy}}, {{Concrete artifacts: prototype, beta users, contracts, demos}}, {{The single most surprising customer insight}}, {{The unfair advantage each founder brings}}, {{One concrete metric you'll move in the batch — usage, revenue, partners}}, {{The single biggest constraint $100-500k would unblock}}

# Grant application outline — {{idea name}}

1. **Specific Aims (1 page)**
   - Problem statement + significance.
   - Hypothesis or approach.
   - Two or three measurable aims with success criteria.

2. **Significance + Innovation (2-3 pages)**
   - Why this matters now (numbers + citations).
   - What's novel about your approach vs prior art.

3. **Approach (5-8 pages)**
   - Aim 1: methods, milestones, deliverables.
   - Aim 2: methods, milestones, deliverables.
   - Risk + mitigation table.

4. **Commercialization Plan (1-2 pages)**
   - Target customer + market sizing.
   - Path from grant deliverable → paying product.
   - Letters of intent from at least 2 potential customers.

5. **Team + Biosketches**
   - Principal Investigator background + relevant publications.
   - Co-investigators + advisors.
   - Organizational capacity.

6. **Budget + Justification**
   - Phase 1: typical 6-12 months, $50k-$300k.
   - Phase 2 ladder if applicable.

Replace: {{idea name}}

# Lender preparation checklist

Bring everything below to your first lender meeting.

- [ ] Two years of business tax returns (Form 1120 / 1065).
- [ ] Two years of personal tax returns for any 20%+ owner.
- [ ] Year-to-date profit and loss statement.
- [ ] Year-to-date balance sheet.
- [ ] Last three months of business bank statements.
- [ ] Business debt schedule (loans + lines of credit + leases).
- [ ] Articles of incorporation + EIN letter.
- [ ] Business license + any required permits.
- [ ] Lease or property deed.
- [ ] Three years of projected financials with assumptions.
- [ ] Detailed use of funds (line-itemed).
- [ ] Personal financial statement for each guarantor.
- [ ] Resumes of the leadership team.

# {{idea name}} — one-pager

**Tagline:** {{one-line description}}

**Problem.** {{Specific pain in a specific buyer's life}}

**Solution.** {{What you ship + how it solves the problem}}

**Why now.** {{Tail-wind that makes today the right moment}}

**Market.** {{Bottom-up TAM with the customer count + ACV}}

**Traction.** {{The most legible single number you can quote}}

**Team.** {{Founder names + unfair advantage in one line each}}

**Ask.** {{Amount + 12-month plan}}

**Contact.** {{Email + calendar link}}

Replace: {{idea name}}, {{one-line description}}, {{Specific pain in a specific buyer's life}}, {{What you ship + how it solves the problem}}, {{Tail-wind that makes today the right moment}}, {{Bottom-up TAM with the customer count + ACV}}, {{The most legible single number you can quote}}, {{Founder names + unfair advantage in one line each}}, {{Amount + 12-month plan}}, {{Email + calendar link}}

# {{idea name}} — 10-slide pitch deck outline

Slide 1 — **Title.** Company + tagline + founder name + contact.
Slide 2 — **Problem.** One concrete customer + the cost of the problem today.
Slide 3 — **Solution.** Screenshot or sketch + 3-bullet "how it works".
Slide 4 — **Why now.** The tail-wind that makes today different from 5 years ago.
Slide 5 — **Market.** Bottom-up sizing + adjacent expansion.
Slide 6 — **Business model.** Price + ACV + gross margin assumption.
Slide 7 — **Traction.** Single chart of the most credible metric.
Slide 8 — **Team.** Founder bios + the single line each that says "why us".
Slide 9 — **Financials.** 3-year projection + key assumptions.
Slide 10 — **Ask.** Amount + use of funds + the 12-month milestones.

Replace: {{idea name}}

# Data room checklist

Stand up these folders in Notion, Google Drive, or DocSend BEFORE the investor asks.

**01 — Company**
- One-pager + deck (PDF + Keynote/Google).
- Cap table snapshot (post-money).
- Incorporation docs + bylaws.

**02 — Financials**
- Last 12 months of bank statements.
- Year-to-date profit and loss + balance sheet.
- 3-year forecast model.

**03 — Product**
- Live demo link or recorded walkthrough.
- Architecture / system diagram.
- Open-source dependencies + intellectual property status.

**04 — Customers**
- Pipeline + closed customers spreadsheet.
- 3 reference customer contacts (with permission).
- Letters of intent / signed contracts.

**05 — Team**
- Org chart + key hires planned.
- Founder + executive bios.
- Advisor list + commitments.

**06 — Legal**
- Outstanding intellectual property filings.
- Material contracts.
- Privacy policy + terms of service.