What do Apple, Airbnb, Dropbox, Zappos and Google all have in common?
Sequoia Capital has invested in all of them.
Want to add your startups name to that list?
Here are the 12 slides @sequoia looks for when you pitch them.
👇
Sequoia Capital has invested in all of them.
Want to add your startups name to that list?
Here are the 12 slides @sequoia looks for when you pitch them.
👇
First, why does your company exist?
Be passionate.
Paint me a better future.
Get the investors in their feels.
Examples:
@Tesla “To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”
@Asana “To help humanity thrive by enabling all teams to work together effortlessly.”
Be passionate.
Paint me a better future.
Get the investors in their feels.
Examples:
@Tesla “To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”
@Asana “To help humanity thrive by enabling all teams to work together effortlessly.”
The problem statement is where you flex your:
✔️ Unique insight
✔️ Clarity of thought
✔️ Deep understanding of the problem
VCs have been pitched your problem before. Package it in a new way that shows you think about things differently.
✔️ Unique insight
✔️ Clarity of thought
✔️ Deep understanding of the problem
VCs have been pitched your problem before. Package it in a new way that shows you think about things differently.
Market size is tricky.
Here's a guide:
TAM - What Gartner lays out "this is a $50b industry".
SAM - The segment of the TAM you can realistically own one day.
SOM - Your go-to market strategy. The beachhead you want to conquer first.
Pro tip: highlight how your TAM is growing 📈
Here's a guide:
TAM - What Gartner lays out "this is a $50b industry".
SAM - The segment of the TAM you can realistically own one day.
SOM - Your go-to market strategy. The beachhead you want to conquer first.
Pro tip: highlight how your TAM is growing 📈
For solution, think about what's on your landing page.
How do you position yourself to customers?
How are you solving this better than everyone?
What is your social proof and use cases?
Experiment with different angles until you can have a solution statement that just snaps.
How do you position yourself to customers?
How are you solving this better than everyone?
What is your social proof and use cases?
Experiment with different angles until you can have a solution statement that just snaps.
You need a flagship product, but you have to show that you're not a one trick pony.
My favorite example of a killer development roadmap was @elonmusk going from high-end and niche with the Model S to the mass consumer market with the Model 3.
My favorite example of a killer development roadmap was @elonmusk going from high-end and niche with the Model S to the mass consumer market with the Model 3.
This is the most feared slide.
The pitfall most founders make is they try to be innovative with their business model. Find one that both you AND your customer like.
There are so many great business models out there:
Subscription models
Advertising
Franchises
D2C
Just pick one
The pitfall most founders make is they try to be innovative with their business model. Find one that both you AND your customer like.
There are so many great business models out there:
Subscription models
Advertising
Franchises
D2C
Just pick one
Oddly enough, this might be the most important slide.
When building a team, imagine you are building this slide.
What expertise do you need? Who is going to give you an unfair advantage?
People have such a hard time talking about themselves (don't forget that you're a badass).
When building a team, imagine you are building this slide.
What expertise do you need? Who is going to give you an unfair advantage?
People have such a hard time talking about themselves (don't forget that you're a badass).
Show your financial model in action.
Square laid out out the best, worst, and base case scenarios (second image).
If you haven't started making money yet show that you have a financial model that will work at scale.
Square laid out out the best, worst, and base case scenarios (second image).
If you haven't started making money yet show that you have a financial model that will work at scale.
If you follow all of these slides will you start the next billion dollar unicorn? Probably.
Follow @Adam_Ha_Yes for more breakdowns (Airbnb is next). Retweets are greatly appreciated 🙏 Thanks for reading!
Follow @Adam_Ha_Yes for more breakdowns (Airbnb is next). Retweets are greatly appreciated 🙏 Thanks for reading!
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