Summary of Class
We hit the ground running with an email asking us to be prepared to pitch the first five slides of our pitch deck (a pre-requisite to get into the program).
I had just received our new branding, and I had begun updating the Keynote deck with the new branding guidelines, which is a task in and of itself. I had made my way through updating the font assignments for all the different type formats, colors, and logos but hadn’t yet applied the formatting to the entire pitch deck. But I had the first six slides done, and I presented them. Which, in hindsight, wasn’t precisely what they were looking for, but I hit my 5-minute mark and introduced myself and the project (and the new branding!!), so I felt accomplished.
Then came the feedback. Ooof! I walked right into that one and hadn’t realized sharks were in the room.
Live and learn.
The first presentation outlined the importance of having a “Data Room,” which, we learned, was a collection of folders and files that allowed a potential VC, Angel, and Seed investor to navigate your business artifacts in one place. #genius
From the top level, it looks pretty simple, but as you begin to dig into the folders, you realize there is much work to be done to furnish the “Data Room1.” The “Data Room” becomes an essential filing cabinet for everything you produce when positioning a company to be attractive to Venture Capital.
This introduction to the Bridge2 program was both exciting and a bit overwhelming. I realize these things collect over time, and it’s not an assignment for next week, but sheesh, on top of building out the prototype and finishing the pitch deck, it does become a lot to stare down on the first day.
Are my eyes bigger than my stomach? Am I up to the task?
One thing stuck with me: a comment by one of the advisors, who had in a previous life been a CEO with an exit, said, “Everyone entrepreneur/leader at some point has imposter syndrome; it’s going to happen as you tackle things you’ve never done before.”
Wise words.
A man can convince anyone he's somebody else but never himself.
- Verbal aka Keyser Soze
Key Takeaways
Stay organized, and file away the wins.
Investors are looking for competency…
Can you communicate?
Can you lead?
Can you organize it?
Can you deliver?
Data Rooms are the new pro formas.
Wins
Media Kit: News & Updates, Press Releases, and Brand Guidelines
Keynote Presentation: Master Slides, Fonts, & Logos
Project Management Tool: Basecamp
Design Tool: Figma
Here is a pretty exhaustive example of what a “Data Room” might look like, depending on your structure, growth, and exit strategy:
Company Docs
Structure/Incorporation Docs
Shareholder Agreements
Company Summary
Pitch Deck
5 min
15 min
Technology
Investor
Public
One Pager (Executive Summary)
Case Study
Customers
Contracts
Sales Pipeline
Usage Data
Market Research
Customer Research
Financials
Budget
Projections
Balance Sheet
Profit & Loss
Investment Docs
Cap Table
Financing
Legal Docs
Technology & Security Agreements
Patents/Trademarks/Copyrights
Insurance
Policies
Additional Agreements
Media Kit
Logos
Scenes (to be used by Publications & Press Releases)
Brand Guidelines
Press Releases
Publications
Team
Contracts
Employee Shareholder Plan
Advisors