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35 pages! I worked for an IPO where the CEO made the 40 under 40 from a business plan written on a napkin. The fact that you have something written on paper a

35 pages! I worked for an IPO where the CEO made the 40 under 40 from a business plan written on a napkin. The fact that you have something written on paper and hopefully not in crayon would have likely snagged you a $10MM valuation in SV a couple of months ago. Times have changed but I hope you are successful.

urthor 4y ago
Software industry is just so weird. iirc, graduates at Goldman and similar traditionally do/did a 20 page investment banking proposal every 2 days. They're filtering, so whenever they don't have enough real work, research and write a business proposal for some IB deal or whatever line of work. Essentially, they just research, write, then supervisor reviews, director reviews, nonstop. That's investment banking. Write dozens of proposals, pitch a couple to actual companies the partner thinks are good ideas. https://mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-pitch-books/ https://mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-pitch-... https://www.10xebitda.com/investment-banking-presentations/ https://www.10xebitda.com/investment-banking-presentations/ And it works. They're usually quite good ideas (after all those drafts). Meanwhile, Silicon Valley funds ridiculous stupidity, because somehow technology startups just make that much money. I have no idea how Silicon Valley VC firms make any sort of return on capital.
coldtea 4y ago
>I worked for an IPO where the CEO made the 40 under 40 from a business plan written on a napkin Then it wasn't on the merits of the business plan, but the idea, niche, timing, connections, delivery, and several other factors besides... Millions can scrible some startup idea on a napkin. Getting a VC to take you seriously is another matter, even with a fully fleshed presentation, a prototype, and a well written and researched business plan.
- adhesive_wombat 4y ago
  Yes, there's a reason there are "deck-writing bootcamps" and "pitch trainers" and other voodoo. VCs move at the centre of a feeding frenzy.

urthor 4y ago

Software industry is just so weird. iirc, graduates at Goldman and similar traditionally do/did a 20 page investment banking proposal every 2 days. They're filtering, so whenever they don't have enough real work, research and write a business proposal for some IB deal or whatever line of work. Essentially, they just research, write, then supervisor reviews, director reviews, nonstop. That's investment banking. Write dozens of proposals, pitch a couple to actual companies the partner thinks are good ideas. https://mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-pitch-books/ https://mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-pitch-... https://www.10xebitda.com/investment-banking-presentations/ https://www.10xebitda.com/investment-banking-presentations/ And it works. They're usually quite good ideas (after all those drafts). Meanwhile, Silicon Valley funds ridiculous stupidity, because somehow technology startups just make that much money. I have no idea how Silicon Valley VC firms make any sort of return on capital.

coldtea 4y ago

>I worked for an IPO where the CEO made the 40 under 40 from a business plan written on a napkin Then it wasn't on the merits of the business plan, but the idea, niche, timing, connections, delivery, and several other factors besides... Millions can scrible some startup idea on a napkin. Getting a VC to take you seriously is another matter, even with a fully fleshed presentation, a prototype, and a well written and researched business plan.

adhesive_wombat 4y ago
Yes, there's a reason there are "deck-writing bootcamps" and "pitch trainers" and other voodoo. VCs move at the centre of a feeding frenzy.