Hook – The Big Problem

"Right now, [target audience] is struggling with [pain point], and it’s costing them [X] in lost time, money, or opportunity.

Despite [existing solutions], [core issue] still exists—and it’s getting worse."

→ Example

"Right now, small business owners spend 10+ hours a week manually tracking expenses. Despite accounting software, they’re still drowning in financial admin, losing thousands in inefficiencies."

Solution – What You’re Building

"We’re fixing this.

[Startup Name] is a [1-liner about what the product does] that [key differentiator], allowing [target users] to [key benefit]."

→ Example

"We built FinTrack, an AI-powered finance assistant that automates expense tracking in real time, so business owners never waste another second on manual entry."

Why Now – Market Timing

"The market is shifting, and the time to act is now.

[Trend or industry shift] has created a massive gap, and [current solutions] aren’t keeping up.

Companies that move fast win big."

→ Example:

"With freelancers and solopreneurs growing 300% year over year, the demand for smart, automated financial tools is skyrocketing—yet current solutions are outdated and reactive."

Traction – Proof That It’s Working

"We’re not just an idea—we’re executing.

Since launching, we’ve [key traction: revenue, users, growth rate].

We’ve also secured [strategic partnerships, customer waitlists, or retention metrics]."

→ Example

"In the last 6 months, we’ve grown to 12,000 active users, processed $15M in transactions, and seen a 90% retention rate—showing clear demand and stickiness."

Market Opportunity – The Size of the Prize

"This is a huge market, and we’re positioned to take a meaningful slice.

The [industry] market is worth [$X billion], and there’s no category leader dominating this space."

→ Example:

"Small businesses spend $500B annually on financial management tools, yet no player owns the AI-driven bookkeeping space—we intend to change that."

Business Model – How You Make Money

"We operate on a [pricing model: SaaS, marketplace take rate, transactional fees].

Customers are paying [pricing details], and we’re seeing [key revenue validation]."

→ Example:

"We charge $29/month per user, and we’re already seeing a 5% conversion rate from free trials to paid users."

Go-to-Market – How You’ll Scale

"We’re scaling fast.

Our go-to-market strategy is focused on [channels: direct sales, product-led growth, partnerships, paid acquisition].

We’re already seeing traction through [main customer acquisition channel], and we’re doubling down on what’s working."

→ Example:

"We’ve grown 60% through strategic partnerships with accounting firms, and we’re expanding through targeted influencer marketing and referral programs."

Team – Why You’re the Right One to Build This

"We’re the right team to win this.

[Your Name] – [Your experience and credibility].

[Co-founder Name] – [Their experience and role].

We’ve [relevant past wins, expertise, or experience]."

→ Example:

"I spent 5 years at Intuit leading AI initiatives in finance. My co-founder scaled a fintech startup from zero to a $50M exit. We know this space inside out, and we’re executing at speed."

The Ask – What You Need & What They Get

"We’re raising [$X] to [milestones: grow the team, scale acquisition, expand product], and we’re looking for investors who can help us [specific investor value-add].

Let’s talk."

→ Example:

"We’re raising $2M to double our engineering team, accelerate growth, and hit $1M ARR in the next 12 months. We’re looking for fintech-focused investors who can help us scale in this space."