Want to close your round quickly?

We'll let you in on a secret - write one-pagers!

Written material is usually sent to investors by entrepreneurs. And this mostly means whatever they could chalk up.

We want more and more entrepreneurs to share one-pagers. Why? Because they are a pain to create. They entail thinking, and crisp writing and ruthless editing!

What purpose does a one-pager serve?

• A quick summary of your deck addressed to a specific investor
• Opportunity to demonstrate thoughtfulness and clarity
• A ready-made collateral for the investor to share with potential co-investors, that reduces time and friction
• Summaries are the best way to absorb the essence of any reference material

Should all investors insist on a one-pager?

We absolutely believe so. Summaries and one-pagers are akin to currency in the venture capital world. Do you want to invest in a particular company? Summarize in 3 bullet points. Do you want to pass on an opportunity? Summarize in 3 bullet points. We love the Rule of 3. Who better than an entrepreneur to share 3 bullet points on why their venture is a good fit? A good one-pager is one foot in the door for an entrepreneur. Why?

• It's thoughtful
• It's customized
• It shows intent

Slide decks are easy, and once made can be sent as a blast to 100s of investors! A true one-pager is a customized summary showcasing the important pieces of your venture, the value addition that can be provided by the investor, and how it is a good fit for the investor's portfolio. And more often than not, writing helps to achieve clarity and makes the thoughts and words crisper.

So what do we look for in a one-pager?

The same things as in a slide deck. But shorter, more concise, and crisper! It need not be a word doc, can also be a notion doc (for the nerds out there, we love notion)! Ideally not be more than 500 words or 1 page. And should contain the following:

• Simple one-line pitch
• Expand the one-line pitch into a small paragraph (explain how, what, why)
• Founding team information (or links to profiles)
• Customer problem (spend some time here, how urgent is the problem)
• The Solution
• Target market
• Revenues, margins
• Competitive advantage
• Competition
• Your ask

Condensing all of these on one page is a very difficult task, and that brings the thinking hats out. Often, the entrepreneurs get the utmost clarity about their business while writing the one-pager. Sharing a one-pager customized to each investor will ensure your pitch is well received amidst a sea of me-too emails.

Try it out!