The portfolio manager for CSR or a charity app?

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TLDR;

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1. Don't waste the cover page; include what you do and who you are

2. Frame the problem and opportunity up front

3. Avoid putting too much detail on slides, focus on the storytelling

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Synopsis

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This is the first part of our three-part series where I react to real startup pitch examples from a Founder Institute - ASEAN FinTech event. I was a panelist at this event, alongside investment analyst, author, and founder Andrew Stotz. The event was facilitated by John D. Evans, CFA. The original event followed a 4+4 format, with each founder delivering a 4-minute pitch followed by a 4-minute Q&A session.

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Alasdair's idea is a pretty clever hybrid of a marketplace and a securities trading platform, which would drastically simplify how companies report on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. It's a potentially a big pain reliever for companies during reporting season, but also creating big gains by potentially enabling them to build a portfolio of CSR programs like you would build a portfolio of stocks. Need to do more with environment? Add a % to your portfolio. Too heavy on international aid, and not local? Tweak it. Companies would pay money for this simplicity.

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But that's not what Alasdair opens with, he opens with the free consumer facing app.

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There is a three-sided market here, with benefits for charities and individuals but the real revenue driver is going to be the corporate side, and in this pitch it wasn't brought up quickly enough. If you're talking to investors, you have to frame the conversation in terms of the investment opportunity. Alasdair opens with the consumer app, which is free and investors, especially in this market, are just hearing cost sink.

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When selling, make sure you remember what the buyer wants to buy. The investor is going to buy into the startup if he can see a route to a profitable exit. So make it clear.

Take a look at the video for the full feedback from Andrew and I. Go, go now.

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Socially Responsible pitch deck

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