Submitting Your Pitch Deck: The 7startup Screening Process

We, as startup funding consultants, focus on supporting innovative tech startups from the UK, Europe, and the USA. We specialize in B2B SaaS, Deep Tech, and Web3, offering comprehensive venture capital investment and due diligence readiness. This accelerates promising startups’ path to successful fundraising. Here’s a look at the 7startup screening process once you submit your pitch deck:

Pitch Deck Screening

Our team of investment professionals will carefully review your deck to determine whether it fits our criteria. If your startup aligns with our requirements, we will invite you to an initial 1-to-1 call with one of our investment professionals.

• Overview: The first step in the funding process.
• Purpose:

  To rapidly gauge if a startup meets 7startup’s criteria and merits deeper exploration.
• Methods: A team of analysts and associates reviews your deck to identify key information and evaluate the potential of the startup.
• Criteria: Several factors are taken into consideration, including the uniqueness of your product, the size of the problem you are solving, team strength, and traction.
• Outcome: Based on the initial screening, the startup may receive an invitation for a 1-on-1 call with one of our investment professionals. If your startup is unsuccessful at this stage, you will be notified via email.

1-to-1 Screening Call

During this call, we will learn more about your company, its vision, and its potential. We’ll also provide you with more details on our startup evaluation process and what to expect going forward. This call is a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better and see if there is a good fit.

• Overview: The second stage in the funding process.
• Purpose: To have an initial conversation with the startup founder(s) and get a better sense of the business opportunity, the team, the motivation and the vision for the future.
• Methods: A member of the 7startup team conducts an introductory call with the startup founders to discuss their deck, ask questions, and learn more about the startup’s strategy and goals.
• Topics: The call typically covers topics such as the company’s origin story, market opportunity, product or service offering, target customers, team composition, and financial projections.
• Outcome: Depending on the outcome of the call, the startup may move on to the next stage of the process, receive feedback on areas that need improvement, or be declined.

Presentation to Wider 7startup Team –  (Investment Committee)

• Overview: Similar to pitching to a VC’s Investment Committee, this stage will involve pitching your startup to the wider 7startup team, including our strategic advisors.
• Purpose: To have a more in-depth teardown of the pitch deck to highlight any further gaps that would have to be closed for your startup to be investment ready.
• Methods: You pitch your startup to the wider 7startup team. Team members will ask probing and challenging questions on all aspects of your pitch. This will help us identify key areas of improvement necessary prior to VC engagement. It will help you identify weaknesses and gaps you’ve never thought about before, further strengthening your pitch.
• Topics: All key areas of a typical VC pitch including team credibility, size of the problem your startup is solving, how your solution is different and better than the competition, unit economics and traction.

• Outcome: Following your pitch, the 7s team will deliberate on our mutual fit for working together. Should there be a strong fit, we’ll send you a proposal for working together on a successful fundraise for your startup. Should we feel there isn’t a strong fit, we’ll give you detailed feedback to help you improve your readiness to fundraise.

Additional Tips for Success in the Funding Process

• Understand 7startup’s investment thesis and target sectors before submitting your deck.
• Be clear and concise in your deck and focus on the most important information
• Be prepared to answer questions about your business and strategy during the initial call.

• Offer comprehensive and accurate financial projections backed by market research and industry benchmarks.
• Build a strong team with complementary skills and relevant experience.
• Be transparent and honest about any challenges or obstacles your business may face.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of your target market. How does your product or service solve a problem or fill a gap in the market?
• Show traction and progress, even if it’s still early-stage, through metrics such as user engagement, customer acquisition, and revenue growth.
• Have a solid understanding of your competition and what sets you apart from them.

Conclusion

At 7startup, we understand that fundraising can be a daunting process for startups. The stakes are high and the competition is fierce. Hence, we invest considerable time and resources to grasp each startup’s distinct situation. Our commitment is to help you achieve fundraising goals. To expedite fundraising success and unlock your startup’s world-changing potential, apply to collaborate with 7startup.

For a More General Look at Submitting Your Pitch Deck – Submitting Your Pitch Deck: A Quick Guide for Founders

Amit has two decades of experience in the industry and an MBA. He supports entrepreneurs with every aspect of their business including concept and product development, investor presentations, and fundraising. Amit & 7startup assist startups in the pre due-diligence process and help connect them to our vast network of investors. Reach out to us today and see if we’re a fit!