Generic One Page Business Plan

We saw another business plan pitch deck today, from a pitch competition, that after 30 slides had us scratching our heads, again. It was a cool idea, maybe, but echoing a complaint we've heard from potential investors and pitchfest judges again and again, at the end we didn't know what is *was*.

For fun, we created this generic "One Page Business Plan". The thesis is "what if you only had one slide to present your business to potential investors?" What would it show?

Here's how it works:

1. Replace the box "Company" with your company's logo.
2. Replace the word "Customers" with a 3-4 word description of who is going to buy whatever you're selling.
3. Modify the circle "Investors" to specify the kind of investors appropriate (and targeted) for your deal. VC? Tech Angels? Family Office? Impact Investors? Retail Crowdfunding? FFF's?
4. Replace the "what and why" between Company and Customers with "what" the customers are buying (a product? a service? an experience? what sort of each?) and "why" they'll do that (what pain it resolves, problem it fixes, enjoyment it causes). Too complicated to get on a slide? Simplify it. After your pitch one potential investor will ask another "what on earth are they selling"? If the responder can't answer, in one sentence, you've some work to do.
5. Replace "how much & often" between Company and Customers with numbers like "40k units / month @ $5/unit". That's sometimes called your "business model".
6. Replace "how & much" between Investors and Company with the investment vehicle you're using (Royalty Debt, Series A, Convertible Note, etc) and the total $ amount of this round of your Raise.
7. Replace "when & much" between Company and Investors with your goal on when the Investors are likely to see their money again, and the target return. Example: "5x in 5 yrs via Company Sale" or "17% IRR starting month 6 for 3 yrs".
8. In the bar "positive externalities" list the top couple non-financial ways your company will make the world a better place. Sometimes these are called "impact metrics".
9. In the bar "negative externalities" list the top couple non-financial ways your company will make the world a less bad place. 

​Now we certainly don't expect anyone to actually use this. On the other hand, why not? Either way, please be sure each of these info tidbits is *somewhere* in your deck!

​Happy fundraising!