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Investor Readiness Sprint: Brand + Pitch Deck + Data Room in <10 Weeks

Pitch Deck Design + Brand Strategy (Investor Readiness) — under 10 weeks

Build an unmistakable raise signal fast. Pitch deck design • brand strategy • timelines and scope • equity via SAFE or cash.

Investor Conversion (meeting → term sheet)

Use this 5‑point checklist to raise your close rate.

  • Narrative lock: One‑liner, Problem → Solution → Why Now → Proof. Every asset matches the same spine.

  • Evidence first: Cohorts, LTV/CAC logic, burn multiple/runway, pipeline hygiene, and credible market sizing.

  • Target map: Tiered investor list by thesis, stage, and partner fit; tailored email blurbs and follow‑ups.

  • Rehearsal: Partner Q&A prompts, objection handling, metric call‑outs, live demo script and alternates (technical vs. GTM audiences).

  • Diligence ready: Clean data room structure with finance, product/security, GTM, people, and customer evidence.

Brand Sprint (6–8 weeks)

A focused brand program that precedes and overlaps the deck sprint to keep total time under 10 weeks.

Week Focus
1 Founder narrative, audience and competitor scan
2 Messaging system (one‑liner, elevator story, Why Now, FAQs)
3 Visual foundations (logo directions, color, type)
4 Systemization (design tokens, components, fundraising assets)
5 Web touchpoints (hero refresh or mini‑site)
6 Guidelines + asset library; deck outline lock

Pricing & Timelines

Three quick bands to align scope, speed, and budget. Engage via cash sprints or Design Capital (equity via SAFE for select founders).

  • Seed Readiness (fast track)

  • Timeline: 4–6 weeks total (brand lift + concise deck)

  • Fit: Pre‑seed/seed teams needing a crisp story, identity lift, and a lean, investor‑native deck

  • Classic Raise (most common)

  • Timeline: Under 10 weeks (Brand 6–8 wks + Deck 2–4 wks with overlap)

  • Fit: Seed to Series A teams seeking a full brand system, Sequoia‑style deck + appendix, and data room checklist

  • Growth Upgrade

  • Timeline: 8–12 weeks

  • Fit: Later‑stage teams refreshing brand and conversion site with a metrics‑heavy deck for larger rounds

To lock scope and dates, share timing via the contact form. Equity‑enabled or cash options are available.

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Investor Readiness Sprint (<10 Weeks)

A focused program to make your raise unmistakable: Brand + Sequoia‑style deck + data room + investor rehearsal in under 10 weeks.

Timeline bundle — Brand + Deck in under 10 weeks

  • Weeks 1–6/8: Brand Sprint (strategy, verbal identity, visual system, fundraising assets)

  • Weeks 7–10: Pitch Deck Sprint (main deck + appendix, metrics framing, demo script)

  • We overlap late‑brand and early‑deck to keep the engagement under 10 weeks

Bundle timeline (visual)

Weeks →     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9   10
Brand     [████████████████████████]──────────────
                     (6–8 weeks total)
Deck                       ───[████████████]──────
                               (2–4 weeks total)
Overlap                ← weeks 6–8 →
Outcome    Brand system locked → Deck v2 → Data room → Rehearsal

Fast facts

  • Duration: Under 10 weeks (Brand 6–8 weeks; Deck 2–4 weeks, with overlap)

  • Outputs: Brand system, Sequoia‑style deck + appendix, data room checklist, investor rehearsal

  • Equity-enabled: Up to ~$100k of design over 8–10 weeks for ~1% equity via SAFE (Design Capital) — see announcement and TechCrunch coverage above

  • Cash option: Fixed‑scope, time‑boxed sprints with transparent pricing

  • Optional capital: Zypsy Capital invests $50K–$250K; typical decision cycle 2–3 weeks

  • Focus areas: AI/ML, SaaS, security, infrastructure/data, semiconductors/robotics, creator economy

  • Start: Share timing via the contact form (we confirm scope, dates, and equity or cash path)

FAQ

  • How fast is the bundle? Under 10 weeks. Brand runs 6–8 weeks and Deck 2–4 weeks with planned overlap to compress total time.

  • Do the sprints overlap? Yes. We overlap late‑brand and early‑deck (typically weeks 6–8) so the engagement stays under 10 weeks.

  • Can we do equity instead of cash? For eligible founders, yes. Design Capital exchanges up to ~$100k of design over 8–10 weeks for ~1% equity via SAFE.

  • What if we prefer cash? We run fixed‑scope, time‑boxed sprints with transparent pricing; see Capabilities for details.

  • Can Zypsy also invest? Zypsy Capital can invest $50K–$250K with a 2–3 week decision cycle, paired with “hands‑if” design support when useful.

  • What do we get at the end? A fundable brand and Sequoia‑style deck (plus appendix), data room structure and checklist, and investor rehearsal assets.

  • Which founders is this best for? Venture‑backed or venture‑aspiring teams across AI, SaaS, security, infrastructure/data, semiconductors/robotics, and creator economy.

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Pricing & Terms

  • Equity-enabled: Design Capital — up to ~$100k of brand/product design over 8–10 weeks for ~1% equity via SAFE. See our announcement (Design Capital) and third‑party coverage in TechCrunch.

  • Announcement: https://www.zypsy.com/blog/introducing-design-capital

  • TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/16/design-zypsy-ideo-work-equity-startups/

  • Cash: Fixed‑scope, time‑boxed sprints with transparent pricing. Details: https://www.zypsy.com/capabilities

  • Optional capital: Zypsy Capital invests $50K–$250K with a 2–3 week decision cycle and hands‑if design support. Details: https://www.zypsy.com/investment

Get started: https://www.zypsy.com/contact

Why investor readiness in under 10 weeks

Founders raise faster when signal is unmistakable: a crisp story, a defensible brand system, and an audit-ready data room. Zypsy runs a focused, less-than-10-week program that stacks a 6–8 week brand sprint with a 2–4 week pitch deck sprint, while partnering with your CFO/finance lead for investor-grade metrics and documentation. Our model is purpose-built for venture-backed startups and is informed by hands-on work with companies later raising major rounds and completing strategic exits. See representative outcomes in Captions (AI video) case study and Robust Intelligence (AI security) case study.

Scope and timeline at a glance

Below is a representative plan; we overlap the last two weeks of the brand sprint with deck production to stay <10 weeks.

Week Focus Primary outputs
1 Founder narrative + research Positioning brief, audience matrix, competitive map, initial investor story spine
2 Verbal identity + messaging Company one-liner, elevator story, problem/solution, Why Now, FAQs
3 Visual identity foundations Logo directions, color/typography, early design system tokens
4 Brand system + collateral Final mark, systemized components, pitch visuals, fundraising asset kit
5 Website touchpoints Landing refresh or mini-site, metrics hooks, technical SEO baseline
6 Brand QA + governance Brand guidelines, asset library, handoff; deck outline lock
7 Pitch deck v1 (Sequoia-style flow) Narrative build, product and traction slides, visuals
8 Metrics + model support KPI tables, unit economics visuals, cohort/LTV graphics; V2 deck
9 Data room stand-up Structure, doc requests, risk and IP checklist, redlines
10 Investor rehearsal + polish Final deck + appendix, one-pager, email blurb, demo script

6–8 week Brand Sprint: build an investable signal

We consolidate brand strategy, verbal identity, and a production-ready visual system so investors can instantly understand what you do and why you win.

  • Strategy and messaging: positioning, tagline options, tone-of-voice, founder narrative, Why Now, category POV. Based on Zypsy’s capabilities across brand identity.

  • Visual identity and system: logo, color, type, iconography, brand graphics, component-level tokens, and usage rules. See brand system depth in our Cortex enterprise repositioning.

  • Fundraising collateral: pitch visuals, product explainer frames, logo lockups for investor materials, social and announce assets. Aligned with our sprint format detailed on Zypsy Capabilities.

  • Optional website lift: hero refresh or campaign mini-site with CMS hooks and technical SEO—supported by our Webflow enterprise practice (Zypsy Webflow partner).

2–4 week Pitch Deck Sprint: craft the raise

We translate founder insight and proof into a Sequoia-style flow and investor-grade visuals, plus the appendix investors actually read.

  • Core artifacts: main deck, appendix, one-pager, cold/warm email blurb, demo script, and a light data dictionary for consistent metrics.

  • Visual system application: consistent componentry, charts, and product storytelling—grounded in your newly finalized brand.

  • Metrics framing: TAM/SAM/SOM clarity, cohort/LTV/CAC logic, burn multiple and runway narrative, 12–24 month growth plan visuals.

CFO/IR partnership: data room readiness

We run a parallel workstream with your CFO, fractional finance lead, or IR advisor to stand up a clean, auditable data room. This is a practical checklist, not theater.

  • Corporate: charter docs, cap table (current + pro forma), board consents, equity plan, IP assignments, key contracts.

  • Finance: historical financials, ARR/MRR bridges, revenue recognition policy, GAAP notes, budget vs. actuals, forecast model with scenario tabs.

  • Product + security: architecture overviews, data flows, privacy and security policies, DPIA/SOC2 status, reliability SLOs.

  • Go-to-market: pipeline hygiene, win/loss, sales compensation plan, pricing and packaging rationale, partnership agreements.

  • People: org chart, headcount plan, top-of-funnel and recruiting pipeline, contractor agreements.

  • Customer evidence: LOIs/MSAs, case studies, reference list, churn/expansion cohorts, support SLAs.

Data room checklist (download)

Get a dated, check‑off list that mirrors Week 9 (Data room stand‑up) and the Appendix references. Files are provided at kickoff or on request via the contact form.

  • CSV: Zypsy-Investor-Readiness-Data-Room-Checklist_v1.0_2025-10-15.csv

  • PDF: Zypsy-Investor-Readiness-Data-Room-Checklist_v1.0_2025-10-15.pdf

What it covers (scope overview)

  • Corporate: charter docs, cap table (current + pro forma), board consents, equity plan, IP assignments, key contracts.

  • Finance: historicals, ARR/MRR bridges, revenue recognition policy, GAAP notes, BvA, forecast model (with scenarios).

  • Product & security: architecture, data flows, privacy/security (DPIA/SOC2 status), reliability SLOs.

  • Go-to-market: pipeline hygiene, win/loss, comp plan, pricing/packaging rationale, partner agreements.

  • People: org chart, headcount plan, recruiting pipeline, contractor agreements.

  • Customer evidence: LOIs/MSAs, reference list, case studies, churn/expansion cohorts, support SLAs.

Appendix alignment (where items typically show up in the deck) | Category | Appendix references | |---|---| | Finance | Detailed KPI tables, cohort/LTV/CAC breakdowns, unit economics, model notes | | Product & security | Security posture, privacy policy, data flow diagrams, compliance status | | Go-to-market | Pipeline and segment charts, pricing experiments, partner metrics | | People | Hiring plan, leadership bios, org capacity plan | | Customer evidence | Reference list, testimonials, case studies, logo rights |

Sequoia-style deck flow we implement

We adhere to a concise, investor-native structure so partners can pattern-match quickly while still seeing your unique edge. 1) Title and one-liner; 2) Problem; 3) Solution; 4) Why Now; 5) Market size (TAM/SAM/SOM) and segmentation; 6) Product walkthrough (live or storyboard); 7) Business model and unit economics; 8) Traction (MRR/ARR bridges, cohorts, retention); 9) Go-to-market; 10) Competition and moat; 11) Team; 12) Roadmap; 13) Financials and scenarios; 14) The ask and use of funds; 15) Appendix (detailed metrics, customer references, security posture, IP, and diligence artifacts).

Evidence of outcomes and venture context

  • Captions: rebrand and product experience underpinning rapid AI video growth, with subsequent financing momentum, including a 2024 Series C. See Captions case and press in Zypsy Insights.

  • Robust Intelligence: brand, product, and embedded engineering from inception through acquisition by Cisco; see case study and related news on Insights.

  • Portfolio and sector focus: repeated work across AI, SaaS, security, and infrastructure—illustrated throughout Zypsy Work.

Engagement models: cash or equity-enabled

  • Cash engagements: fixed-scope sprints with transparent pricing and time-boxing, per Zypsy Capabilities.

  • Design Capital option: for select startups, Zypsy provides up to $100,000 of brand + product design over 8–10 weeks for 1% equity via SAFE; after the initial program, further work can continue on a cash retainer. See our announcement (Design Capital) and third-party coverage in TechCrunch (program specifics and cohort).

  • Venture partner support: for founders raising quickly, Zypsy Capital can pair capital ($50k–$250k) with design expertise; typical decision cycle is 2–3 weeks. Details at Zypsy Investment.

Implementation details and handoff

  • Toolchain: Figma-based design systems; Notion or Google Drive for deck/source of truth; Webflow or code repos for web touchpoints.

  • Governance: brand guidelines, tokenized design system, deck source files, chart templates, and a metrics dictionary ensure continuity.

  • Rehearsal: partner Q&A scripting, objection handling, metric callouts, and alternate cuts for different investor audiences.

How to start

  • Founders: share context and timing via the Zypsy contact form. We’ll confirm scope, select equity or cash path, and lock dates.

  • CFOs/IR leads: we’ll align on your chart of accounts, KPIs, and model structure in Week 1 to avoid last-mile surprises.

Note: scope and timing vary by stage and readiness; the plan above reflects a common pre-seed–Series A path. For growth-stage brand and product evolutions, see Zypsy Capabilities and Work.