My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Create a problem slide that makes investors immediately understand the scale and urgency of what you're solving
Founders crafting investor pitch decks, especially B2C and healthcare companies
30 minutes to research and writeWhat Success Looks Like
Investor reads your problem slide and thinks 'wow, this affects way more people than I realized and I can see why they care about solving it'
Steps to Execute
Find the biggest credible statistic about your problem (industry reports, government data, academic studies)
Convert that statistic into human impact numbers (X million people affected)
Add personal story connection (founder experienced this, doctor treated thousands with this)
Write headline that hits you in the face with scale
Support with 2-3 additional data points if available
Checklist
Inputs Needed
- Market research on problem prevalence
- Personal or professional connection to problem
- Supporting statistics from credible sources
- Clear articulation of who suffers from this problem
Outputs
- One powerful headline statistic
- Personal story that creates emotional connection
- 2-3 supporting data points
- Clear problem statement investors can remember
Example
“Insomnia app founders research and find '25% of Americans have insomnia = 75 million people' then add 'including me, I had insomnia for years, tried pills but felt yucky, tried essential oils that did nothing, finally found something that worked.'”
Related Knowledge
The Investor Pitch Narrative Arc
A 16-slide sequence that builds investor confidence by answering their core questions in logical order: Are you credible?
Lead With Credibility Rule
When you have meaningful accomplishments, put them as slide 2 to establish that you're worth listening to before diving into your business details.
solution_first_pitching
Clearly communicate your competitive advantage in a way investors immediately understand
Investor finishes reading and thinks 'ah, I see exactly how this is different and why that difference matters'
Save Good News for the End
Take 15% of your good news and hold it back until the final slides to create a positive lasting impression and additional momentum.
Anchor Your Vision to Recognized Winners
Position your company as 'we're doing what [successful company] did for [known market] but for [your bigger market]' to help investors quickly understand the opportunity size.