The document outlines the POEM framework for pitching startups to business angels or groups. The POEM framework evaluates startups across four categories: Proposition (market strength), Organization (management depth), Economics (financial returns), and Milestones (exit potential). It provides questions to consider under each category to assess elements like market opportunity, management team, revenue growth projections, and exit strategy. The overall goal is to use the framework to evaluate startups and assign them a score out of 10 for each category and the overall POEM score to determine their potential for investment.

1. ©
Using the POEM Framework®
for pitching to Business
Angels or Groups
Tomi Davies
(TechnoVision)

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The POEM Framework®
VISION

3. ©
CONTENT
• WHY YOU?
• WHERE ARE YOU?
• WHATS YOUR
PROPOSITION?
• MARKET STRENGTH
• Positive Market Growth Rate?
• Strong Product/Service Line?
• Unique Competitive
Advantage?
• HOW ARE YOU
ORGANISED?
• MANAGEMENT DEPTH
• Entrepreneurial Vision?
• Ability to Execute?
• Access to Resources?
• DO YOUR ECONOMICS
WORK?
• FINANCIAL RETURNS
• Satisfactory Revenue
Strengths?
• Credible future profitability?
• Acceptable Cash needs?
• WHICH MILESTONES
TARGETED / ACHIEVED?
• EXIT POTENTIAL
• Good exit routes?
• Feasible follow-on
investment?
• Satisfactory exit value
potential?
• YOUR POEM SCORE

4. ©
Why are you pitching?
• What’s your vision and passion
for the business?
• What’s your understanding of the
need for mentoring?
• Why do you need access to
business networks & funding?
• How will the investment help your
business succeed?
• What ways do you see the
investors ability to add value
other than providing capital (e.g.
challenging your thinking,
enhancing your credulity by
helping to make contacts in your
market)?
• What will it mean to your
startup.?
How can I
leverage my value
in cash and kind
for this startups
growth?

5. ©
Where are You?
What Stage is this startup?
Stage 1: Seed?
Stage 2: Startup?
Stage 3: Growth?
Stage 4: Scaling?

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WHATS YOUR PROPOSITION?
Positive Market Growth Rate?
• Share The Opportunity
• The Market Size and trends
• Who your Customers are and how many
Strong Product/Service Line?
• Your Value Proposition
• Owned Intellectual Property
• Product/Service Development Approach
Unique Competitive Advantage?
• The Competition SWOT
• Your Marketing Messaging
• Channel Utilisation
Does this
Startup have
any market
strength?

7. ©
HOW ARE YOU ORGANISED?
Entrepreneurial Vision?
• Describe the Founder(s)
• Share their Vision for your Startup
• The Governance Structure
Ability to Execute?
• Present brief bio of the Founding Team
• Describe how your Operations work
• What Technology is used
Access to Resources?
• Share Members of the Directors & Advisory Boards
• Overview of Employees
• Strategic Partnerships
Does this
Startup have
management
depth?

8. ©
DO YOUR ECONOMICS WORK?
Satisfactory Revenue Growth?
• Numbers that prove Revenue Growth
• Forecasts in Financial Planning
• Financial Management Approach
Credible future profitability?
• Current/ Expected Profit Margins
• Current & Projected Assets Value
• Existing & Anticipated Liabilities
Acceptable Cash needs?
• Describe your Business Model
• Cash Management Approach
• Your monthly Burn Rate
Can this
Startup yield
significant
financial
returns?

9. ©
MILESTONES TARGETED /
ACHIEVED?
Stage 1. IDEATION
• Defined Concept, Team with Business Model,
Expenses met with Founders, Friends &
Family (FFF), Grants, Prizes Funding, MVP
for Market Acceptance
Stage 2. START-UP
• Established Customer Offer, Operational
Delivery Structure, Steady Burn with FFF,
Grants, Prizes, Angel/VC Funding,
Product/Market Fit (PMF) for Customer
Acquisition
Stage 3. GROWTH
• Increasing Market Share, Operational
Traction, Breakeven with Angel/VC Funding,
Sustainable Growth Management
Stage 4. SCALE
• New Market(s) Entry, Repeatable Processes,
Unit Profitable with Series A, B… VC Funding
Does this
Startup have
reasonable exit
potential?

10. ©
So what’s your POEM Score?
ECONOMICS
(FINANCIAL RETURNS)
MILESTONES
(EXIT POTENTIAL)
PROPOSITION
(MARKET STRENGTH)
ORGANISATION
(MANAGEMENT
DEPTH)
Positive Market Growth Rate
Strong Product/Service Line
Unique Competitive Advantage
Entrepreneurial Vision
Ability to Execute
Access to Resources
Satisfactory Revenue Strengths
Credible future profitability
Acceptable Cash needs
Good exit routes
Feasible –follow on investment
Satisfactory exit value
Score out of 10
Score out of 10
Score out of 10
Score out of 10

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Get in touch!
TomiDee TomiDee@TomiDee
td@tomidavies.com
tomidavies.com
Thank You!
I’d love to hear from you