Creating a simple and well articulated startup vision statement is harder than it seems but a necessary step to clarity. This slide deck steps you through the process and leads you to the development of a elevator pitch you can share with customer prospects and investors.

1. Startup Vision
Definition
SmarterStartup.org

2. Mark Twain
Author
VISION DEFINITION
Startup Vision Definition
I didn't have time to write a short
letter, so I wrote a long one instead.
A concise statement about a complex topic requires an investment of time and the
clarity of thought. That critical analysis can reveal weaknesses in a plan, before you
begin developing it. Its time to do this for your new startup.

3. Provide a concise answer to
each question on the worksheet.
Keep them as short as possible.
Then compose a 3-4 sentence
elevator pitch that includes as
many of the key answers as
possible. Then you’ll be ready to
talk to prospects!
Defining a
Startup Vision
VISION DEFINITION

4. Successful Real Estate agents,
earning $100k / year
1. Phone sales & webinars
2. Conferences
Real Estate IDX WordPress Themes May 9
Customer
Start with a concise description of the
customer segment and how you’ll
reach them (channels).

5. Successful Real Estate agents,
earning $100k / year
1. Phone sales & webinars
2. Conferences
Real Estate IDX WordPress Themes May 9
IDX System to capture &
nurture online leads
1. Own don't Rent (your website)
2. Beautiful original design
Value Creation
Clarify the value you are
creating for that customer.
(Value = benefit-cost)

6. Successful Real Estate agents,
earning $100k / year
1. Phone sales & webinars
2. Conferences
Marketing Automation CRM
Software Product
Real Estate IDX WordPress Themes May 9
IDX System to capture &
nurture online leads
1. Own don't Rent (your website)
2. Beautiful original design
Product
What is the manifest solution you’re
proposing that will convey new value
to your customer?

7. Successful Real Estate agents,
earning $100k / year
1. Phone sales & webinars
2. Conferences
Marketing Automation CRM
Software Product
WordPress Theme *Product*
(not SaaS) for the DIY agent
Tech disruption. First mover
(the Spark API for IDX)
Real Estate IDX WordPress Themes May 9
IDX System to capture &
nurture online leads
1. Own don't Rent (your website)
2. Beautiful original design
Competition
What’s your competitive position
that will enable you to provide a
better or more authentic solution?

8. Successful Real Estate agents,
earning $100k / year
1. Phone sales & webinars
2. Conferences
Marketing Automation CRM
Software Product
WordPress Theme *Product*
(not SaaS) for the DIY agent
Tech disruption. First mover
(the Spark API for IDX)
1. Me (product/tech)
2. John (BizDev/Sales)
1. Spark Platorm API
2. Access to all MLS IDX Feeds
Real Estate IDX WordPress Themes May 9
IDX System to capture &
nurture online leads
1. Own don't Rent (your website)
2. Beautiful original design
Team
What are your teams credentials?
What’s the reason you’ll prevail over
competition in offering a
compelling solution?

9. Successful Real Estate agents,
earning $100k / year
1. Phone sales & webinars
2. Conferences
Marketing Automation CRM
Software Product
WordPress Theme *Product*
(not SaaS) for the DIY agent
Tech disruption. First mover
(the Spark API for IDX)
1. Me (product/tech)
2. John (BizDev/Sales)
1. Spark Platorm API
2. Access to all MLS IDX Feeds
$50,000 to build core product
$50,000 line of credit
Real Estate IDX WordPress Themes May 9
IDX System to capture &
nurture online leads
1. Own don't Rent (your website)
2. Beautiful original design
Finance
What is the financial cost of developing
the proposed solution? Consider the
cost against potential gains.

10. Successful Real Estate agents,
earning $100k / year
1. Phone sales & webinars
2. Conferences
Marketing Automation CRM
Software Product
WordPress Theme *Product*
(not SaaS) for the DIY agent
Tech disruption. First mover
(the Spark API for IDX)
1. Me (product/tech)
2. John (BizDev/Sales)
1. Spark Platorm API
2. Access to all MLS IDX Feeds
$50,000 to build core product
$50,000 line of credit
IDX Website/CRM software for serious RE agents to capture & nurture online leads and
grow their business. Built on Wordpress so they can"own the system, not rent". First-mover advantage by
integratingthe Spark IDX API which makes it possible.
Real Estate IDX WordPress Themes May 9
IDX System to capture &
nurture online leads
1. Own don't Rent (your website)
2. Beautiful original design
Elevator Pitch
Finally, develop a 3-4 sentence description of your proposed startup
that concisely articulates the important points you’ve developed
earlier on this worksheet. This is the 30 second pitch you can use to
talk to investors and client prospects about your new startup.

11. Validate Your Hypothesis
HYPOTHESIS VALIDATION
Test Early, Test Often
PROSPECT INTERVIEWS
Do They Like the Idea? Feedback?
TEST MARKETING
Do ‘Vaporware’ Campaigns Convert?
MINIMAL VIABLE PRODUCT
Users Engaging & Using Product?
With a well-articulated vision
ready, you can begin sharing the
concept with investors and customer
prospects. If the idea is well received,
advance to vapor-ware test campaigns
and finally to building the “MVP”.

12. The Lean “build, learn, measure”
feedback look is fantastic method for
Eliciting user feedback early and often
in the process and can help minimize
inefficiencies if done right.
Lean Feedback Loop
Measure
Learn
Build
Ideas
Product
Data
HYPOTHESIS VALIDATION
LEAN METHODOLOGY
FINDING PRODUCT-MARKET FIT

13. THE SMARTER STARTUP
STRATEGY FOR STARTUPS
The Smarter Startup looks at why some
startups succeed while others fail. By taking a
more strategic approach to entrepreneurship,
founders can improve their own outcomes.
Written by Neal Cabage and Sonya Zhang,
PhD, and published by Pearsons/NewRiders.
SMARTER STARTUP
The Book

14. SMARTER STARTUP
SmarterStartup.org
The framework, including the part
described here, are posted on the
website, along with downloadable
worksheets and reference material.
Everything is free to use, so enjoy!.
www.SmarterStartup.org