Deal Abstract

Invest in Acai To-Go
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Surfing bros team up to make acai flavored sorbets, delicious. Question will be can they scale other flavors/acai products/markets.

Financials (VRB)

|Question|Notes|
|---|---|---|
|1. Fundraising Target? |$1070000|
|2. Fundraised So Far?|$42450|
|3. Pre-Money Valuation?|$6000000|
|4. Previous Year's Annual Revenue |$271762|
|5. Previous Year's Annual Net Income (+ Profitable, - Burning Cash) |~$-577580|

Source

The 6 Calacanis Characteristics ("Sow Passion, Not easy mediocrity", or S2 P6 N18)

Criteria Yes/No
1. A startup that is based in SV? False: Key Biscayne, FL
2. Has at least 2 founders? True: Two
3. Has product in the market? True: Looks like the push pops I used to have in childhood
4. 6 months of continuous user growth or 6 months of revenue? True: $67k to $271k
5. Notable investors? False: None I see
6. Post-funding, will have 18 months of runway? False: Would need $750k to have 18 months and quite far from there at present
Source

The 7 Thiel Questions (Every Time Man Profits, Don't Dismiss Serendipity)

Question Score Notes
1. Engineering? 2 Delicious flavor innovation
2. Timing? 1 Not sure why this time is particularly good to start this business
3. Monopoly? 2 Haven't heard of this company, but also haven't seen other companies provide an acai sorbet
4. People? 2 Good background in food import and digital marketing, but no one who has built a massive B2C food brand before
5. Distribution? 2 Has good distribution with supermarkets but still has gatekeeper
6. Durability? 1 Not sure why a sorbet company couldn't just build their own acai flavor
7. Secret? 1 Acai and other non-American flavors are a billion dollar business waiting to be tapped

What has to go right for the startup to return money on investment:

1. Scale and sell more; 2. Expand to more flavors; 3. Unique defensible flavor techniqunes

What the Risks Are

1. Food scales slowly; 2. Distribution matters more than flavor; 3. Acai is less crucial than the qualities it denotes

Bonus Muhan's Notes

Updates

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So, did I invest?

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Other thoughts, questions, comments, or concerns? Write me at mail@muhanzhang.com and let me know.