Power Poll Deal Memo (Closing Date: 2021-05-14)

Deal Abstract

Power Poll
Non-partisan survey, news, & information platform

Startup that wants to redefine the accuracy of polling programs by curating a premium community.

Financials (VRB)

Question Notes
1. Fundraising Target? $500000
2. Fundraised So Far? $47600
3. Pre-Money Valuation? $3500000
4. Previous Year's Annual Revenue $228000
5. Previous Year's Annual Net Income (+ Profitable, - Burning Cash) ~$-112965
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: Nashville, TN
2. Has at least 2 founders? True: Two
3. Has product in the market? True: Revenue generating
4. 6 months of continuous user growth or 6 months of revenue? True: Revenue grew
5. Notable investors? False: No one I recognize
6. Post-funding, will have 18 months of runway? True: Needs ~$200k

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

Question Score Notes
1. Engineering? 2 Not sure how the tech is better
2. Timing? 2 Polling is at lowest
3. Monopoly? 2 Fine revenue but I've never heard of them vs. Luc.id and True Public
4. People? 2 Team seems good on corporate side, but uncertain if scrappy enough to move fast on Polling market
5. Distribution? 3 Team has good connections with industry
6. Durability? 1 Lots of polling companies and not sure where the defensibility is
7. Secret? 1 Using forms and polling online will build a better polling solution than existing solutions

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

1. Meaningful differentiation; 2. Better predictive power; 3. Distribution into key poll providers/more people want self-service polls

What the Risks Are

1. Stagnant market; 2. Ambiguous value prop; 3. Polling is dying

Bonus Muhan's Notes

There's def a need for better sentiment analysis of population, but is polling the right way?

Updates

This is where I’ll post updates about the company. This way all my notes from offering to post-offering updates will be on one page.

Review these deal memos every time the startup raises a new round

Test if original thesis still applies


So, did I invest?

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