Startup Questionnaire Guide

The Startup Questionnaire on Startupply is designed to collect comprehensive information about your startup to help us connect you with the right mentors, investors, and resources. By providing detailed and accurate answers, you enable us to tailor our support to your specific needs and goals.

Overview of the Questionnaire

The questionnaire is divided into several sections, each focusing on a critical aspect of your startup. Below, we provide detailed explanations and examples for each section to guide you in completing it effectively.

Jump to Section:

Basic Information

1. Startup Name

The name of your startup or company.

Example:"Tech Innovators Inc."

2. Founding Year

The year your startup was officially founded or established.

Example:"2021"

3. Country

The country where your startup is based.

Example:"United States"

4. State

The state or province where your startup is located.

Example:"California"

5. City

The city where your startup operates.

Example:"San Francisco"

6. Problem

The specific problem or challenge that your startup aims to solve.

Example:"Many small businesses struggle to manage their customer relationships effectively."

7. Solution

Describe the solution your startup offers to address the problem.

Example:"We provide a cloud-based CRM software that helps small businesses manage customer interactions efficiently."

8. Short Description

A brief summary of your startup, typically one or two sentences.

Example:"Tech Innovators Inc. is a company that provides cloud-based CRM software tailored for small businesses."

9. Long Description

A more detailed explanation of your startup, including its mission, vision, and key offerings.

Example:"Tech Innovators Inc. was founded with the mission to empower small businesses by providing affordable and easy-to-use CRM solutions. Our platform allows businesses to track customer interactions, manage sales pipelines, and improve customer satisfaction."

10. Why You Are Different

Highlight what sets your startup apart from competitors.

Example:"Our CRM platform is specifically designed for small businesses, offering a user-friendly interface and affordable pricing that larger competitors can't match."

11. Startup Stage

Indicate the current stage of your startup, such as idea, early-stage, growth, or established.

Example:"Early-stage"

12. Industry Type

Specify the industry your startup operates in, such as technology, healthcare, education, etc.

Example:"Technology"

13. Startup Type

Describe the nature of your startup, such as B2B, B2C, SaaS, etc.

Example:"B2B SaaS"

14. Registered or Not

Indicate whether your startup is officially registered as a business.

Example:"Yes, registered as an LLC."

15. Are You Founder or Not

Specify whether you are the founder or a co-founder of the startup.

Example:"Yes, I am the founder."

16. Founder Gender

Provide the gender of the founder or co-founder.

Example:"Female"

17. Website

Provide the URL of your startup's website.

Example:"www.techinnovators.com"

18. Phone

Provide a contact phone number for your startup.

Example:"+1 123 456 7890"

19. Email

Provide a contact email address for your startup.

Example:"info@techinnovators.com"

20. Address

Provide the physical address of your startup's office or headquarters.

Example:"123 Tech Lane, San Francisco, CA 94107"

21. FB Link

Provide the URL to your startup's Facebook page.

Example:"www.facebook.com/techinnovators"

22. LinkedIn

Provide the URL to your startup's LinkedIn profile.

Example:"www.linkedin.com/company/techinnovators"

23. TikTok

Provide the URL to your startup's TikTok profile, if applicable.

Example:"www.tiktok.com/@techinnovators"

Financial Information

1. Primary Revenue Resources

The main sources through which your business earns money, such as product sales, subscriptions, or services.

Example:"Our primary revenue sources include monthly subscription fees for our software platform, one-time setup charges, and annual maintenance contracts."

2. Pricing Strategy

The approach you take to determine how much to charge for your products or services.

Example:"We use a value-based pricing strategy, where prices are set based on the perceived benefits our customers gain from using our service."

3. Total Revenue in Last Quarter

The total amount of income generated by your business in the most recent three-month period.

Example:"In the last quarter, we generated $500,000 in revenue, driven primarily by an increase in subscription sales."

4. How Do You Make Money

Explain your business model and the main activities that lead to income.

Example:"Our business model involves offering a freemium version of our software to attract users, with the option to upgrade to a premium subscription for additional features."

5. Unit Economics

The revenue and cost associated with a single unit of your product or service.

Example:"It costs us $50 to acquire a new customer, and each customer generates an average of $300 in lifetime value with a 70% contribution margin."

6. Burn Rate

The rate at which your startup is spending money before generating positive cash flow.

Example:"Our burn rate is $10,000 per month, which includes expenses for salaries, office space, and product development."

7. Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM)

The portion of your target market that you can realistically capture.

Example:"Our SOM is 10,000 small businesses within the tech industry, and we aim to capture 20% of this market within three years."

8. Quarter over Quarter Growth

The rate of growth of your business from one quarter to the next.

Example:"We experienced a 15% quarter-over-quarter growth in revenue, driven by increased customer acquisition."

9. Revenue Generation Strategy

Your plan or strategy for generating income.

Example:"We plan to generate revenue by introducing premium features, expanding to new regions, and forming strategic partnerships."

10. Will You Generate Revenue

Confirm whether your startup has a viable plan to generate revenue soon.

Example:"Yes, we plan to generate revenue within six months by launching our subscription service."

Funding Information

1. Types of Funding

The different types of financial support your startup has received or plans to seek.

Example:"We have secured seed funding from an angel investor and are seeking a Series A round of venture capital."

2. Total Investment Raised

The total amount of money your startup has received from investors to date.

Example:"We have raised $2.5 million across two funding rounds."

3. Name of Investor

The names of key investors who have provided financial backing.

Example:"Our lead investors include XYZ Ventures and John Doe."

4. Country of Investor

The country or countries where your investors are based.

Example:"Our investors are primarily based in the United States."

5. Previous Engagement with Investor

Whether you have prior experience working with the investor(s).

Example:"Yes, we worked with our lead investor during our seed round."

6. Use of Capital

How your startup plans to allocate the funds it has raised.

Example:"We plan to allocate 40% to product development, 30% to marketing, 20% to hiring, and 10% to operations."

7. Runway Without Further Investment

The amount of time your startup can operate before running out of money.

Example:"Our runway is approximately 12 months without additional investment."

8. Runway with Additional Investment

How much additional time a specific amount of funding would provide.

Example:"With an additional $1 million, we would extend our runway by 18 months."

Market Information

1. Target Market

The specific group of customers you aim to reach with your product or service.

Example:"Our target market includes small to medium-sized businesses in the U.S. needing affordable HR solutions."

2. Total Addressable Market (TAM)

The total market demand for your product or service.

Example:"Our TAM for cloud-based HR solutions in the U.S. is estimated at $20 billion annually."

3. Serviceable Available Market (SAM)

The portion of your TAM that your product or service can reach.

Example:"Our SAM, considering our capabilities and regions, is approximately $5 billion."

4. Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM)

The portion of your SAM that you can realistically capture.

Example:"We aim to capture 2% of our SAM in two years, equating to a $100 million opportunity."

5. Market Size and Growth Potential

The current size of your target market and its potential for growth.

Example:"Our target market is valued at $500 million but is projected to grow to $1.5 billion in five years."

6. Traction to Date

The progress your startup has made in terms of customers, revenue, or milestones.

Example:"In the past 12 months, we acquired 200 paying customers and generated $1.2 million in revenue."

7. Timing for Market Entry

Why now is an ideal time for your startup to launch or expand.

Example:"The surge in remote work and advancements in AI make now the perfect time for our cloud-based HR solutions."

Competitor Information

1. Who is Your Customer?

The primary audience or market segment your product or service is designed for.

Example:"Our customers are small to medium-sized educational institutions needing integrated management systems."

2. Who Are Your Competitors?

The companies or products offering similar services or solutions in your market.

Example:"Our competitors include Blackboard and Canvas, offering learning management systems."

3. What Services Do They Provide?

The specific services or features your competitors offer.

Example:"Competitors provide course management, student enrollment, and grading systems."

4. How Are You Different?

The unique aspects or advantages of your product or service compared to competitors.

Example:"Our product offers AI-driven personalized learning experiences and real-time data analytics."

5. Differences from Failed Competitors

How your approach differs from competitors that failed and what makes your solution viable now.

Example:"Previous competitors failed due to lack of scalability. Our cloud-based infrastructure and AI ensure better scalability."

6. Competitive Landscape

An overview of the market environment, including competitors and trends.

Example:"The landscape includes established players and startups, with trends focusing on cloud-based and AI-driven solutions."

Team Information

1. Founding Team's Background

The professional backgrounds of the founding team and how they united to create the startup.

Example:"Our team includes experts in educational technology and AI, united after meeting at a tech conference."

2. Why You Are the Right Team

Why your team is uniquely qualified to succeed in building the startup.

Example:"Our 20 years of experience in educational tech and AI make us the right team."

3. Unique Insight or Skill Set

The distinct insights or skills your team possesses that give you an edge.

Example:"Our ability to integrate AI with personalized learning gives us a competitive edge."

4. Resolving Disagreements

The process your team uses to handle conflicts among founders.

Example:"We resolve disagreements through open communication and, if needed, input from a neutral advisor."

5. Potential Co-Founder Departure

The most likely reason a co-founder might leave and its potential impact.

Example:"A co-founder might leave due to differing visions or personal circumstances."

6. Positions to Hire Next

The upcoming key roles you plan to fill as the startup grows.

Example:"We plan to hire for marketing, software development, and customer support roles."

7. Attracting and Developing Talent

Your strategy for recruiting top talent and fostering their growth.

Example:"We attract talent with competitive salaries and a supportive culture focused on professional development."

Founder Information

1. Developing Yourself as a Founder

The methods you use to improve your skills and leadership as a founder.

Example:"I develop myself through continuous learning, attending conferences, and seeking mentorship."

2. Defining Success

Your criteria for what constitutes success in your role or for your company.

Example:"Success is achieving our goals and making a positive impact in our industry."

3. What Drives You

Your core motivations and what fuels your passion.

Example:"I am driven by the challenge of solving complex problems and creating innovative solutions."

4. Vision for the Company

Your long-term goals and aspirations for the company's future.

Example:"Our vision is to revolutionize education with technology that enhances learning experiences."

5. Name

Your full name.

Example:"John Doe"

6. Phone

Your phone number for contact purposes.

Example:"+1 (555) 123-4567"

7. Age

Your age.

Example:"35"

8. Country

The country where you are based.

Example:"United States"

9. City

The city where you are located.

Example:"New York"

10. Last Education

The highest level of education you have completed.

Example:"Master's Degree in Business Administration"

11. Year

The year you completed your last education.

Example:"2012"

12. Stack

The technological or skill stack you are familiar with or use.

Example:"Python, JavaScript, React, Node.js"

13. Social Links

Links to your professional social media profiles.

Example:"LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johndoe, Twitter: twitter.com/johndoe"

Co-Founder Information

1. Developing Yourself as a Founder

The methods you use to enhance your skills and leadership qualities.

Example:"I develop myself through continuous learning and networking with other entrepreneurs."

2. Defining Success

Your criteria for success, both personally and for the company.

Example:"Success is achieving our goals and creating value for customers and stakeholders."

3. What Drives You

Your core motivations and what inspires your commitment.

Example:"I am driven by the opportunity to innovate and make a difference through technology."

4. Vision for the Company

Your long-term goals and the impact you aim to achieve.

Example:"Our vision is to become a global leader in educational technology."

5. Name

Your full name.

Example:"Jane Smith"

6. Phone

Your phone number for contact purposes.

Example:"+1 (555) 678-9101"

7. Age

Your age.

Example:"32"

8. Country

The country where you are based.

Example:"Canada"

9. City

The city where you are located.

Example:"Toronto"

10. Last Education

Your highest level of education.

Example:"Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science"

11. Year

The year you completed your last education.

Example:"2015"

12. Stack

The technologies or skill set you are familiar with.

Example:"JavaScript, React, Node.js, Python"

13. Social Links

Links to your professional social media profiles.

Example:"LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janesmith, Twitter: twitter.com/janesmith"

Uploads

1. Pitch Deck

A visual presentation communicating your startup's vision, business model, and potential to investors.

Example:"A pitch deck might include slides on the educational challenges, AI-driven solution, market size, and team profiles."

2. Investor Deck

A detailed presentation tailored for investors, including financial projections and investment-specific information.

Example:"An investor deck might include financial forecasts, funding requirements, and competitive analysis."

3. Business Model Canvas (BMC)

A strategic tool outlining your company's key components, such as value propositions and revenue streams.

Example:"A BMC for a SaaS company might detail customer segments as educational institutions and revenue streams as subscription fees."

4. Financial Model

A spreadsheet forecasting your startup's financial performance, including revenue and expenses.

Example:"A financial model might project revenue growth and outline fixed and variable costs."

5. 1-Minute Founder Video

A short video where the founder introduces themselves and explains their passion for the startup.

Example:"A founder video might discuss your experience and what motivates you about your startup's mission."

6. 1-Minute Product Video

A video showcasing your product or service in action, highlighting its features and benefits.

Example:"A product video might show how your software helps students learn with personalized recommendations."

FAQs

Why is the questionnaire so detailed?

The detailed questionnaire helps us understand your startup comprehensively, enabling us to provide tailored mentorship, connect you with suitable investors, and offer relevant resources.

How long does it take to complete the questionnaire?

Depending on the complexity of your startup and the availability of information, it may take 1-3 hours to complete. You can save your progress and return to it later.

Is my information secure?

Yes, Startupply uses industry-standard encryption and security measures to protect your data. Your information is only shared with authorized mentors or investors with your consent.