1. Executive Summary

A platform that allows anyone to become a VC scout by recommending startups to funds and getting rewarded if the intro converts. VCs gain access to high-quality, thesis-matched deal flow beyond their closed networks, while scouts get a trusted infrastructure to monetize their connections and insights.

2. The Problem

VC scouts are everywhere these days. Sequoia, a16z, and Legendary Ventures all run formal scout programs — but they’re closed, invite-only, and inconsistent. Meanwhile:

• VCs review 100+ startups for every deal, yet most great founders never get in front of them.
• Over 80% of deals are sourced through warm networks, making access the biggest bottleneck for underrepresented or “outside-the-bubble” founders.
• Current scout programs are opaque about compensation, fragmented in structure, and hard for emerging funds to spin up.

Here’s what we’re thinking: A marketplace that opens up scouting to anyone, creating transparent economics, better access for funds, and new opportunities for founders.

3. The Solution

• Product

  • 🧭 Onboarding: Scouts create a profile, verify identity, and select focus areas (stage, sector, geography).
  • 📩 Deal submission: Structured intake form (pitch deck, traction, tags) with AI-assisted scoring and duplicate detection.
  • 🎯 Mandate matching: VCs publish what they’re looking for; the platform routes matching startups directly.
  • 💳 Escrow & payouts: Funds set bounties for accepted intros; payments release when meetings/term sheets are triggered.

• Go-to-Market (GTM)

  Start with emerging funds (micro-VCs, solo GPs) who want scalable dealflow, and activate scouts via operator communities, angels, and newsletters like Half Baked.

• Business Model

  SaaS fees for funds (mandate hosting + analytics) + a take-rate (10–20%) on scout bounties.

• End Goal

  Become the “AngelList for Scouting.” Sell to Carta, AngelList, PitchBook, Affinity, or LinkedIn at a 6–10x ARR multiple.

4. Market Size

• Global VC market: $450B invested in 2023.
• Deal sourcing / data market: ~$10B TAM (PitchBook, CB Insights, Crunchbase, Affinity).
• Serviceable Opportunity (SOM): If 5,000 funds globally spend $20K/year on scout access → $100M annual revenue potential.