Best Practices & Template for Startup Proposals

(For Enterprise Use Cases on GenAI Fund Platform)

This proposal is more than a sales pitch. Enterprises want to know if you are capable, relevant, and ready to solve their problem. Keep your proposal short (3–5 pages max), evidence-driven, and tailored to the specific use case.

 

1. Company Snapshot

What to include:

  • Company name, website, HQ location
  • One-liner solution description
  • Stage & traction (users, revenue, pilots, funding if relevant)
  • Key industries/customers (highlight if similar to the enterprise’s sector)

Best Practices:

  • Keep it concise (½ page max).
  • Focus only on credibility factors relevant to the enterprise.
  • Avoid long “About Us” sections.

2. Capabilities & Proof

What to include:

  • Core technology/platform (what you’ve already built)
  • Key features that address the enterprise use case
  • Evidence: deployments, case studies, pilot results, testimonials
  • (Optional) Video demo or screenshots for clarity

Best Practices:

  • Lead with what’s real today, and can touch on future roadmap (if relevant).
  • Use proof points (e.g., “Deployed with X enterprise, 5,000+ users”).
  • Show scalability and security (enterprises care about this).
  • This is the most important section for enterprises.

3. Fit for the Enterprise Use Case

What to include:

  • Restate the enterprise problem/use case in your own words
  • Explain how your key features address it
  • Clarify if your solution covers part of the problem, and explain how you’d approach solving the rest (e.g., via integration with existing systems or partners)
  • Call out assumptions or small customizations needed

Best Practices:

  • Be realistic — you don’t need to solve 100%, but you need to show how you’d approach it.
  • Show how you fit into the bigger picture (integration, partnerships, collaboration).

4. Approach & Outcomes

What to include:

  • Proposed PoC/pilot plan (scope, steps, timeline — typically 4–8 weeks)
  • Success metrics (efficiency gain, cost reduction, revenue uplift, risk reduction)
  • Expected business value for the enterprise

Best Practices:

  • Keep it practical and short.
  • Stick to 2–3 measurable success metrics.
  • Focus on business outcomes, not just technical features.
  • Outline phases simply: Setup → Run → Evaluate.
  • Bring new ideas too: Enterprises often look to startups for fresh ways of solving problems. Don’t just answer the brief — suggest innovative angles or improvements they might not have considered.

5. Requirements, Budget & Next Steps

What to include:

  • What you need from the enterprise: data access, infrastructure, SME input, etc.
  • Budget clarity:

    • If enterprise shared a budget → state clearly what you can deliver within that budget.
    • If budget is TBC → propose a reasonable PoC budget range (e.g., “A 6-week PoC would typically cost $15K–$25K, depending on data scope”).
  • Your commitment: team, support, readiness, timeline.
  • Next step: suggest a low-risk pilot (e.g., “Start with a 6-week PoC”).

Best Practices:

  • Be transparent — no hidden costs.
  • Align with enterprise’s stated budget, or propose a realistic range if it’s unclear.
  • Tie budget to outcomes: “$20K PoC expected to reduce processing cost by 40% in 2 months.”
  • Make the CTA clear: “We recommend starting with a pilot in Q4 to validate results.”

 

Final Reminders for Startups

Enterprises care most about:

  1. Can you actually deliver? (Capabilities & Proof)
  2. Will it solve their problem? (Fit for Use Case)
  3. What’s the measurable value? (Approach & Outcomes)
  4. Is it affordable, transparent, and low-risk? (Budget & Next Steps)

Keep it short, clear, and credible. Show you’re a partner who can deliver results and bring fresh ideas.