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How to Write a 1-Page Investment Memo (VC-Style) in Google Sheets

How to Write a 1-Page Investment Memo (VC-Style) in Google Sheets

Every serious angel investor needs a structured memo — but writing a 30-page document for every deal is overkill. Here's how to compress the entire VC due diligence process into a single Google Sheet.

The Problem

When you screen 50+ startups per quarter, you need consistency. Your brain gets biased by a great pitch. A template forces you to score every deal on the same 6 dimensions: Market, Product, Team, Traction, Terms, and Fit.

The Solution

I built a 5-tab Google Sheets template that does the heavy lifting:

  • Financial health: Revenue growth %, gross margin, burn multiple — all auto-calculated
  • Risk matrix: 12 common startup risks, scored and color-coded (red/yellow/green)
  • Deal mechanics: Valuation, ownership, liquidation preferences, exit scenarios
  • Decision scorecard: Weighted average tells you if it's a "Pass", "Watch", or "Invest"

Who This Is For

Retail investors doing pre-IPO research, micro-VCs, or family offices building a deal pipeline. No more messy Evernote notes — just clean, comparable data.

Grab the Template

If you want a ready-to-use version with pre-filled formulas and sample data, check it out here:
Investment Memo Template — Google Sheets ($27, but pays for itself after one better deal).

Keep building your pipeline. Every structured memo = one less bad investment.

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