FiftyKnots Venture Launch Playbook
Overview
The Venture Launch Playbook is your 5-day roadmap to VC readiness. Ship a pitch deck, financial model, working prototype, and validated customer insights - everything you need to prove traction and raise capital. This playbook distills frameworks from 100+ successful ventures into a structured sprint you can complete in one focused week.Step-by-Step Guide
Getting Started
- Access the Playbook - Navigate to the Venture Launch Playbook from your dashboard. You’ll see a 5-day timeline with clear objectives for each day.
- Review Day 1: Validate Your Problem - Start with Day 1 content. You’ll see specific tasks like “conduct 5 customer interviews” with downloadable templates and examples. Each step includes a “Why This Matters” explanation connecting the task to VC readiness.
- Download Templates - When you see “Download Pitch Deck Template” or “Download Financial Model Template,” click the button. Enter your email, first name, last name, and company name (optional). Check the consent box for updates. You’ll receive immediate access plus a confirmation email with download links to Figma, Google Sheets, or Notion templates.
- Work Through Each Day - Use the sticky sidebar to jump between days while maintaining your scroll position. Progress indicators show your position within each day and overall completion percentage. Days 3-5 unlock after you provide your email at the Day 2 lead gate.
- Follow the Frameworks - Look for FiftyKnots proprietary frameworks like “Fundable Narrative Arc” and “Minimum Viable Everything.” These connect directly to what VCs evaluate during due diligence.
Completing the Sprint
- Build Your Prototype (Day 3) - Day 3 emphasizes shipping an ugly but functional prototype over polished mockups. Templates include fill-in-the-blank sections with example data from real FiftyKnots projects.
- Assess Your Readiness (Day 5) - Day 5 includes a self-assessment checklist with 8-12 VC-readiness criteria. Check off each item as you complete it: pitch deck structure, financial projections, customer validation, prototype demo, traction metrics.
- Book a Design Sprint Consultation - Throughout the playbook, you’ll see “Book Design Sprint Consultation” buttons. The primary CTA appears at the end. Click to open a booking flow with pricing and next steps. This links to a Calendly scheduler or contact form.
Using Downloaded Templates
- Pitch Deck Template (Figma) - Open the Figma link from your email. The template includes FiftyKnots branding and pre-structured slides. Replace placeholder text with your venture details. Instructions and example data appear in comment bubbles.
- Financial Model (Google Sheets) - Open the Google Sheets link. The model includes revenue projections, burn rate calculations, and runway estimates. Follow instructions in the header row. Example data shows how to fill out each column.
- Customer Interview Script (PDF) - Download and print the PDF script. Use it to guide your 5 customer interviews in Day 1. The script includes open-ended questions and follow-up prompts proven to surface real pain points.
Common Questions
Do I need to complete all 5 days in sequence?No. All days are accessible immediately after you provide your email at Day 2. You can jump to any day using the navigation sidebar. We recommend sequential reading because each day builds on the previous one, but skip ahead if you need specific content. What happens if I don’t have Figma or Google Sheets?
All templates include alternative formats. The pitch deck template offers a Figma viewer link (no account required) and a PDF export option. The financial model works in Excel and includes instructions for importing to other spreadsheet tools. Can I download templates without completing the playbook?
Yes. Templates are available as soon as you provide your email at any download button. You don’t need to read all content or complete the self-assessment. However, the playbook explains how to use each template effectively. How long does it take to complete the 5-day sprint?
Plan for 4-6 hours per day of focused work. Day 1 (customer interviews) takes the longest. Day 3 (prototype building) varies based on technical complexity. Most founders complete the full sprint in 5-7 actual days. What if I get stuck on a specific task?
Each task includes examples from real FiftyKnots projects (anonymized). Look for “common pitfalls” warnings that frame lessons from actual ventures. If you’re still blocked, use the “Book Design Sprint Consultation” CTA to schedule time with a FiftyKnots expert.
Troubleshooting
The lead gate modal keeps appearing even after I submitted my emailClear your browser cache and cookies, then refresh the page. Your email submission should be remembered. If the issue persists, check that JavaScript is enabled and not blocked by privacy extensions. I’m on mobile and the content loads slowly or appears broken
The playbook uses progressive loading with text-first rendering. Wait 3-5 seconds for images to lazy-load on slower connections. If content still appears broken, rotate to landscape orientation or switch to a desktop browser for the full experience. My downloaded template is missing sections or shows errors
Verify you have the correct software: Figma account for pitch deck, Google account for financial model, Notion account for one-pager. Template descriptions list requirements before download. If you downloaded the wrong format, return to the playbook and select an alternative export option. I completed Day 5 but didn’t receive my follow-up email
Check your spam folder for emails from FiftyKnots. The follow-up arrives 48 hours after email submission, not after Day 5 completion. If you still don’t see it, ensure you checked the consent box during email capture.