How we helped Elfa go from investor rejections to oversubscribed pre-seed in 1 month

Startup

Elfa.ai

Project

Pitch deck, value proposition, website revamp, investor strategy

Industry:

Onchain analytics, AI, social infrastructure

Engagement:

Engagement

1 month

STARTING POINT

Elfa is an onchain social analytics platform. With Elfa, you can now uncover hidden alpha from social data in seconds. And capitalize on emerging narratives before they reach mainstream consensus.

CATALYST FOR CHANGE

Facing repeated rejections, Elfa's founders realized their pitch wasn't connecting. Investors saw them as "just another tool" in a crowded market, missing the revolutionary potential of their platform.

OUR STRATEGIC PLAN

We dove deep into Elfa's pitch strategy, uncovering critical issues:

Unclear value proposition
Feature-focused approach overshadowing the big picture
Pitch materials misaligned with investor expectations
Sales-oriented deck failing to ignite investor imagination

Our approach? A complete overhaul of Elfa's fundraising strategy

We dove deep into Elfa's pitch strategy, uncovering critical issues:

Unclear value proposition
Feature-focused approach overshadowing the big picture
Pitch materials misaligned with investor expectations
Sales-oriented deck failing to ignite investor imagination

Our approach? A complete overhaul of Elfa's fundraising strategy

VENTURE BUILD PROCESS

1. Forging a Standout Value Proposition

We reframed Elfa's market problem, crafting a narrative that positioned them not as a tool, but as a game-changer:

Highlighted Elfa's unique solution to a critical market pain point
Painted a vivid picture of Elfa's ecosystem vision
Positioned Elfa as the first-mover in a new category
Transformed feature lists into compelling value propositions

02 Showcasing the "Why", not the "How"

We shifted focus from product features to investor-centric storytelling:

Crafted a narrative emphasizing Elfa's unique value and potential impact
Leveraged our ex-VC experience to create a pitch resonating with investor mindsets
Highlighted the big vision and market potential, moving technical details to supporting roles

02 Showcasing the "Why", not the "How"

Recognizing fundraising as a full conversion journey, we:

Developed a comprehensive strategy covering all investor touchpoints
Ensured a consistent, compelling narrative across all interactions
Optimized and revamped every step: from outreach and one-pagers to website, demo, and follow-up strategies
From strategy to execution, we crafted and executed new value proposition, revamped the website and all materials.

THE RESULTS

Armed with their new pitch and comprehensive strategy, Elfa re-entered the fundraising arena. The results were dramatic:

$500K pre-seed round oversubscribed
Soft commits secured for seed round even before their launch
Investors saying "I'm in" before the founder finished pitching
All within just 2.5 weeks of implementing the new strategy
Soft commits secured for seed round even before their launch

THE RESULTS

Elfa's transformation wasn't just about the numbers. Elfa went from being seen as "just another tool" to being recognized as a potential category leader in the SocialFi space. Their journey showcases the power of a well-crafted narrative and a holistic fundraising approach.

By addressing the core issues in their pitch and building a comprehensive investor journey, we didn't just help Elfa raise funds – we positioned them for long-term success in the competitive crypto landscape.

IN THE FOUNDER'S WORDS

""I can now deliver the best of what we offer, and investors finally get our vision.

The VC POC wanted to invest before I finish the pitch. Thanks to Sarah for working through the deck and pitch so that I could deliver the best of what we offer. He got it clearly that our value add in helping people make sense of data vs traditional data platforms."

""I can now deliver the best of what we offer, and investors finally get our vision.