The short answer
A one-pager tells an investor what you do, your proof and what you're raising on a single page they can read on a phone and forward. Copy the template, fill every bracket with specific numbers, put traction near the top, size the market bottom-up and state the raise concretely: amount, instrument, committed money and close date.
- A one-pager earns the meeting; the deck is for the meeting.
- Put traction near the top and use numbers instead of adjectives.
- State the raise concretely: amount, instrument, terms, committed money, minimum check and close date.
- Size the market bottom-up: reachable customers times annual price.
- Add one tailored line per investor about why them.
How to use this template
A one-pager is a single page that tells an investor what you do, why it matters, what proof you have and what you're raising. It's what an angel reads on a phone between meetings, and what they forward to a co-investor. It doesn't replace your deck; it earns you the meeting where you show the deck.
Copy the template below into a document, fill each bracket, and cut until it fits on one page at a readable font size. Export as a PDF named "[Company] – one-pager – [Month Year]". Replace every bracket; delete any section where you have nothing real to say rather than padding it.
The one-pager template
[Company name] — [one-line description: what you do, for whom]
[City, State] · Founded [year] · [website] · [founder email]The problem
[Who has the problem, how often, and what it costs them. One or two sentences with a number.]Our solution
[What the product does, in plain words. What changes for the customer.]Traction
• [Revenue or ARR, and growth rate]
• [Customers, pilots or letters of intent, with recognizable types]
• [One usage or retention metric]
• [Any award, grant or program acceptance]Market
[Bottom-up: number of reachable customers × annual price = annual opportunity. One sentence on why now.]Business model
[How you charge, average contract or order value, gross margin if known.]Competition and edge
[Two or three alternatives customers use today, and the one reason you win.]Team
[Founder 1, title] — [the most relevant experience, with a number]
[Founder 2, title] — [the most relevant experience, with a number]
[Key advisor or early hire, if notable]The raise
Raising $[amount] on a [post-money SAFE / priced round] at [cap or valuation, if set]. $[amount] committed from [type of investor]. Minimum check $[amount]. Target close [month].Use of funds
[Three uses with rough percentages] to reach [specific milestone] in [months].Contact
[Name] · [email] · [phone] · [deck link, view-only]
A filled example
Hypothetical example; the company and numbers are invented.
ShiftWell — scheduling software for independent home-health agencies
Columbus, Ohio · Founded 2025Problem: Agency schedulers spend 15–20 hours a week matching caregivers to visits by phone and spreadsheet; missed visits cost agencies revenue and patients care.
Solution: ShiftWell auto-matches caregivers to visits by skill, distance and availability, and texts confirmations.
Traction: $14,000 MRR, up from $3,000 six months ago · 22 paying agencies in Ohio and Indiana · 96% monthly logo retention · Accepted to a regional health accelerator.
Market: Thousands of independent agencies in our first three states × $6,000 average annual contract.
Team: CEO ran operations for a 300-caregiver agency for eight years · CTO built scheduling systems at a logistics company.
Raise: $900,000 post-money SAFE at a $7M cap; $250,000 committed from two healthcare angels. Minimum check $25,000. Closing in March.
Use of funds: 55% engineering, 30% sales, 15% compliance, to reach $50,000 MRR in 18 months.
Writing tips
- Put traction above the fold. If you have numbers, they're the reason an investor keeps reading.
- Use numbers instead of adjectives. "22 paying agencies" beats "strong customer adoption."
- Size the market bottom-up. It's more credible and shows you understand your customer.
- Make the raise concrete. Amount, instrument, terms if set, committed money and close date. Vague raises read as early.
- Keep it to one page. If it spills over, cut adjectives first, then the weakest section.
- Tailor one line per investor. When sending it to a specific investor, add a line on why them, such as a portfolio company or stated thesis.
Where to use it
- Attached to your forwardable intro email (forwardable intro blurb).
- As a follow-up after demo days and pitch events.
- In angel group applications that ask for an executive summary (how to apply to an angel group).
- As the cover document in your data room (data room index).
Once your one-pager is ready, the next step is putting it in front of the right people. Build a list by stage, sector and city, starting with pre-seed investors.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a one-pager and a pitch deck?
A one-pager is a single-page summary for screening and forwarding. A deck is 10–15 slides you present or send after interest is established.
Should I send a one-pager or a deck in a cold email?
Many founders link a short deck or attach a one-pager. A one-pager is easier to read on a phone and to forward to co-investors.
How long should a one-pager be?
One page at a readable font size, roughly 300–450 words.
Should I include valuation on a one-pager?
Include the cap or valuation if it's set. If not, state the amount and instrument and say terms are being finalized.