SkyMirror Investor Relations & Fundraising Guide
Executive Summaryβ
This guide establishes SkyMirror's investor relations strategy and fundraising execution plan. It provides frameworks for building investor relationships, preparing materials, and executing successful fundraises for SkyMirror's integrated technology ecosystem: CheckMet (AI attendance), Traquiva (AI learning platform), Software Solutions, and SkyMirror Academy.
Part 1: Investor Story & Narrativeβ
1.1 The SkyMirror Investment Thesisβ
One-Liner:
SkyMirror is building an integrated technology ecosystem for enterprise workforce management and education, powered by AI applications (CheckMet, Traquiva), custom software solutions, and SkyMirror Academy.
Elevator Pitch (30 seconds):
Every year, enterprises lose billions to time fraud, manual errors, and compliance failures in workforce management, while facing critical skills gaps. SkyMirror addresses both with CheckMet (AI attendance), Traquiva (AI learning platform), custom software solutions, and SkyMirror Academy. We're already deployed with paying customers across Europe, growing 100%+ quarter-over-quarter, with a clear path to β¬5M ARR. We're raising β¬5M to accelerate product development and expand across Europe.
Full Pitch (2 minutes):
The Problem: Enterprise workforce management is broken. Companies with 500+ employees spend β¬200K+ annually on attendance administration, yet still face:
- 5-10% payroll errors from manual tracking
- β¬50K+ annual losses from time fraud
- Compliance risks from inadequate documentation
- Zero real-time visibility into workforce
The Solution: CheckMet is an AI-powered attendance platform that:
- Achieves 99.9% recognition accuracy (vs. 85% industry average)
- Reduces admin time by 95%
- Integrates with 50+ HRIS/payroll systems
- Provides real-time workforce analytics
Traction:
- β¬183K ARR with 8 enterprise customers
- 1,750 active users across 3 countries
- 98% customer retention
- 40+ NPS score
Market:
- β¬15B TAM in enterprise workforce management
- 25% CAGR in AI-powered HR solutions
- Regulatory tailwinds (GDPR, labor compliance)
Team:
- CEO Lukman: 10+ years enterprise software, ex-[Company]
- CTO Eric: AI/ML expert, 3 patents, ex-[Company]
- COO Dr. Loveday: Operations leader, scaled teams to 500+
The Ask: Raising β¬5M Series A to:
- Expand engineering team (40%)
- Accelerate European expansion (35%)
- Scale sales & marketing (25%)
Why Now:
- Post-COVID shift to hybrid work creates urgency
- AI technology finally mature enough for enterprise
- First-mover advantage in European market
1.2 Key Investment Highlightsβ
| Highlight | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Large Market | β¬15B TAM, 25% CAGR |
| Strong Product | 99.9% accuracy, 50+ integrations |
| Proven Traction | β¬183K ARR, 8 customers, 98% retention |
| Scalable Model | 65% gross margin, β¬8K CAC, 3:1 LTV:CAC |
| Experienced Team | Combined 40+ years enterprise experience |
| Clear Path | Roadmap to β¬5M ARR in 24 months |
1.3 Addressing Common Investor Questionsβ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why will you win? | Proprietary AI with 99.9% accuracy, first-mover in Europe, integrated ecosystem approach |
| What's your moat? | 3 patents pending, 50+ integrations, customer data network effects |
| Why now? | Hybrid work creates urgency, AI technology mature, regulatory tailwinds |
| How big can this be? | β¬15B market, targeting β¬100M ARR in 5 years, multiple exit paths |
| What are the risks? | Competition from incumbents (mitigated by speed), regulatory changes (mitigated by compliance-first design) |
| Why this team? | Combined 40+ years enterprise software, previous exits, deep domain expertise |
Part 2: Investor Targetingβ
2.1 Ideal Investor Profileβ
Stage: Seed to Series A Check Size: β¬500K - β¬5M Geography: Europe-focused or global with European presence Sector Focus: Enterprise SaaS, AI/ML, HR Tech Value-Add: Enterprise sales expertise, European expansion, follow-on capacity
2.2 Target Investor Listβ
Tier 1: Primary Targets (Best Fit)β
| Investor | Stage | Focus | Check Size | Contact | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [VC Firm 1] | Seed-A | Enterprise SaaS | β¬1-5M | [Partner] | Research |
| [VC Firm 2] | Seed-A | AI/ML | β¬500K-3M | [Partner] | Research |
| [VC Firm 3] | Seed-A | HR Tech | β¬1-3M | [Partner] | Research |
| [VC Firm 4] | Seed-A | European | β¬2-5M | [Partner] | Research |
| [VC Firm 5] | Seed-A | B2B SaaS | β¬1-4M | [Partner] | Research |
Tier 2: Secondary Targetsβ
| Investor | Stage | Focus | Check Size | Contact | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [VC Firm 6] | Seed | Generalist | β¬500K-2M | [Partner] | Research |
| [VC Firm 7] | Seed-A | Deep Tech | β¬1-3M | [Partner] | Research |
| [VC Firm 8] | Seed | CEE Focus | β¬500K-1.5M | [Partner] | Research |
Tier 3: Strategic Investorsβ
| Investor | Type | Strategic Value | Contact | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [HR Tech Company] | Corporate | Distribution | [BD Lead] | Research |
| [HRIS Vendor] | Corporate | Integration | [Partnerships] | Research |
| [Payroll Provider] | Corporate | Channel | [BD Lead] | Research |
2.3 Investor Research Templateβ
## Investor Profile: [Firm Name]
### Firm Overview
- **AUM:** β¬XXM
- **Stage Focus:** [Seed/A/B]
- **Check Size:** β¬X-XM
- **Geography:** [Regions]
- **Sector Focus:** [Sectors]
### Investment Thesis
[What do they look for?]
### Relevant Portfolio Companies
| Company | Stage | Relevance |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| [Company 1] | [Stage] | [Why relevant] |
| [Company 2] | [Stage] | [Why relevant] |
### Key Partners
| Partner | Focus | Background | Connection Path |
|---------|-------|------------|-----------------|
| [Name] | [Sector] | [Background] | [How to reach] |
### Recent Investments
- [Company] - [Date] - [Amount]
- [Company] - [Date] - [Amount]
### Warm Introduction Paths
1. [Connection 1] - [Relationship]
2. [Connection 2] - [Relationship]
### Notes
[Any other relevant information]
Part 3: Pitch Materialsβ
3.1 Pitch Deck Structure (12-15 slides)β
| Slide | Content | Key Message |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Title | Company name, tagline, contact | First impression |
| 2. Problem | Pain points with data | Market need is real |
| 3. Solution | Product overview | We solve this elegantly |
| 4. Product | Screenshots, demo | Product is real and works |
| 5. Traction | Metrics, logos, growth | We have momentum |
| 6. Market | TAM/SAM/SOM | Opportunity is large |
| 7. Business Model | Pricing, unit economics | We can make money |
| 8. Competition | Landscape, differentiation | We can win |
| 9. Go-to-Market | Channels, strategy | We know how to grow |
| 10. Team | Founders, key hires | We can execute |
| 11. Financials | Projections, metrics | We're capital efficient |
| 12. Ask | Amount, use of funds | Clear investment opportunity |
| 13. Appendix | Additional detail | For deep dives |
3.2 One-Pager Templateβ
# SkyMirror - Investment Overview
## Company
AI-powered workforce management platform for enterprises
## Problem
- β¬200K+ annual cost of attendance administration
- 5-10% payroll errors from manual tracking
- β¬50K+ losses from time fraud
- Zero real-time workforce visibility
## Solution
CheckMet: AI attendance with 99.9% accuracy
- Facial recognition check-in
- Real-time analytics dashboard
- 50+ HRIS integrations
- GDPR compliant
## Traction
- β¬183K ARR | 8 customers | 1,750 users
- 98% retention | 40+ NPS
- 100%+ QoQ growth
## Market
- β¬15B TAM | 25% CAGR
- Enterprise workforce management
- AI-powered HR solutions
## Business Model
- SaaS subscription: β¬1-2/user/month
- 65% gross margin
- β¬8K CAC | 3:1 LTV:CAC
## Team
- CEO: 10+ years enterprise software
- CTO: AI/ML expert, 3 patents
- COO: Scaled operations to 500+
## Funding
- Raising: β¬5M Series A
- Use: Product (40%), Expansion (35%), Sales (25%)
- Target: β¬5M ARR in 24 months
## Contact
Lukman Ibrahim, CEO
lukman@skymirror.eu | +36 XX XXX XXXX
3.3 Financial Model Requirementsβ
Historical Data (if available):
- Monthly revenue by product line
- Customer count and growth
- Churn and retention rates
- CAC and LTV by channel
- Burn rate and runway
Projections (3-5 years):
- Revenue by product line
- Customer growth assumptions
- Unit economics evolution
- Headcount plan
- P&L, cash flow, balance sheet
Scenario Analysis:
- Base case
- Conservative case (-30%)
- Optimistic case (+50%)
Part 4: Data Roomβ
4.1 Data Room Checklistβ
Corporate Documentsβ
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Articles of Association
- Shareholder Agreement
- Board Resolutions
- Cap Table (fully diluted)
- Option Pool Documentation
- Previous Funding Documents
Financial Documentsβ
- Historical Financial Statements (audited if available)
- Monthly P&L (last 12 months)
- Cash Flow Statement
- Balance Sheet
- Financial Projections (3-5 years)
- Unit Economics Analysis
- Budget vs. Actuals
Commercial Documentsβ
- Customer List (anonymized if needed)
- Sample Customer Contracts
- Pricing Documentation
- Sales Pipeline Report
- Churn Analysis
- NPS/Customer Satisfaction Data
Product & Technologyβ
- Product Roadmap
- Technology Architecture Overview
- IP Documentation (patents, trademarks)
- Security & Compliance Certifications
- Third-Party Audit Reports
Team & HRβ
- Org Chart
- Key Employee Bios
- Employment Agreements (key employees)
- Equity Incentive Plan
- Hiring Plan
Legal & Complianceβ
- Material Contracts
- Litigation Summary
- Regulatory Compliance Documentation
- Insurance Policies
- GDPR Compliance Documentation
4.2 Data Room Organizationβ
π SkyMirror Data Room
βββ π 1. Corporate
β βββ 1.1 Incorporation Documents
β βββ 1.2 Shareholder Agreements
β βββ 1.3 Cap Table
β βββ 1.4 Board Materials
βββ π 2. Financial
β βββ 2.1 Historical Financials
β βββ 2.2 Projections
β βββ 2.3 Unit Economics
β βββ 2.4 Budget
βββ π 3. Commercial
β βββ 3.1 Customer Data
β βββ 3.2 Contracts
β βββ 3.3 Pipeline
β βββ 3.4 Metrics
βββ π 4. Product & Technology
β βββ 4.1 Product Overview
β βββ 4.2 Technology
β βββ 4.3 IP
β βββ 4.4 Security
βββ π 5. Team
β βββ 5.1 Org Chart
β βββ 5.2 Bios
β βββ 5.3 Agreements
β βββ 5.4 Hiring Plan
βββ π 6. Legal
βββ 6.1 Contracts
βββ 6.2 Compliance
βββ 6.3 Insurance
Part 5: Fundraising Processβ
5.1 Fundraising Timelineβ
| Phase | Duration | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | 4-6 weeks | Materials, data room, target list |
| Outreach | 2-4 weeks | Warm intros, cold outreach |
| First Meetings | 4-6 weeks | Initial pitches, follow-ups |
| Deep Dives | 2-4 weeks | Partner meetings, due diligence |
| Term Sheets | 1-2 weeks | Negotiation, selection |
| Closing | 4-6 weeks | Legal, documentation, wire |
| Total | 16-24 weeks |
5.2 Outreach Strategyβ
Warm Introduction Request Templateβ
Subject: Introduction request - [Investor Name]
Hi [Connection Name],
I hope you're doing well!
I'm reaching out because we're raising our Series A for SkyMirror, and I noticed you're connected to [Partner Name] at [VC Firm].
Quick context: SkyMirror is building AI-powered workforce management for enterprises. We're at β¬183K ARR with 8 enterprise customers and 100%+ QoQ growth. We're raising β¬5M to accelerate our European expansion.
[VC Firm] seems like a great fit given their focus on [relevant focus area] and investments in [relevant portfolio companies].
Would you be comfortable making an introduction? I've drafted a short forwardable below that you can use or modify.
Thanks so much for considering!
Best,
[Your Name]
---
**Forwardable:**
Hi [Partner Name],
I wanted to introduce you to [Your Name], CEO of SkyMirror. They're building AI-powered workforce management for enterprises and are raising their Series A.
Key highlights:
- β¬183K ARR, 8 enterprise customers
- 99.9% AI accuracy (vs. 85% industry average)
- 100%+ QoQ growth
- Strong team from [relevant backgrounds]
I thought this might be interesting given your focus on [relevant area]. I'll let [Your Name] take it from here.
Best,
[Connection Name]
Cold Outreach Templateβ
Subject: SkyMirror - AI workforce management, β¬183K ARR
Hi [Partner Name],
I'm the CEO of SkyMirror. We're building AI-powered workforce management for enterprises, and I think we'd be a good fit for [VC Firm] given your investments in [relevant portfolio companies].
Quick highlights:
- β¬183K ARR with 8 enterprise customers
- 99.9% AI accuracy (10x better than legacy solutions)
- 100%+ QoQ growth, 98% retention
- Raising β¬5M Series A
We're solving a β¬15B problem: enterprises lose billions annually to time fraud, manual errors, and compliance failures. Our AI eliminates 95% of attendance administration while improving accuracy.
Would you have 20 minutes this week or next to learn more?
Best,
[Your Name]
CEO, SkyMirror
P.S. Here's our deck: [Link]
5.3 Meeting Preparationβ
First Meeting Checklistβ
Before:
- Research the partner and firm
- Review their portfolio for relevant companies
- Prepare customized deck
- Anticipate questions based on their focus
- Test technology (Zoom, screen share)
During:
- Start with rapport building (2-3 min)
- Deliver pitch (15-20 min)
- Leave time for Q&A (20-25 min)
- Ask about their process and timeline
- Confirm next steps
After:
- Send thank you email within 24 hours
- Include any requested materials
- Log notes in CRM
- Schedule follow-up if appropriate
Partner Meeting Checklistβ
Before:
- Review all previous meeting notes
- Prepare for deep-dive questions
- Update materials with latest metrics
- Prepare customer references
- Brief team members who will attend
During:
- Present updated traction
- Deep dive on requested topics
- Address concerns directly
- Discuss terms expectations
- Confirm decision timeline
After:
- Send follow-up with any requested info
- Provide customer reference contacts
- Prepare for due diligence
5.4 Investor CRM Trackingβ
## Investor Pipeline - [Date]
### Active Conversations
| Investor | Partner | Stage | Last Contact | Next Step | Notes |
|----------|---------|-------|--------------|-----------|-------|
| [VC 1] | [Name] | Partner Meeting | [Date] | DD call | Strong interest |
| [VC 2] | [Name] | First Meeting | [Date] | Follow-up | Requested metrics |
| [VC 3] | [Name] | Outreach | [Date] | Intro call | Warm intro sent |
### Pipeline Summary
| Stage | Count | Total Potential |
|-------|-------|-----------------|
| Outreach | X | β¬XM |
| First Meeting | X | β¬XM |
| Partner Meeting | X | β¬XM |
| Due Diligence | X | β¬XM |
| Term Sheet | X | β¬XM |
### This Week's Activities
| Activity | Target | Actual |
|----------|--------|--------|
| Outreach emails | 10 | X |
| First meetings | 3 | X |
| Follow-ups | 5 | X |
### Key Updates
1.
2.
3.
Part 6: Term Sheet Negotiationβ
6.1 Key Term Sheet Termsβ
| Term | Founder-Friendly | Market | Investor-Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | Higher | Market | Lower |
| Liquidation Preference | 1x non-participating | 1x participating | Over 1x participating |
| Board Seats | Founder majority | Balanced | Investor majority |
| Anti-Dilution | Weighted average | Weighted average | Full ratchet |
| Vesting | 4 years, 1 year cliff | 4 years, 1 year cliff | Longer/stricter |
| Option Pool | 10% | 10-15% | 15-20% |
| Protective Provisions | Minimal | Standard | Extensive |
6.2 Negotiation Principlesβ
- Know your BATNA - Best alternative if this deal falls through
- Prioritize - Know which terms matter most to you
- Trade, don't concede - Give on less important terms to win on important ones
- Stay professional - This is a long-term relationship
- Get legal help - Use experienced startup counsel
6.3 Term Sheet Comparison Templateβ
## Term Sheet Comparison
| Term | [VC 1] | [VC 2] | [VC 3] | Notes |
|------|--------|--------|--------|-------|
| **Investment Amount** | β¬XM | β¬XM | β¬XM | |
| **Pre-Money Valuation** | β¬XM | β¬XM | β¬XM | |
| **Post-Money Valuation** | β¬XM | β¬XM | β¬XM | |
| **Founder Dilution** | X% | X% | X% | |
| **Liquidation Preference** | | | | |
| **Participation** | | | | |
| **Anti-Dilution** | | | | |
| **Board Composition** | | | | |
| **Option Pool** | | | | |
| **Vesting** | | | | |
| **Protective Provisions** | | | | |
| **Pro-Rata Rights** | | | | |
| **Information Rights** | | | | |
### Value-Add Comparison
| Factor | [VC 1] | [VC 2] | [VC 3] |
|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Relevant portfolio | | | |
| Partner expertise | | | |
| Network access | | | |
| Follow-on capacity | | | |
| Reputation | | | |
### Overall Assessment
[Analysis and recommendation]
Part 7: Due Diligence Preparationβ
7.1 Common DD Questionsβ
Business & Strategyβ
- What's your competitive advantage?
- How do you acquire customers?
- What's your pricing strategy?
- What are the key risks?
- What's your 3-year plan?
Financialβ
- Walk me through your unit economics
- What drives your CAC?
- How do you calculate LTV?
- What's your burn rate?
- When do you expect profitability?
Product & Technologyβ
- What's your technology stack?
- How do you protect your IP?
- What's your security posture?
- How do you handle data privacy?
- What's on your product roadmap?
Teamβ
- Why is this team uniquely positioned?
- What are the key hires you need?
- How do you retain talent?
- What's your equity structure?
- Any key person dependencies?
Legalβ
- Any outstanding litigation?
- Any regulatory concerns?
- Are all contracts in order?
- Any IP issues?
- Any employment issues?
7.2 DD Response Templateβ
## Due Diligence Response
**Question:** [Question from investor]
**Response:**
[Clear, concise answer]
**Supporting Documentation:**
- [Document 1] - [Location in data room]
- [Document 2] - [Location in data room]
**Additional Context:**
[Any relevant context or caveats]
Part 8: Post-Fundraiseβ
8.1 Investor Communication Cadenceβ
| Communication | Frequency | Content | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Meeting | Quarterly | Full business review | CEO |
| Investor Update | Monthly | Key metrics, highlights | CEO |
| Ad-hoc Updates | As needed | Major news, issues | CEO |
| Annual Meeting | Yearly | Strategy, planning | CEO |
8.2 Monthly Investor Update Templateβ
# SkyMirror Investor Update - [Month Year]
## TL;DR
[3-4 bullet summary of the month]
## Key Metrics
| Metric | [Month] | MoM | Target | Status |
|--------|---------|-----|--------|--------|
| ARR | β¬XXK | +X% | β¬XXK | π’/π‘/π΄ |
| MRR | β¬XXK | +X% | β¬XXK | π’/π‘/π΄ |
| Customers | X | +X | X | π’/π‘/π΄ |
| Users | X,XXX | +X% | X,XXX | π’/π‘/π΄ |
| Burn | β¬XXK | +X% | β¬XXK | π’/π‘/π΄ |
| Runway | X months | | 18+ | π’/π‘/π΄ |
## Highlights
1. [Win 1]
2. [Win 2]
3. [Win 3]
## Challenges
1. [Challenge 1] - [What we're doing about it]
2. [Challenge 2] - [What we're doing about it]
## Product
[Key product updates]
## Team
[Hiring updates, team news]
## Pipeline
[Sales pipeline update]
## Asks
1. [Specific ask 1]
2. [Specific ask 2]
## Looking Ahead
[Focus for next month]
---
Thanks for your continued support!
[CEO Name]
Part 9: Appendicesβ
Appendix A: Investor Outreach Trackerβ
| Investor | Partner | Intro Source | First Contact | Status | Next Step | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appendix B: Meeting Notes Templateβ
## Investor Meeting Notes
**Date:** [Date]
**Investor:** [Firm] - [Partner Name]
**Attendees:** [Names]
**Meeting Type:** [First/Partner/DD]
### Key Discussion Points
1.
2.
3.
### Questions Asked
1. Q: [Question] A: [Answer]
2. Q: [Question] A: [Answer]
### Concerns Raised
1.
2.
### Positive Signals
1.
2.
### Next Steps
1. [Action] - [Owner] - [Date]
2. [Action] - [Owner] - [Date]
### Follow-up Required
- [ ] [Item 1]
- [ ] [Item 2]
Appendix C: Reference Check Preparationβ
Customer References:
| Customer | Contact | Title | Relationship | Talking Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Personal References:
| Reference | Relationship | Contact | Talking Points |
|---|---|---|---|
Document Version: 1.0 Last Updated: December 2024 Owner: CEO Review Cycle: Before each fundraise