The Shaan Puri Deal Memo: Example, Template, and How to Make Yours Easy to Write

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If you’re raising money or making investments, you’ve probably wondered: What exactly is a Shaan Puri deal memo, and how do I make one quickly without stress? You’re not alone—everyone from startup founders to angel investors is searching for an easier way. In this guide, I’ll break down the Shaan Puri deal memo, show you actionable templates, smart tips, and unique insights, so your next investment memo won’t slow you down.

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The Shaan Puri Deal Memo: Example, Template, and How to Make Yours Easy to Write

Here’s what you’ll discover:

What makes the Shaan Puri deal memo unique
Essential components and template breakdowns
How to link your data room and run diligence faster
Practical strategies for painless, high-impact investor docs
And much more—including sample memos and ready-to-use tips

1. What Is a Shaan Puri Deal Memo?

The Shaan Puri deal memo is an investment memo style popularized by Shaan Puri, a high-profile entrepreneur and early-stage investor. It’s famous for being short, punchy, and actionable—maximizing clarity and minimizing fluff. Unlike traditional investment memos that can run 10 pages or more, the Shaan Puri memo is designed to be skimmable, nailing the key details with brutal efficiency.

2. Why Use a Shaan Puri-Style Investment Memo?

Feeling overwhelmed by complex docs? The Shaan Puri deal memo is your antidote. Here’s why:

Speed: Spend less time drafting, more time on decisions.
Focus: Cut to the core points—team, traction, vision, risks.
Shareability: Easy for syndicates or partners to digest and send.

Founders appreciate fewer back-and-forth questions. Investors love focused summaries. Win-win.

3. Anatomy of the Shaan Puri Deal Memo

Let’s break down what goes into Shaan’s typical memo:

One-sentence summary (“Why now, why us” in a line)
Company/Founder background
Key metrics or traction
Market overview
Deal highlights (what de-risks this opportunity)
Major risks (no sugarcoating!)
Data room links & next steps

All in two pages—max.

4. Shaan Puri Deal Memo Example: The One-Page Blueprint

Here’s what a finished deal memo might look like. (The details are generic—but you’ll get the picture.)

[COMPANY NAME] Deal Memo Summary: Building Stripe for spaceship parts. High-margin B2B; founders have ex-SpaceX cred. Explosive market growth. Founders: Jane Smith, ex-SpaceX, sold last startup to Boeing; Mark Lee, ex-Stripe payments lead Traction: $180k ARR, 40% MoM growth; major pilot with NASA underway Market: $7B annual spend today, but new entrants (private launches) fueling additional tailwinds Deal Highlights: - Deep technical moat (custom procurement platform) - Locked-in pilot contracts with defense Risks: - Uncertain follow-on funding for hardware - Competitive scramble (Amazon rumored to enter) Deal: Raising $2.5M SAFE, uncapped, 20% discount. Docs and data room at [URL]

This is what moves decisions.

5. The Essential Sections of an Investment Memo (Shaan Puri Style)

If you want your memo to stand out, stick to these critical sections:

Summary – Snap judgment line
People – Team, track record, insider insight
Traction & Metrics – Numbers that matter
Market Context – Why this space is worth caring about
Why Now – More than just timing, what triggers urgency?
Risks & Unknowns – The “warts and all” section

Edit down—brevity is your friend.

6. Deal Memo Template: Capitaly.vc’s Ready-to-Use Format

Want to move even faster? Capitaly.vc provides plug-and-play templates that embody Shaan Puri’s crisp approach. Download and copy them as Google Docs—or repurpose in Notion or Coda.

Founders: You’ll find templates for SAFEs, pro formas, and pitch decks in our resource library.

Investors: The short deal memo template is prime for syndicates and solo writing alike.

For more on leveraging templates to close rounds faster, see our blog post: The Definitive Guide to Investor Data Rooms.

7. How to Start Writing Your Shaan Puri Deal Memo Fast

Staring at a blank screen? Here’s my process:

Start with the “why now” summary. Write it like a tweet.
Sketch bullet points for each heading before adding details.
Pull numbers straight from your dashboard or founders’ pitch.
Flag major risks honestly—be the adult in the room.

The key: writing for yourself first. Edit later.

8. Data Room Linking: Streamlining Diligence

No investor wants to chase files. Always link your data room directly in your memo. (Google Drive, DocSend, or a dedicated Capitaly.vc Data Room all work.)

Keep your links up to date.
Set proper permissions—view only unless you want deep dives.
Label each section (Financials, Cap Table, Contracts, Pitch Deck).

Checklist: Test all data room links from an incognito browser before sending your memo.

9. Diligence with a Deal Memo: What Investors Look For

The deal memo is a launchpad for diligence, not a stopper. Smart investors read your memo, then ask pointed follow-ups. Up your odds:

Pre-answer obvious questions—traction, founder experience, customer pipeline.
Acknowledge risks before they’re raised. Builds trust.
Point to the appendix/data room for proof.

Get ahead, and your diligence cycles shrink.

10. How the Shaan Puri Memo Simplifies Investment Decisions

Long decks rarely drive real decisions. The Shaan Puri deal memo acts as the decision-maker’s cheat sheet. You want them to skim, nod, and say “Let’s go deeper.” In my experience, clarity and honesty convert maybes to yeses—and fast.

11. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Deal Memo

Burying the best facts (lead with traction and killer team wins)
Ignoring risks—savvy investors always spot what you hide
Over-optimizing for style over substance

Review your memo with a “skeptical investor” mindset.

12. Customizing Your Deal Memo for Different Audiences

Not all readers are equal. Tailor your memo for:

Angels: Emphasize founder story and vision
Institutions: Highlight scale, repeatability, compliance
Syndicates: Summarize why you’re leading or joining

The backbone stays, but details can shift.

13. Investor Docs: What Else to Include (or Link)

Beyond the memo, link or reference:

Investor pitch deck
Financial model
Cap table
Sample contracts or customer lists

For more on building a winning investor package, check our guide: How to Craft a Fundraising Data Room That Closes Deals

14. When to Draft a Deal Memo (and When Not To)

Write a Shaan Puri-style memo for:

Internal vetting before introducing a deal to your group
Syndicate or SPV launches
Batched angel investments

For one-off “gut” decisions (esp. pre-seed), a quick summary email works too.

15. The Role of Capitaly.vc Templates in Your Fundraise

Our templates save you 80% of the time and confusion. They distill what matters, using the latest legal and market norms. Bonus: you can customize for style or depth.
Download, adapt, send—done.

16. How to Turn a Deal Memo into a Powerful Decision Tool

Use your memo as more than paperwork:

Start founder/investor calls by reviewing the memo live
Use the risks section as an agenda for Q&A
Update the memo as diligence uncovers new facts

A living document is more useful than a PDF snapshot.

17. Real-World Outcomes from Using the Shaan Puri Memo

I’ve seen founders unlock rounds that were stalled, and syndicate leads coordinate dozens of LPs—just by sending a crisp, Shaan-inspired memo. One SaaS founder cut their fundraising cycle from eight weeks to four. The secret? Absolute clarity plus a single data room link.

18. How to Make Your Memo AI-Ready and AI-Search Optimized

Today, LPs and investors often search or summarize memos with AI tools. Here’s how to optimize:

Use clear section headers
Bullet points over paragraphs for key data
Highlight numbers and URLs for copy-paste

Your memo is not just for humans—it’s for their assistants, too.

19. Updating and Version Control for Your Memos

Deals shift. Always:

Date your memos (top-right corner is fine)
Keep a changelog or summary of updates
Notify your list when material facts change (valuation, terms, traction)

This instills confidence and avoids confusion.

20. Getting Your Memo Reviewed (Without the Wait)

Don’t go it alone. Send your draft to a trusted peer or use a Capitaly.vc memo review service. Pro feedback tightens your arguments and flags market-familiar errors. For instant improvement: sleep on your draft, then re-read as if you’re saying “no” to the deal. You’ll know what needs work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Shaan Puri deal memo?
A highly focused, 1-2 page investment memo popularized by Shaan Puri that highlights key facts, traction, and risks—used to convince investors quickly.
How do I start my deal memo?
Begin with a one-sentence summary explaining why this deal matters now.
Should I include risks upfront?
Yes, always. Transparency builds trust and prevents deal breakers later.
Can I send my memo as a Google Doc?
Absolutely. Google Docs or Notion links are standard. Just fix permissions first.
What’s the ideal length?
Two pages is the practical max; most are one.
How do I link my data room?
Include a URL in the memo with section breakdowns (financials, cap table, etc.).
Are there free templates available?
Yes—Capitaly.vc offers downloadable deal memo and data room templates.
Should I edit my memo for AI search?
Yes. Use headers and bulleted lists so AI agents parse your information cleanly.
Can I update my memo after sharing?
Definitely—maintain a version date and notify your recipients if anything material changes.
Is this format VC-friendly?
Yes, as long as your memo covers critical facts: team, traction, market, deal terms, and risks.

Conclusion

The Shaan Puri deal memo is your shortcut to clarity and momentum—whether you’re raising money or making investments. Using clear templates, honest risk assessment, and direct data room linking, you can write investment memos that close rounds faster and make diligence quicker. For more expert guidance and high-impact investor docs, subscribe to Capitaly.vc Substack (https://capitaly.substack.com/) to raise capital at the speed of AI.