Kindly Review my profile: Exceptional Promise [Business Route]

Stage 1
1

Hello everyone, I trust you are all feeling good. I plan to submit my first application (under exceptional promise - business route) next month. It would be great and very helpful if you could give it a look and provide your feedback or suggestions. :pray: :pray:

About me: I have 14 years of professional experience, out of which the last 4 years have been in digital technology field. For the last 4 years, I have held the following roles:

  • Program Manager of a non-profit startup accelerator program focussing on digital technologies
  • Associate Director of Programs for a non-profit startup mentorship program focussing on digital technologies
  • Currently, I am chief of staff with a product-led digital technology startup

I am planning to use the following as my submissions:

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

LOR1: Venture Partner at a VC firm & an Angel Investor in digital technology startups. He has known me for 7+ years, and I have worked with ventures he has invested in
LOR2: Founder of a startup which went through the startup accelerator program run by me. She is one of the top female tech founders in Canada. She has known my work for the last 3 years.
LOR3: Founder of a VC firm with multiple active investments in digital technology startups. He has known me for 6 years now.

MANDATORY CRITERIA

Evidence 1 (Led growth of a non-profit with a focus on digital technology): I managed the growth of a non-profit startup accelerator focussed on digital technologies. I increased the number of applicants by 400% and recruited MIT faculty to teach the curriculum. As evidence, I have:

  • Letter from the Startup Accelerator Director mentioning my role and impact achieved by me
  • Link to News articles about the startup accelerator program (but does not mention my name)
  • Information Guide for the Startup accelerator program, with me mentioned as the contact person
  • A supporting Letter from the founder of one of the startups that participated in the program
  • Snapshot of LinkedIn msgs sent by me to recruit startups and MIT faculty for the program

Evidence 2 (Led marketing or business development enabling revenue or customer growth): I developed a strategy for governmental public relations at the startup I am currently working for. I initiated outreach with US Senators to develop relations with them, leading to the CEO of my startup being invited to a Senate Hearing about the space in which the startup works. It played a big role in getting a $1M+ US government contract. As evidence, I have:

  • Letter from the CMO of the startup mentioning my role in this and the impact achieved
  • Screenshots of my emails sent to the US Senators to initiate conversations, along with replies received
  • News article about the Senate Hearing in which the CEO of my startup took part (it does not mention me by name)
  • Snapshot of the Contract received from the US government

Evidence 3 (Led growth of a product-led digital technology company, product, or team): I redesigned the go-to-market approach for the startup where I am currently employed. I identified new market vertices, developed new sales decks, and identified key targets in each market vertical. This led to the signing of 3 new contracts with a value of $2.5m+. As evidence, I have:

  • Letter from the CEO of the startup mentioning the role played by me in this and the impact achieved
  • Screenshots of my market analysis and key targets identified in them
  • Snapshot of the Contracts received through this strategy

OPTIONAL CRITERIA

Evidence 4:

OC2 (Evidence of mentorship or thought leadership outside immediate occupation): For the last 2 years, I have been a part of a structured mentorship program at a startup accelerator program. I have been part of 4+ cohorts and have mentored 6+ startups through it. As evidence, I have:

  • Letter from the Startup Accelerator Manager mentioning my role
  • Snapshots of the accelerator website with me included as part of the mentors
  • A supporting Letter from the founder of one of the startups mentored by me
  • Appreciation email from the Manager thanking me for my support

Evidence 5:

OC3 (Key role in the growth of a product-led digital technology company [Business]): For the startup for which I am currently working, I have raised funding of $5 million USD this year.

  • Letter from the startup CEO mentioning my role in this and the impact achieved
  • Snapshots of my email outreach to the investors
  • Snapshots of the financial model and investment pitch deck developed by me
  • Snapshot of the investment term sheets received through this strategy
1 Like
2

Hi @Harsimrandeep_Singh

So far the set looks fine. However this is incomplete application set. You need minimum two evidences per criteria as per the guidelines hence you need to add atleast 1 evidence each in OC2 and OC3.

  • in OC2, did the mentorship program have a selection criteria for mentors? This evidence is full of letters - which are accepted but not sufficient. Do you have more external proof like snapshots of the sessions, the program structure details?

Also since you have overall 5+ years of experience, TN will consider you under the Talent route irrespective of whether you apply in Promise or Talent. I would worry less about the route but more on creating strong evidence sets for each criteria.

3

Hi @pahuja , thanks for that feedback :pray:. It was really helpful.

Based on the feedback, I have modified the evidence for the optional criteria as listed below. Any feedback or suggestions on them would be greatly appreciated.

OPTIONAL CRITERIA

OC2 (Evidence of mentorship or thought leadership outside immediate occupation):

Evidence 4: For the last 2 years, I have been a part of a structured mentorship program at a startup accelerator program. I have been part of 4+ cohorts and have mentored 6+ startups through it. As evidence, I have:

  • Letter from the Startup Accelerator Manager mentioning my role and engagement as a mentor
  • Snapshots of the accelerator website with me included as part of the mentors
  • Program info guide showing it as a structured, regular accelerator program
  • Emails from the program manager inviting me to become a mentor
  • A supporting Letter from the founder of one of the startups mentored by me

Evidence 5: For the last 3 months, I have been Operations & Fundraising lead at a non-profit organizing interest group for AI Safety. As evidence, I have:

  • Letter from the Executive Director mentioning my role
  • Snapshots of the website with me listed as part of the core team
  • Pictures of the meetups organized by the non-profit
  • Snapshots of the training sessions on AI Safety policy done by the non-profit
  • Snapshots of the fundraising deck & budget built by me for the non-profit

Evidence 6: For the last 6 months, I have been a part of a structured mentorship program at a startup accelerator program (different from the one listed in Evidence 4). As evidence, I have:

  • Letter from the Startup Accelerator Manager mentioning my role and engagement as a mentor
  • Program info guide showing it as a structured, regular accelerator program
  • Emails from the program manager inviting me to become a mentor
  • A supporting Letter from the founder of one of the startups mentored by me
  • Appreciation email from the Startup Program manager thanking me for my contribution

OC3 (Key role in the growth of a product-led digital technology company [Business]):

Evidence 7: For the startup for which I am currently working, I have raised funding of $5 million USD this year.

  • Letter from the startup CEO mentioning my role in this and the impact achieved
  • Snapshots of my email outreach to the investors
  • Snapshots of the financial model and investment pitch deck developed by me
  • Snapshot of the investment term sheets received through this strategy

Evidence 8: For the startup for which I am currently working, I have set up and implemented processes and policies for financial management, as well as negotiated with vendors to set up payment plans and extend our runway.

  • Letter from the startup Head of Finance mentioning my role in this and the impact achieved
  • Snapshots of my emails to the vendors for negotiation of payment plan
  • Snapshots of the financial policies developed by me to reduce account receivables cycle time
  • Snapshot of the cash runway model showing the impact of my contributions (extending runway from 2 months to 6 months)
1 Like
4

This looks much better

In OC2, did you raise any funds for the ngo? If yes please quantity and ensure you mention and prove.

In OC3 second evidence make sure the impact is quantified otherwise it will be weak.

5

hi @pahuja , thanks so much for your review and feedback.

In OC2: I haven’t raised funds for the NGO yet, but it I will try to include other aspects of impact.

IN OC3: I will make sure to quantify the impact.

Again, thanks so much :pray:

6

Ensure the impact is quantified in both and your NGO contribution is clearly linked to digital technology. That’s important. Good luck!

7

I will surely keep that in mind. Thanks so so much for your help @pahuja

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