About this template
The Modern Startup Pitch template is a pitch-deck-inspired CV in Inter and JetBrains Mono on white paper with an emerald green accent. Sections frame impact metrics like deck slides — TAM, ARR, growth rate, headcount. It's the format built for founder, growth lead and operator profiles who think their careers in narrative arcs and impact figures. The rendering is modern, energetic and lets recruiters read the orders of magnitude at a glance.
Who is it for?
It suits founders, growth leads, business developers, senior operators and product profiles applying to US early-stage startups (Anthropic, Sourcegraph, Linear, Modal, Replicate), accelerators (Y Combinator, Techstars, On Deck, South Park Commons), VC partner roles (a16z, Sequoia, Index, General Catalyst, Greylock) or as solo founders preparing investor introductions where the CV doubles as a credibility document for diligence.
How to use it
Open with a 2-line 'one-liner' positioning the arc (e.g., '12 years across product and growth, 2× founder — combined exits $60M — current focus: revenue ops at B2B SaaS'). For each role, present key figures as a slide: ARR managed, YoY growth rate, team size, fundraising tied to your tenure. For founders with successful exits, mention the exit multiple and acquirer if public. VCs read these signals first — bold them in the opening bullets of each role.
Frequently asked questions
How should I present a founder experience without an exit?
Be transparent about the outcome (pivot, shutdown, dormancy) and emphasise the lessons learned. Example: 'Founder & CEO at [startup] — $800K seed round from a16z — peak ARR $250K — shutdown 2024, key lessons: no PMF in B2B mid-market, lack of clear use-case wedge'. This honesty is read by US VCs as a maturity signal — exits matter, but reflection matters too.
Should I list my equity or cap-table stake on the CV?
No — these details remain confidential and add nothing for the recruiter. Mention instead the legal status of your participation (founder, founding engineer #5, advisor) which contextualises your position on the cap table. For an advisor mandate application, specify the compensation structure (advisor shares, cash retainer, hybrid).
How should I adapt this CV when returning to corporate from a startup?
Soften the founder dimension by emphasising the cross-functional skills acquired: multi-team leadership, P&L management, legal/compliance handling, M&A involvement. Add a 'Corporate competencies' block translating startup experience into enterprise vocabulary. For CFO, COO or Chief of Staff applications in Fortune 500, prefer Corporate or Elegant Serif templates instead.
