NTSP Seed Fund — Pitch Overview

Seed focuses on defining and shaping large-scale opportunities. It’s about taking bold risks and building the right foundation — not about immediate funding. The goal is to strengthen founders’ capacity to build scalable, sustainable ventures and identify key risks early.

Unfair Advantage

What makes you unique, and why is now the right time?

(Science · IP · Business Model · Partnerships)

• Describe the innovation in technical or business-model terms: principles, proven elements, and commercial scalability.
• What risks remain? Identify the three biggest risks that could derail your plan.
• Are there theoretical models or external validations? Who has verified the findings?
• How long will it take to validate viability through experimentation or market testing?

At this early stage, we value the quality of your thinking: market exploration, assumption validation, and correct core team composition.

Founder & Team

Who leads this and why are they qualified?

• Describe the founders’ background, motivation, and key skills.
• What technical or commercial roles still need to be filled?
• Is the founder the intended long-term CEO or another role?
• Are team members focused on mitigating core risks rather than non-critical work?

Risk Reduction & Financials

How will this funding reduce your risks?

• Define concrete risk-reduction milestones and capital needed per milestone.
• What is your current burn rate and runway, and how will that evolve per stage?
• What contingency plans exist if progress stalls?

Focus on the path to de-risking and lean cash management — not long-term financial precision.

Market & Competition

Is the market large enough and what is your position?

• Understand competition in terms of customer value — compare your future product to competitors’ current and future offerings.
• Is the market substantial (e.g., > $1B)? How significant is your step forward?
• Why can’t a competitor copy your idea tomorrow?

What Doesn’t Matter

• Five-year forecasts: early projections are unreliable — focus on burn and milestones.
• Unsupported growth claims: explain how you’ll acquire and retain your first customers.
• Copying big players: show why you’re truly unique, not just incrementally better.
• Only seeking funds: we want founders open to collaboration and guidance, not just capital.