From Idea to Investable in Eight Weeks.
We help Exeter's most driven founders sharpen their story, numbers, and investor readiness.
X Catalyst is the consulting arm of the Exeter VC Society. We run 8-week startup sprints to help technical founders go from early product to investor-ready — all while training a new generation of VC analysts.
Goal: Client Startup raises capital or joins a Tier-1 accelerator by April 2026.
8-Week Process
Week 1
Kick-Off & Rapid Diagnosis
Align goals, confirm data access, set success metrics.
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Week 2
Market & User Discovery
Target-user interviews, competitor teardown, pain-point mapping.
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Week 3
Data & Economics Deep Dive
Size TAM/SAM, model data-licence costs, draft monetisation scenarios.
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Week 4
GTM Roadmap Sprint
Channel selection, early-adopter funnel, KPI milestone chart.
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Week 5
Monetisation & Pricing Validation
Test pricing with target users, refine LTV/CAC model, outline tiering.
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Week 6
Investor Narrative Build
Story arc, problem-solution fit, moat strategy, traction roadmap.
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Week 7
Deck & Financial Model Polish
Finalize 12-slide deck, 1-pager, and financial model with sensitivities.
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Week 8
Warm-Intro Sprint & Demo Day
≥ 3 tailored investor intros, live pitch, sprint retrospective.
Analyst time commitment: 5–6 hours/week – designed to fit alongside coursework.
Startup Value Stack
| Pain-Point | X Catalyst Solution |
|---|---|
| Investor narrative generic | Conduct data-driven market research for niche refinement |
| Go-to-market sequencing | Create GTM roadmap with milestone tracking |
| No senior signal | Draft advisory board term sheet |
| Undefined fundraising roadmap | Build a staged capital plan with round sizing, milestone triggers, timing, and target-investor list |
Team Architecture
Engagement Manager
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Analyst Pods (3×2 students)
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Mentors
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Ops & L&D
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Partnerships Lead
Governance & Professionalism
- MoU for each engagement
- Conflict register for overlapping fintechs
- Success = founder NPS ≥ 8.0
Target Metrics
3+ startups served
£50k+ capital raised
60% analyst placement rate
75+ society members
Ready to sprint?
Email shailen@xcatalyst.co.uk to book a 30-minute scoping call.
Email shailen@xcatalyst.co.uk to book a 30-minute scoping call.