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ECON3430
Managerial Economics

Start-up Company Report

Assignment Weight: 30% (Your mark will be the highest of the three drafts/attempts. It is not compulsory to
submit more than one draft).

Students need to conduct research and write an investment report about a start-up company using
concepts learned in the course. The main purpose of the report is to give investment advice to a potential
investor who is considering investing in the chosen start-up company.

Students should choose a (non-acquired) start-up from the following list by Week 4:

https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/?batch=W21&batch=W22&batch=S21&isHiring=true&status=Active

The report needs to show a good understanding of the company and include the following:

1. Title of the report
2. Executive Summary/Abstract (<400 words)
3. Introduction: Company Vision, the problem that the company addresses and their solution
4. Consumer:
a. Who is the target customer/user?
b. What is the potential market (i.e. demand) for the product?
c. Traction –are consumers showing interest, what are the methods for customer acquisition?
5. Company
a. Who are the founders & key personnel?
b. Is the company managed well? Can they hire good people?
c. Who owns (how much of) the company?
6. Competition
a. Market Structure –existing and potential competition, macro trends, regulatory environment.
b. Business model & pricing– how does the company make money?
7. Company Valuation and Investment Advice – Should we invest? If yes, what should be our offer?
8. Summary/Conclusion – Main takeaways

Additionally, the report needs to:
- present quantitative data, back its arguments with evidence from sources
- use a valid referencing style consistently and provide a full list of references
- have maximum 4000 words (excluding the abstract)
- use correct spelling and grammar
- adhere with rules of academic honesty