Startup Scout
Discover startups in a sector you love and pitch the one you believe will succeed to the FalconPad team.
Section A: The Brief
Careers can start with one email, here's yours.
Welcome to the Startup Scout experience!
I’m Alan from Astranda, and I’ll be your mentor for this FalconPad experience.
FalconPad is an accelerator that helps founders grow fast. It gives them funding, guidance, and resources in exchange for a small part of their company. Your job is to find the next startup for FalconPad! You need to research startups in an industry that you’re excited about (sports, gaming, healthcare, AI, etc.) and present one to the FalconPad team.
Before getting started, watch the onboarding video from the Founder and CEO of FalconPad attached below.
Remember to aim high, stay on track, and present your ideas professionally. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table.
Regards,
Alan
alan@astranda.com | Head of Partnerships
File: Onboarding-FalconPad.mp4
Section B: The Job
Step into the role.
Startup Scout
Level: Entry-Level
Duration: ~10 Hours
Result: Performance Report
Role Description: Discover and evaluate startups for investors, venture capital firms, accelerators, and companies.
Key Performance Indicators: Measured by how many high quality startups they find that turn into real investments.
Key Deliverables
By the end of this experience, you will have created:
Here are some key details to keep in mind as you work:
Why is this important: Startup Scouts find opportunities that others would miss
Tech stack: Google Docs/Sheets/Slides, Canva, Figma, Crunchbase, Product Hunt, LinkedIn
Common challenges to avoid: Chasing hype without real evidence
Expert tip: Start with the story (what problem is being solved?), then prove it with data
Section C: The Workflow
Phase 1: Discovery
Step 1.1 - Sector Research
Onboarding to FalconPad
FalconPad has grown from a small hub for ambitious founders into a launchpad that helps startups scale globally. Our culture is built on curiosity, collaboration, and resilience. At FalconPad, we expect you to work with the same grit as entrepreneurs. You’re joining a community that believes hard work and bold ideas can change the world.
As a new Startup Scout at FalconPad, it’s important to know what an accelerator actually does. Accelerators are programs that help startups grow fast by giving them funding, mentorship, and access to networks. In return, FalconPad takes a small share of ownership in the company, called equity. Think of FalconPad as a launchpad that connects founders to investors, advisors, and opportunities so their companies can scale quickly. The team of FalconPad sent you this brief video to give you a glimpse into life in an accelerator in Dubai.
Source: Dubai Business
At FalconPad, every new Startup Scout learns by studying how top investors make choices. One of the best ways to do this is with Y Combinator’s Partner Simulator, a tool used by leading startup scouts around the world. You’ll watch real videos from young founders and decide which startups you would support, just like real investors do. The FalconPad team asks all new scouts to try the simulator so you can experience what it’s like to spot the next big idea. You can access it here.
Sector Insights
As a Startup Scout, your first job is to pick a sector (sports, gaming, sustainability, AI, law, healthcare, media or any other area). To find the best area for you, look for a place where these things come together:
What you love
What the world needs
What you're good at
What you can be paid for
Then, search online for articles, podcasts, websites, videos or reports about startups in that area. Write down:
2–3 big trends (what’s happening in the market)
2–3 ways this industry is growing in the UAE
3–4 problems people or companies want solved
Source: FalconPad
As recommended by Colin, you can use the following tools to understand your market and find startups:
Market and Sector Reports (Google it or ask ChatGPT for reports in your sector)
LinkedIn, X and other social media
Source: G42
Sector Thesis
Based on your research and experience, write your own point of view about this sector. Startup Scouts generally answer the following to structure their thesis:
What do you believe about the future of this industry?
Who will benefit first (young people, businesses, families)?
Why is now a good time for the sector (new tech, laws, or habits)?
What kind of startup would you NOT pick?
As a Startup Scout, you need to understand the big picture of an industry before spotting opportunities. This connects to FalconPad’s mission because clear research helps us focus on sectors that can shape the UAE’s future.
Create your 1-page Sector Thesis, which clearly outlines your unique opinion and vision of the sector. For all the documents you develop, use the FalconPad logo, brand colours and font available below:
Source: FalconPad
Step 1.2 - Startup Evaluation
Startup Discovery
Following your vision outlined in your Sector Thesis, you need to find three real startups in your industry (at least one based in the UAE).
Startup Scouts often make a list of companies and place them on a sector map. A sector map splits an industry into smaller groups, which helps you see patterns and opportunities. For example, the UAE FinTech Sector Map below shows groups like Digital Banks, Mortgage Tech, Blockchain, and Digital Assets.
When examining startups, research and apply the advice of the best scouts in the business. Look at their playbooks, research how they analyse sectors, and apply their proven frameworks when reviewing a company’s team, traction, and market.
Source: NFX
After researching all the startups in your chosen sub-sector, pick three startups that you feel have the most potential and make a simple 1-page Startup Profile with:
Company name, founding year, and location
The problem it solves (1 sentence)
Its solution (1 sentence)
Who the customers are
Any signs of success (funding, users, partnerships)
The team (founders or key team members)
Size of the market they are going after
Two risks or red flags (things that might go wrong)
Links to your sources
Gathering this data will allow you to quickly share startup information with the FalconPad team. This connects to FalconPad’s mission by creating a database of potential ventures we could support.
Startup Evaluation Matrix
You now need to compare your three selected startups. Make a table with 5 rows:
Market Size
Problem Importance
Team Strength
Innovation
Scalability
Give each startup a score from 1–5 for each row, and write one short reason for the score. Add up the points to see which startup has the highest potential. A scorecard shows how startups stack up against each other. This connects to FalconPad’s mission by making decisions data-driven instead of just gut feeling. Another Startup Scout shared their template below, which you can view and download here.
Source: FalconPad
Phase 2: Pitch
Step 2.1 - Investment Memo and Pitch Deck
Investment Memo
Write a 1-page Investment Memo for FalconPad’s team that make the investment decisions. Pick your top startup and write:
A short summary of who they are and what they do
3 strengths
3 risks and how they might fix them
A final decision for FalconPad to Invest / Monitor / Pass
Investment Memos help Startup Scouts explain clearly why a startup is worth backing. This connects to FalconPad’s mission by turning raw research into real decisions. Startup Scouts examine other memos to learn from the best. Below is a section of the investment memo for Snapchat in 2012 when it had only 90,000 daily active users.
Source: 50Folds
Pitch Deck
Your final task is to create a professional-style deck that pulls together everything, just like all other Startup Scouts would do to present their findings to FalconPad’s partners. Build a short 6–8 slide deck that includes:
Title and Tagline – your chosen industry and why it matters
Sector Thesis – your key belief about the sector
Startup Shortlist – the 3 startups you scouted
Startup Evaluation Matrix – table of your scores + rankings
Selected Startup – who you recommend and why
Investment Memo – Decision to Invest / Monitor / Pass
Future Advice – what should FalconPad watch for when scouting more startups in this space
Closing Slide – your key takeaway in one sentence
Your deliverable is a 6–8 slide Scout Pitch Deck that shows you can connect research, analysis, and recommendations in one clear story.
Source: Fluently
To get a sense of how professional decks are reviewed, your colleagues at FalconPad shared this video of scout and investor Jason Calacanis—known for spotting companies like Uber and Robinhood—offering feedback on early entrepreneurs’ decks and business ideas.
Source: TWIST
Pull everything you’ve learned into a deck that feels like yours. Show your ideas, your insights, and the work you’re proud of from this experience. Keep it real, make it personal, and don’t hold back, this is your chance to share your story and inspire what comes next.
Deliverable Due
Congratulations on completing the FalconPad Startup Scout Experience.
You’ve produced a professional set of deliverables that mirror the real work of startup scouts and venture analysts. Specifically, you created:
A Sector Thesis that highlights your point of view and focus for picking startups.
Three Startup Profiles that capture the essence of real companies with clear details and risks.
A Startup Evaluation Matrix that ranks startups with evidence and reasoning.
An Investment Memo that recommends the best startup to support.
A Pitch Deck that ties everything together — sector view, startup shortlist, your top pick, and advice on what to watch for next.
These are the same kinds of documents and presentations that real analysts and entrepreneurs deliver to their team. They show not only that you can research and evaluate, but also that you can make clear recommendations and communicate them with confidence.
Quick reminder, please follow the Submission Guidelines below to finalize your completion.
This is a meaningful step toward a career in entrepreneurship or investing. We’re proud of your progress, and you should feel confident knowing you have what it takes to keep moving forward. Keep stacking achievements and experiences that set you apart.
Regards,
Alan
alan@astranda.com | Head of Partnerships
How to Submit
Submit your work, get feedback, certificates and more.
Submission Guidelines
Put everything in one folder
Name it:
Astranda_[ExperienceName]_[YourFullName]_[School]Include your docs, slides, videos, images, and any source files.
Upload to Google Drive
Open Drive → New → Folder (use the name above) → upload your files.
If your work is in Google Docs/Slides/Sheets, make sure each file has a clear title.
Set sharing permissions
Right-click the folder → Share → General access: Anyone with the link → Viewer.
Important: Do not require sign-in and do not give edit access.
Double-check by opening the link in an incognito window—if you can view it without logging in, you’re good.
Enter your details below:
How to Submit Your Work (via Google Drive link)
Put everything in one folder
Name it:
Astranda_[ExperienceName]_[YourFullName]_[School]Include your docs, slides, videos, images, and any source files.
Upload to Google Drive
Open Drive → New → Folder (use the name above) → upload your files.
If your work is in Google Docs/Slides/Sheets, make sure each file has a clear title.
Set sharing permissions
Right-click the folder → Share → General access: Anyone with the link → Viewer.
Important: Do not require sign-in and do not give edit access.
Double-check by opening the link in an incognito window—if you can view it without logging in, you’re good.
Copy your sharable link
Right-click the folder → Copy link.
Email your submission
Subject:
Submission: [ExperienceName] – [Your Full Name] – [School]Body: Paste the link and write a professional email including these details - Name: [Your Full Name], School: [Full School Name], Experience: [ExperienceName], Drive Link: [paste your view-only folder link]
Final checks before sending
The link opens without “Request access.”
All files load and play (videos, slides, etc.).
File names are clear and professional.
No personal data you don’t want shared.
Receive feedback
We will examine all your submitted materials
We will reply with your Performance Report and Certificate of Completion via email within 7 days
We will also share your next experience to continue your progress towards your dream career
If you want to try a different career path, please email alan@astranda.com.
Tips
Large videos? Upload to the same folder (don’t attach to the email).
Multiple versions? Keep only the final in the root folder; move drafts into a “Drafts” subfolder.
Keep a backup copy for your records.
