| Stage | Definition | Exit Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Prospect identified, basic qualification checked | Meets hard gates |
| Outreach | Personalized message sent | Response or 2 follow-ups |
| Discovery | 20-min call completed | Mutual interest confirmed |
| Diagnostic Proposal | Custom diagnostic scope sent | Prospect decision |
| Diagnostic Paid | Diagnostic engagement started | Payment received |
| Sprint Proposal | 90-day sprint proposed based on diagnostic findings | Prospect decision |
| Sprint Active | 90-day engagement live | Signed SOW + payment |
| Ongoing | Transition to ongoing management | Contract signed |
Company Name | Website | Contact Name | Contact Title | Contact Source
LinkedIn URL | Email | Phone (optional)
Category | Monthly Revenue (est) | Platform | Monthly Ad Spend (est)
Product Margin (est) | US Fulfillment (Y/N)
Current Agency | Pain Points (notes)
Outreach Stage | Last Contact Date | Next Action | Next Action Date
Diagnostic Status | Sprint Status
Notes | AttachmentsMinute 0-3: Context
"We help DTC brands already selling in the US get more efficient with paid acquisition. We're reaching out because [specific observation about their brand/category]."
Minute 3-8: Diagnosis Questions
"What's working right now in your paid acquisition? What's the biggest frustration? How do you currently measure what's actually driving new customers vs repeat?"
Minute 8-15: Value Demo
"Based on what we see publicly, here are 3 specific opportunities we'd explore in a diagnostic..."
Minute 15-20: Next Step
"If this is interesting, our diagnostic is [price range], 10 business days, you get a full report with prioritized action items. Want me to send the scope?"
Subject: [Brand Name]'s Meta ads — 3 observations
Hi [Name],
I've been analyzing [Brand]'s ad presence. A few things stood out:
We run a specialized agency for DTC brands in [category]. Our diagnostic (10 days, fixed price) would give you a ranked action plan for these.
No long-term commitment. Would a 20-min call be worth your time?
Best,
[Name]
AI US Growth Agency
Hi [Name] — I've been following [Brand]'s growth. Really interesting approach to [specific thing].
We help DTC brands in [category] optimize their US paid acquisition. Just published some benchmarks on [relevant metric] — happy to share if useful.
Either way, curious how you're thinking about paid acquisition this year?
| Category | Examples | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Developers | Agency partners, app developers | Referral + technical integration |
| US 3PL Providers | ShipBob, ShipMonk, Deliverr | Client logistics intel |
| Cross-border Payment | Stripe, Airwallex, Payoneer | Payment infrastructure |
| Tax/Compliance | Avalara, TaxJar | US sales tax automation |
| Influencer Platforms | Grin, Aspire, Upfluence | Creator sourcing referral |
| Creative Production | UGC platforms, video editors | Content production overflow |
| CRO Tools | Intelligems, Nosto | Landing page optimization |
| Email/SMS | Klaviyo, Postscript | Post-purchase retention |
| Metric | Target |
|---|---|
| New prospects researched | 20/week |
| Outreach messages sent | 10/week |
| Discovery calls completed | 3/week |
| Diagnostic proposals sent | 1/week |
| Pipeline value (est MRR) | Track |
⚠️ All external outreach must go through Paperclip approval queue before sending.
This document contains internal process definitions only.
AI Venture Studio · AI US Growth Agency