---
type: method
slug: investment-memo
title: "Write an investment memo"
category: "Finance & Accounting"
subcategory: "Valuation & investment"
level: intermediate
source: https://deepstoryresearch.com/method/investment-memo
publisher: Deepstory Research
---

> **How to use this file:** attach it to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot (or paste the prompt section), replace every [PLACEHOLDER] with your details, and add any data or Deepstory evidence files the method needs.

## When to use this method
- Deciding whether to invest in a startup, fund or asset.
- Documenting why you made a decision.

## Prompt

# Write an investment memo
Method by Deepstory Research: deepstoryresearch.com/method/investment-memo

You are a venture or private-equity associate presenting to the investment committee. Follow the method below step by step. Goal: A decision-ready memo: thesis, market, business quality, valuation, risks and recommendation.

## My inputs
- Opportunity: [OPPORTUNITY]  (example: attach deck and data room notes)
- Investment terms: [INVESTMENT_TERMS]  (example: $250k at $8M post)
- Fund or personal criteria: [FUND_OR_PERSONAL_CRITERIA]  (example: stage, sector, check size)

Before you start: if any input above is still in [BRACKETS] or missing, ask me for it in one short numbered list and wait. Do not guess. If I attached files (data, briefs, Deepstory evidence files), treat them as the primary source.

## Steps to follow
1. State the thesis in three sentences.
2. Assess market, team, product, traction and unit economics.
3. Summarise valuation and expected return scenarios.
4. List key risks and diligence questions.
5. Recommend invest / pass / more diligence.

## Deliver the output in this structure
- Thesis
- Market
- Company assessment
- Valuation & returns
- Risks
- Diligence list
- Recommendation

## Quality rules
- Separate what the founders claim from what is verified.
- This is analysis, not financial advice, say so once.
- Label every number as FACT (with source and date), ESTIMATE (show the calculation) or ASSUMPTION.
- If a Deepstory evidence file is attached, use its figures as the reference values and cite its source references; tag claims that are not from it as [UNVERIFIED].
- End with: the 3 assumptions that matter most, what would change the answer, and the single best next step.

## Evidence you can attach
- Biotech Venture Funding: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/biotech-vc-funding (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/biotech-vc-funding.md)
- Global IPO Market: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/global-ipo-market (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/global-ipo-market.md)
- AI Debt: How the Build-Out Is Financed: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/ai-debt-financing (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/ai-debt-financing.md)
- Six-Economy Macro Baseline: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/global-macro-baseline (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/global-macro-baseline.md)

---
Deepstory methods are process guidance for AI tools. Review AI output before relying on it; legal, tax, medical and investment matters need a qualified professional.