Bag Speak and Bagito Pitch Deck (2013): 10-Slide Breakdown

See all 10 slides of the Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck — a 2013 deck — with a slide-by-slide teardown of what the deck does well and where it falls short.

Bag Speak and Bagito operate as a dual-entity organization based in Santa Cruz, CA, combining a 501(c)(3) non-profit (BagSpeak) with a reusable product brand (Bagito). Their 10-slide pitch deck outlines a mission to reduce plastic waste through K-12 education and the sale of recycled-fiber shopping bags. The deck highlights a diversified revenue stream where 50% of income is projected to come from product sales, with the remainder split between sponsorships and grants. Seeking $65,000 for expansion, the founders emphasize their existing presence in major retailers like Whole Foods and Walgree…

Key takeaways

Executive Summary: The Hybrid Social Enterprise

The pitch deck for Bag Speak and Bagito presents a social enterprise model that blends retail commerce with environmental advocacy. Based in Santa Cruz, California, the organization leverages the sale of recycled-material shopping bags to fund K-12 environmental education. This teardown examines the 10-slide presentation, which serves as a hybrid between a non-profit grant application and a business expansion pitch.

Slide 1: Title and Organization Structure

The cover slide introduces the two brands: BagSpeak and Bagito . It establishes the mission immediately: "Teaching K-12th grade student to value and sustain their natural world." Crucially, a text box at the bottom clarifies the legal and financial structure: BagSpeak is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit and the parent company of Bagito. The slide also notes that 100% of net proceeds from Bagito products go to the BagSpeak project. Contact information for founder Mitch Barlas is provided, including a physical address in Santa Cruz, CA.

Slide 2: The Problem (Issues)

Using a simple stick-figure comic format, Slide 2 illustrates the psychological barriers to sustainable behavior. It depicts common excuses such as being in a hurry, the misconception that all plastics are recycled, and general apathy toward the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The slide transitions into a formal problem statement, noting the need to reduce reliance on petroleum-based plastics and the necessity of educating the next generation. The "Targets" listed include plastic bags, packaging, and storage containers, alongside K-12 environmental literacy.

Slide 3: Revenue Model and Funding

This slide is critical for understanding the business's viability. A 3D pie chart breaks down income into three categories: Bagito (50%) , Sponsorship (25%) , and Grants/Donations (25%) . The slide lists past sponsors and grantors, including Whole Foods Markets and Waste Management Inc. It also details the current retail footprint for Bagito products, mentioning availability at Whole Foods, select Walgreens, and online platforms like Amazon and eBay. The bottom section emphasizes that growth has been driven by word-of-mouth among teachers and parents.

Slide 4: Technology and Materials

Slide 4 focuses on the supply chain and material science. It categorizes the "Technology we will use" into three buckets: 100% recycled and non-petroleum based fabrics (using RPET and Lyocell/Tencel), soy-based hard plastics, and plant-based pliable plastics. Visual aids show the lifecycle of these materials, from raw inputs like corn and soybeans to finished products like water bottles and storage bags. The slide also mentions "online learning tools" and "student solar and wind energy kits" as part of their educational technology offering.

Slide 5: Marketing and Outreach

The marketing strategy is split between the two entities. For Bagito , the focus is on digital (Google AdWords), print ads, event sponsorships (e.g., City of Mountain View), and trade shows. For BagSpeak , the strategy relies on an outreach coordinator, word-of-mouth, and collaborations with local governments and waste haulers. The slide lists current projects in Monterey, Santa Clara, and Contra Costa counties, indicating a strong regional focus in Northern California.

Slide 6: Competitive Landscape

Slide 6 provides a direct comparison between Bagito and three major competitors: ChicoBag, EnviroSax, and Flip and Tumble. The organization differentiates itself on four main points: Price ($3.50 vs. $6.00-$39.00), Size (micro-stuffable for key rings), Material (100% recycled fiber and breathable fabric), and Purpose (non-profit vs. for-profit). A green oval at the bottom argues that there is significant room for growth because fewer than five non-profit organizations in the US offer similar K-12 environmental literacy programs.

Slide 7: The Team

The team slide leads with Founder and Director Mitch Barlas, ME.D. , highlighting his 20+ years as a school principal and environmental educator. The Board of Directors includes professionals from real estate (Merlone/Geier), environmental studies (UCSC), and healthcare. Additionally, a "Science Advisory Panel" is listed, featuring representatives from the Seymour Long Marine Discovery Center, Stanford University, and NOAA. The slide mentions the support of "15 awesome interns."

Slide 8: Financials and The Ask

This slide presents a table of historical data (Year 1) and projections (Years 3 and 5). Revenue is projected to grow from $45,781 to $565,000 over five years. Impact metrics are also tracked: the number of students reached is projected to grow from 5,100 to 60,000. The slide contains the specific fundraising goal: $65,000 by September 2013 . It notes that capital is needed to increase staff, fund development projects, and increase inventory to meet the demands of a "major national retailer."

Slide 9: Sustainability Commitments

Slide 9 reinforces the organization's internal commitment to sustainability. For Bagito, this includes ethical factory production, carbon offset programs, and a 75% office waste diversion rate. For BagSpeak, it involves empowering students to solve environmental problems and helping schools establish "Zero Waste Lunch" programs. This slide serves as a "walk the talk" proof point for potential social impact investors.

Slide 10: Current Traction (Today)

The final slide lists recent achievements to demonstrate momentum. Key points include reaching over 6,000 students, securing consistent reorder rates from 60 retailers, and receiving recognition from the New York City Council and the California Coastal Commission. Most notably, it mentions an international partnership with the U.S. Department of State in Mauritania, Africa, reaching 700 children in a country that has banned plastic bags.

What Works in This Deck

Clear Hybrid Structure: The founders do an excellent job of explaining how the non-profit and for-profit arms interact. The statement that "100% of net proceeds go to the BagSpeak project" (Slide 1) is a powerful value proposition for both consumers and donors.

Retail Validation: Mentioning established retail partners like Whole Foods and Walgreens (Slide 3) provides immediate credibility. It proves that the product is commercially viable and meets the quality standards of major national chains.

Competitive Pricing: The price comparison on Slide 6 is a strong selling point. By positioning the product at $3.50—significantly lower than the $8.00+ price point of competitors—they demonstrate a clear path to mass-market adoption.

Founder-Market Fit: Mitch Barlas’s background as a school principal (Slide 7) is perfectly aligned with a business that targets K-12 schools. His experience provides the necessary "in" with school districts that a typical entrepreneur might lack.

What Is Missing or Weak

Unit Economics: While the deck provides total revenue projections, it lacks a breakdown of unit economics. There is no information on the cost of goods sold (COGS), shipping costs, or the specific margins on the $3.50 bags. This makes it difficult to assess how much "net proceeds" actually remain to fund the non-profit.

Visual Design: The deck uses a dated aesthetic with stick-figure drawings (Slide 2) and basic clip-art-style graphics. While functional, it lacks the professional polish typically expected in high-stakes fundraising environments.

Scalability Details: The deck mentions needing capital to meet the needs of a "major national retailer" (Slide 8) but does not name the retailer or explain the logistics of scaling production to meet that demand. Moving from 60 local retailers to a national rollout requires significant supply chain infrastructure that isn't detailed here.

Exit Strategy: Because the parent company is a 501(c)(3), there is no traditional "exit" for investors in the form of an acquisition or IPO. The deck does not clarify if the $65,000 is a donation, a low-interest loan, or some other form of social impact investment, which may confuse traditional venture capitalists.

Founder's Guide: What to Copy

The Diversified Revenue Slide: Slide 3 is a model for social enterprises. Showing that you aren't 100% dependent on grants or 100% dependent on sales reduces the perceived risk for both donors and investors. It shows a balanced, resilient financial engine.

The Impact-to-Revenue Table: Slide 8 does a great job of pairing financial growth with social impact growth. By showing "Number of Students Reached" alongside "Revenue," the founders remind the reader that every dollar earned translates directly into a measurable social outcome.

Specific Competitive Critiques: Rather than just saying they are better than competitors, Slide 6 identifies specific product flaws in rival brands, such as "non-breathable fabric (promotes bacteria growth)." This level of specificity shows deep product knowledge and a focus on user health.

Advisory Board Depth: The Science Advisory Panel on Slide 7 is exceptionally strong for a small organization. Including experts from Stanford, NOAA, and UCSC provides a "halo effect" of scientific authority that is crucial for an environmental mission.

Frequently asked questions

What is the relationship between Bag Speak and Bagito?
According to Slide 1, BagSpeak is the parent company and a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Bagito is the brand name for the physical products (reusable bags) produced and sold by BagSpeak. The deck specifies that 100% of the net proceeds from Bagito sales are used to fund the BagSpeak educational project, which focuses on K-12 environmental literacy.
How does Bagito differentiate its product from competitors?
Slide 6 outlines several key differentiators. Bagito bags are priced at $3.50, which is lower than competitors like ChicoBag, EnviroSax, and Flip and Tumble. The product is described as 'micro-stuffable' and capable of attaching to a key ring. Material-wise, it uses 100% recycled plastic fiber and features a 'breathable' double-stitched design to prevent bacteria growth, a specific critique leveled at competitors.
What are the primary revenue drivers for the organization?
The organization relies on a three-pillar income model shown on Slide 3. Product sales through Bagito account for 50% of income. Corporate sponsorships from entities like Waste Management Inc. and Whole Foods contribute 25%. The final 25% comes from public and private grants and donations. This hybrid approach is designed to make the non-profit arm more self-sustaining than traditional charity models.
What is the specific 'Ask' in this pitch deck?
Slide 8 explicitly states a fundraising goal of $65,000. This capital is intended for 'program and business expansion' and was scheduled to begin in May 2013. The deck notes that while no startup capital was needed at the time of the presentation, expansion capital is 'critical' to meet the demand from schools and retailers.
Who is the target audience for the BagSpeak educational program?
The primary target is K-12 students across the US and abroad. Slide 8 shows growth projections for this segment, aiming to move from 5,100 students reached in Year 1 to 60,000 students by Year 5. The program also targets teachers and school districts, with a goal of partnering with 480 schools by the fifth year of operation.
Cover slide of the Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck — Early Stage / Expansion 2013
Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck, slide 1 (2013)

Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck: the facts

Company
Bag Speak and Bagito
Year
2013 (impli…
Stage
Early Stage / Expansion
Slides
10
Sector
Consumer Goods / Non-Profit Education
Deck type
Fundraising / Social Impact Pitch
Outcome
Not stated
Headquarters
Santa Cruz, CA

Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck PDF

The full Bag Speak and Bagito deck is embedded on this page and can be read slide by slide in the browser — no download or account required. Each slide is covered in the breakdown above.

What the Bagito / BagSpeak (earlier non-profit initiative) pitch deck was used for

This is a 10‑slide 2013 pitch deck for BagSpeak and Bagito, presenting a hybrid structure where Bagito sells compact reusable bags and other products to fund BagSpeak’s environmental literacy programs in K‑12 schools. Slide 8 explicitly frames a need for capital to expand both the non‑profit program and the consumer-products business, despite no start‑up capital being needed at that time (implying early expansion stage). The deck describes Bagito’s micro‑stuffable reusable bags made from recycled materials and BagSpeak’s school‑based outreach coordinators who deliver environmental stewardship curricula, seeking sponsorships, grants, and product sales to scale. The raise amount mentioned in the existing write‑up (around $65,000) is not corroborated by external sources and therefore is not treated as verified here. Later sources show that Bagito became a certified B Corp whose product sales now fund Power2Sustain, the successor to the original BagSpeak nonprofit effort, which confirms the basic hybrid model but not the specific details of this 2013 fundraise.

Business model: Bagito is a certified B Corp that sells premium reusable bags and related products made primarily from recycled PET (rPET) and other reusable materials; a fixed share of sales funds an environmental literacy non‑profit (Power2Sustain), which evolved from the earlier BagSpeak initiative.

Founders
Mitch Barlas

Industry: Reusable consumer products / B Corp; environmental education nonprofit (Power2Sustain, formerly BagSpeak).

What happened after the Bagito / BagSpeak (earlier non-profit initiative) deck

Publicly available information confirms that Bagito and its sister nonprofit environmental literacy initiative (initially BagSpeak, later Power2Sustain) are still active, with Bagito operating as a certified B Corp selling reusable products and donating a share of sales to fund K‑12 environmental education. The specific outcome of the 2013 capital raise described in the pitch deck (investor names,

What the Bagito / BagSpeak (earlier non-profit initiative) deck got right

What could have been stronger

How an investor would read this deck

What draws attention

Risks that stand out

Questions this deck invites

What founders can take from the Bagito / BagSpeak (earlier non-profit initiative) deck

Bagito / BagSpeak (earlier non-profit initiative) pitch deck: common questions

What is Bagito and what products does it sell?

Bagito is a certified B Corp that produces compact reusable shopping bags and other reusable products (such as produce bags, storage bags, and cart bags) made primarily from recycled PET (rPET) or organic/non‑GMO cotton, designed for hundreds of reuses to reduce single‑use plastic and carbon emissions.

What is BagSpeak and how does it relate to Bagito?

The pitch deck describes BagSpeak as a non‑profit that delivers K‑12 environmental literacy, initially created by founder Mitch and fellow teachers when they noticed a lack of environmental education in public schools. Bagito’s product revenues are used to fund this educational work, and more recent sources identify the evolved nonprofit as Power2Sustain.org, which receives a significant portion of Bagito’s annual funding.

How does the hybrid model between Bagito and the nonprofit work?

According to the deck, BagSpeak’s funding model combines corporate sponsorships, grants, and sales of Bagito reusable bags to finance outreach coordinators and school partnerships. Later reporting confirms that Bagito donates a share (about 10%) of its sales to the nonprofit environmental literacy initiative (Power2Sustain), indicating continuity of the basic model but not the exact terms at the time of the deck.

What was BagSpeak and Bagito raising money for in the 2013 pitch deck?

Slide 8 of the deck states that no start‑up capital is needed at that time but emphasizes that capital is critical for program and business expansion: serving more interested schools for the 2013/14 school year, hiring staff, funding product development, and increasing inventory to support new clients and a potential major national retailer deal. External sources do not disclose the specific raise amount, investors, or deal outcome, so those details remain undocumented.

What happened after the 2013 BagSpeak and Bagito pitch deck—did they succeed?

Later sources show that Bagito continued operating and became a certified B Corp whose reusable bag line is sold through its own site and various promotional products distributors, with a portion of sales funding Power2Sustain’s environmental literacy curriculum. However, there are no publicly available records of the exact outcome of the specific 2013 capital raise described in the pitch deck (such as investor names, amounts, or valuation).

Sources

Funding and outcome facts on this page were researched on 2026-08-21 from the pages below.

Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck slides

Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck slide 1 of 10
Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck — slide 1 of 10
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Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck — slide 2 of 10
Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck slide 3 of 10
Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck — slide 3 of 10
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Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck — slide 4 of 10
Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck slide 5 of 10
Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck — slide 5 of 10
Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck slide 6 of 10
Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck — slide 6 of 10

What each slide of the Bag Speak and Bagito pitch deck says

Slide 1

Two Solutions to Plastics For Today and the Next Generation BagSpeak Teaching K-12* grade student to value and sustain their natural world; inspiring the rest of us to do the same. Bagito Micro-stuffable full-sized reusable shopping bags and other useful and well designed products made from 100% recycled and reweable materials. 100% of the net proceeds go to the BagSpeak project. Bagit duced and sold by BagSpeak. BagSpealis he parent compan of Gago, an 1 a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit orgnaization. Do ———————————— rm EE esr Contact: Mitch Barlas | | (831) 244-0925 | 214 3 Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95602 | | www.Bagito.co

Slide 2

Issues: o Is that a ag shmag I'm in a hurry). (new 1 just take a plastic one. What's the big deal ? Ben and hey recycle these anyways clays right!? avor!? Quick Mart Yum! o ”, 2 a The Great Pagfic or Garbgge Patch is. = A wy )4 EE — ® Bagite BagSpeak

Slide 4

Technology we will use: based fabrics oy rS— dl Vila N= ia = Poly . Peach) 155 " Ai ® ET Bagite BagSpeak

Slide 5

Ll arketing and Outreach: LJ Bagito ® BagSpeak am e Currently available at: Whole Foods Markets, ? select Walgreens stores, Sprouts Markets, ki KE Goodwill Retail Stores, and other local retailers. Current projects: Monterey County, Santa Clara County, Contra Costa County EE Ko) Bagito BagSpeak

Slide 6

. ° The competition: LJ EnviroSax - Very high retail prices ($8.85 - $39.00) - Very large when stuffed - Designed with woman in mind. - Made from petroleum-based fabric product. - Uses non-breathable fabric (promotes bacteria growth) - For-profit company ® Miron = BagSpeak wel 9. pr Ojects,

Slide 8

Financials: While no start-up capital is needed at this time, cagital for program and business expansion is critical. * Asignificant number of schools and teachers have expressed interest in BagSpeak for the 2013/14 school year we currently do not have enough resources to cover the need. * Reorder rates for Bagito are high. We are taking on new clients each month. Also we are in discussion with a major national retailer to bring Bagito (and another product in development) into their retail outlets. Capital is needed to fund this increase staff, fund development projects and increase inventory to support growth — all to help BagSpeak to meet it's growth market. * Fundraising for program and…

Slide text above is read directly from the Bag Speak and Bagito deck PDF embedded on this page.

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