The Edu Plan B pitch deck, dating back to 2011, is a significant departure from standard venture capital presentations. Rather than focusing on market size, unit economics, or a specific software product, the 67-slide deck (of which 10 are analyzed here) presents a conceptual framework for an 'Entrepreneur Development University' (EDU). The narrative is heavily tied to the founder's personal history, family trusts, and a collection of domain names. It utilizes abstract metaphors like 'American Reality' and 'American Symphony' to describe its mission. While it mentions a potential headquarters…
Key takeaways
- The company is defined as 'Entrepreneur Development University - EDU' and described as 'a idea of mutual benefit' on Slide 1.
- The founder lists several personal assets, including the Kraft Living Trust and a portfolio of domains like talkstory.com and enqubator.com on Slide 2.
- The deck proposes a 'turnaround Plan' that views accounting as 'Sales Prevention' but acknowledges it is required on Slide 4.
- Slide 6 critiques the venture community for failing with microcap and small iFunds, positioning EDU as the entity that will 'teach how to Launch.'
- The presentation includes highly personal and abstract references, such as 'Tora Tora Tora' and 'aloha aloha aloha' on Slide 5.
- The founder references a 'D' average in high school as a point of relatability for the 'SixpackU' concept on Slide 9.
- Slide 10 identifies the Maui Research and Technology center as a potential HQ, citing a 'Facilities Management Agreement with the State of Hawaii.'
- The deck lacks standard startup components such as a team slide, financial projections, market sizing (TAM/SAM/SOM), or a specific funding ask.
Edu Plan B: A Philosophical Manifesto for Entrepreneurship
The Edu Plan B pitch deck, authored by Gordon Kraft in 2011, represents a unique artifact in the history of startup presentations. It eschews almost every convention of the modern 'Silicon Valley' style deck. There are no bar charts, no logos of competitors, and no 'Team' slide featuring former Google or Facebook employees. Instead, the deck functions as a conceptual roadmap for a vision titled 'Entrepreneur Development University' (EDU). The tone is conversational, occasionally cryptic, and deeply rooted in the founder's personal identity and geographical ties to Hawaii.
Slide 1: Title and Copyright
The opening slide introduces 'EDU' as the 'Entrepreneur Development University.' It notes that this was an 'original presentation to Berliner 2011' and claims copyright for Gordon Kraft. The subtitle, 'a idea of mutual benefit...', sets a philosophical tone that persists throughout the presentation. The use of a black background with red and white text is a stark visual choice that emphasizes the text over any branding elements.
Slide 2: The Foundation of Assets
Slide 2 attempts to establish credibility not through professional experience, but through personal and digital assets. Kraft lists the 'Kraft Living Trust' and 'Kraft Family Trust' as entities he owns. More significantly, he lists a series of URLs, including bigkahuna.net, talkstory.com (noting it is 'reserved until 2030'), sixpacku.net, aiengines.com, enqubator.com, and avstreams.com. The slide asserts that EDU will succeed 'because it only has to make available the tools for a person to help themselves,' framing the venture as a facilitator rather than a direct service provider.
Slide 3: The LeapFrog Strategy
This slide is minimalist, containing only the header 'LeapFrog' and the bullet point 'Sell our way out.' In the context of 2011 startup culture, 'Leapfrogging' usually referred to bypassing traditional development stages. Here, it seems to imply that the primary solution to any business obstacle is a pure sales focus, though the lack of detail makes it difficult to discern a concrete operational plan.
Slide 4: The Turnaround Plan and Accounting
Slide 4 introduces the concept of a 'turnaround Plan' aimed at stimulating mutual motivation. The most provocative statement on this slide is 'Accounting in this plan is Sales Prevention... but required.' This reflects a common, if controversial, entrepreneurial sentiment that strict financial controls can stifle the creative and aggressive momentum needed to launch a new venture. It positions EDU as a high-momentum, sales-first organization.
Slide 5: American Reality
This slide moves into highly abstract territory. Under the heading 'American Reality,' it lists 'is our people...', 'I fear all we have done is wake the tiger... Tora Tora Tora,' and 'aloha aloha aloha.' The reference to 'Tora Tora Tora' (the Japanese signal for a successful surprise attack on Pearl Harbor) suggests a belief in a sleeping giant of American entrepreneurial spirit being awakened. The juxtaposition with 'aloha' reinforces the Hawaiian influence on the founder’s perspective.
Slide 6: EDU Excaliber and the Venture Community
On Slide 6, the deck takes a critical view of the existing investment landscape. It claims the 'Venture Community has played with microcap and small iFund’s but no successes echo.' It also mentions that 'Indian Microcap funds ran out.' Kraft positions EDU as the solution to this perceived failure, stating that the university 'will teach how to Launch.' It concludes with the assertion that a 'Cash Flow Loop is needed,' which is the closest the deck comes to discussing business sustainability.
Slide 7: The HP Example
Slide 7 is a single-reference slide mentioning 'HP' and 'original garage.com.' This is likely a nod to the Hewlett-Packard garage, the quintessential symbol of American startup mythology. By invoking HP, Kraft is attempting to align EDU with the 'garage startup' tradition, suggesting that EDU is a return to those foundational roots of innovation.
Slide 8: Global Infrastructure and Personal Narrative
Slide 8 features a photograph of a yacht with 'TalkStory.com' branding. The text mentions 'Global Cable? Fiber to China' and 'St. Pete 1999.' The phrase 'hey Bra, can I join you?' and 'brought a Luau...' suggests a networking style based on informal, personal connections (the 'Talk Story' culture of Hawaii) rather than formal corporate business development. It hints at a history in the telecommunications or fiber-optic industry, though it remains anecdotal.
Slide 9: The American Symphony and SixpackU
Slide 9 introduces the 'SixpackU' concept, which appears to be a colloquial name for EDU. Kraft shares a personal detail: 'I did it with a “D” average in High School what can you do?' This is a classic 'underdog' narrative designed to inspire others who may feel excluded from traditional elite institutions. The slide uses patriotic language ('American Symphony,' 'send us your weak and poor') to frame entrepreneurship as a democratic, inclusive force.
Slide 10: MRTC and the Hawaiian Headquarters
The final slide in this selection identifies a physical location for the venture: the Maui Research and Technology center (MRTC). Kraft claims it is the 'perfect site for HQ of EDU Hawaii' and mentions a 'Facilities Management Agreement with the State of Hawaii.' He also alludes to 'possible family linkage' to 'Maui Pineapple' and Hawaiian royalty ('Queen of Hawaii relative... Kraft deSilva'). This slide attempts to ground the abstract vision in a specific place and a sense of hereditary legitimacy.
What Edu Plan B Does Well
The deck is successful in creating a distinct 'voice.' In a sea of identical-looking pitch decks, Gordon Kraft’s presentation is unmistakable. It leans heavily into the 'Founder-Market Fit' by showing his deep personal connection to the Hawaiian community and his ownership of relevant domain names. The use of the 'D average student' narrative is a powerful emotional hook for a specific type of aspiring entrepreneur who feels the current educational system has failed them. By positioning EDU as a 'University' for these individuals, the deck taps into a potent psychological need for validation and practical guidance.
What is Missing from the Edu Plan B Deck
From a professional fundraising perspective, the deck is missing almost every critical component required for a due diligence process. There is no market analysis (TAM/SAM/SOM) to show how large the 'Entrepreneur Development' market actually is. There is no product demo or explanation of the curriculum—we do not know what a student at EDU actually does. Most importantly, there is no financial ask. A pitch deck is a tool to raise capital, yet this deck does not state how much money is being sought, what the valuation is, or how the funds will be allocated. The absence of a team slide is also a major red flag; investors fund teams, not just ideas, and here the entire venture appears to rest solely on one individual.
What Founders Can Learn from This Deck
Founders can learn the importance of storytelling, but also the dangers of being too abstract. Kraft’s deck is memorable because it is personal, but it fails to be actionable because it is vague. A good pitch deck should balance the 'Why' (the vision) with the 'How' (the business model). While it is fine to include a personal narrative, it must be backed up by data and a clear path to revenue. Additionally, the 'Accounting is Sales Prevention' mindset is a dangerous one to project to investors; while sales are vital, investors need to know that their capital will be managed with professional rigor. Finally, if you are going to claim a 'Facilities Management Agreement' or 'family linkage' to major landholders, these claims should be supported by evidence rather than just bullet points.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the core product of Edu Plan B?
- Based on the slides, the core product is 'Entrepreneur Development University' (EDU). It is described as a platform or institution that will 'teach how to Launch' new products or companies. However, the deck does not specify if this is a physical school, a digital platform, or a consulting service, focusing instead on the 'idea of mutual benefit' and providing tools for self-help.
- Does the deck provide any financial data or projections?
- No. The deck contains no financial metrics, revenue models, or growth projections. In fact, Slide 4 explicitly refers to accounting as 'Sales Prevention,' suggesting a philosophical resistance to traditional financial reporting in the early stages of the plan, though it notes that accounting is eventually 'required.'
- Who is the founder and what is their background?
- The deck identifies Gordon Kraft (gkraft) as the copyright holder and presenter. The slides mention his ownership of the Kraft Living Trust and Kraft Family Trust, as well as a collection of internet domains. He also references a personal history involving a 'D' average in high school and potential family links to 'Maui Pineapple' and Hawaiian royalty.
- What is the 'LeapFrog' strategy mentioned in the deck?
- Slide 3 contains the single phrase 'Sell our way out' under the heading 'LeapFrog.' This suggests an exit strategy or a growth tactic centered entirely on sales momentum rather than incremental development, though the slide provides no further tactical details on how this would be achieved.
- Is there a clear target market or audience?
- The target audience is broadly defined through metaphors. Slide 9 mentions 'send us your weak and poor,' echoing the Statue of Liberty, and refers to the 'SixpackU.' This implies the target market is the everyday person or aspiring entrepreneur who may not have succeeded in traditional academic environments, rather than a specific industry vertical.
