On The Bill is a civic tech startup aiming to personalize the political experience by connecting social networking with legislative processes. The deck, led by founder Michael J. Gray, II, seeks $400,000 to scale operations. Notably, the funding is earmarked for physical infrastructure, including office space to move away from 'cramped' conditions and purchasing company equipment so staff no longer use personal laptops. The roadmap focuses on monitoring the 2014 and 2015 Congressional elections to establish 'legitimacy' before tackling the 2016 Primary and General elections. While the mission…
Key takeaways
- The company defines its mission as bridging the gap between social networking and political processes (Slide 2).
- A specific funding request of $400,000 is stated as the primary goal to achieve 'legitimacy' (Slide 4).
- The roadmap is anchored to the 2014, 2015, and 2016 U.S. election cycles (Slides 4 and 5).
- The current team consists of one founder and seven dedicated student interns (Slide 6).
- Funding is intended to convert interns into paid employees to increase company loyalty (Slide 7).
- A significant portion of the budget is allocated to securing a central meeting spot and office equipment (Slide 7).
- The deck includes a placeholder for a 'Live Demo,' suggesting the product was intended to be shown in person rather than described in the slides (Slide 3).
- There is a total absence of financial projections, competitor analysis, or user acquisition strategies in the provided slides.
Slide-by-Slide Teardown
Slide 1: Title Slide
The cover slide is minimalist, featuring the company name 'onthebill' in a white serif font against a solid blue background. It identifies Michael J. Gray, II as the Founder and provides a phone number and email address. The footer contains a copyright notice for On The Bill, LLC and a 'Proprietary & Confidential' disclaimer. This is a standard, functional title slide that establishes the brand identity immediately.
Slide 2: Mission
The mission slide states that the company 'Bridges the gap between social networking and the legislative and political processes.' It adds a tagline: 'Your personalized political experience.' While it defines the sector (Civic Tech/Social Media), it does not explain how the bridge is built. The language is broad, aiming to position the company as a connector between citizens and government through a social lens.
Slide 3: Live Demo
Slide 3 is a blank blue slide with the text 'LIVE DEMO' in the center. In a live presentation setting, this serves as a transition point. However, in a standalone deck, this represents a significant information gap. Without the demo, the viewer has no visual or conceptual understanding of the software's functionality, user interface, or unique value proposition.
Slide 4: Roadmap to Legitimacy
This slide outlines a three-step process: 1) Obtain $400K, 2) Monitor 2014 & 2015 Congressional Election, and 3) LEGITIMACY. It features the logos of the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) and the NRCC (National Republican Congressional Committee). The implication is that funding is the prerequisite for operational activity, and that monitoring major party committees will provide the startup with the necessary credentials to be taken seriously in the political space.
Slide 5: 2016 Primary & General Elections
Continuing the roadmap, this slide focuses on the 2016 election cycle. It features headshots of prominent political figures including Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Andrew Cuomo, Paul Ryan, Bobby Jindal, and Rand Paul. An upward-pointing arrow suggests that the 2016 elections represent the company's scaling phase or peak activity period. The slide serves to ground the company's relevance in the then-upcoming major political events.
Slide 6: Our Team
The team slide features a large photo of Founder Michael J. Gray, II, and smaller photos of '7 Dedicated Student Interns.' The visual hierarchy clearly centers on the founder. While the inclusion of interns shows current activity, the lack of titles, backgrounds, or specific roles for the interns makes it difficult to assess the technical or operational depth of the team.
Slide 7: Operational Requirements
Titled 'How we would like to function....', this slide is the most detailed regarding the use of funds. It lists three categories: 1) Own office space (central meeting spot, no longer cramped), 2) Own Equipment (employees no longer using personal laptops), and 3) Interns to Employees (higher incentive, company loyalty). A stock photo of a modern office cubicle layout is included. A footnote clarifies that all these items are included in the '$400,000 budget request.' This slide frames the investment as a way to professionalize a currently informal, student-run operation.
Slide 8: Contact Information
The final slide is a duplicate of the title slide, repeating the founder's contact information. This is a standard practice to ensure contact details are visible during the Q&A portion of a pitch.
What Works
Clear Funding Goal: The deck does not hide its intent. It explicitly asks for $400,000 on Slide 4 and Slide 7, making the purpose of the presentation unmistakable. Founders often bury the 'ask,' but On The Bill puts it front and center.
Contextual Relevance: By aligning the company's milestones with the 2014, 2015, and 2016 election cycles, the deck demonstrates an understanding of the 'political season' and when the product will be most relevant to users and stakeholders.
Honesty Regarding Current State: The deck is transparent about the company's current limitations. It admits that the team is currently 'cramped' and that staff are using personal laptops. This level of honesty can build trust, as it clearly defines the 'before and after' state the investment will create.
What is Missing
Product Mechanics: Because Slide 3 is a placeholder for a 'Live Demo,' the deck itself contains zero screenshots, wireframes, or descriptions of how the platform actually works. Investors need to see the product to understand the 'gap' being bridged.
Revenue Model: There is no mention of how On The Bill intends to make money. Whether through subscriptions, data sales, advertising, or campaign services, the path to profitability is completely absent.
Market Analysis: The deck lacks a slide on the Total Addressable Market (TAM) or a competitive landscape. It does not explain why a user would choose this platform over existing social media giants like Twitter or Facebook, which are also heavily used for political discourse.
Technical Leadership: The team slide shows a founder and interns, but there is no mention of a CTO or lead developer. For a tech-heavy mission like 'bridging social networking and legislative processes,' the absence of technical pedigree is a significant red flag for investors.
What a Founder Should Copy
The 'Use of Funds' Breakdown: While the specific items (office space and laptops) might be considered 'overhead' rather than 'growth' by some investors, the way Slide 7 lists exactly what the money will change for the company's daily operations is a good practice. It shows a founder who has thought through the logistical needs of their team.
Milestone-Based Roadmap: Tying company progress to external industry events (like elections) is a smart way to show a sense of urgency. It tells the investor, 'If we don't have this ready by the 2016 Primary, we miss the window.'
Simple Visuals: The deck avoids cluttered slides. Each slide has a single focus—mission, team, or budget. This makes the deck easy to digest, even if the content lacks depth in certain areas.
Final Analysis
The On The Bill pitch deck is a document focused on the transition from a project to a professional entity. It successfully identifies a mission and a specific budgetary need. However, it falls short of a professional venture capital deck by omitting the 'business' of the startup. Without a revenue model, a technical roadmap, or a clear look at the product, the $400,000 request feels more like a grant application for infrastructure than an investment in a scalable technology company. For this deck to be successful, it would need to be supplemented heavily by the 'Live Demo' and a robust discussion of the underlying business economics.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary product of On The Bill?
- Based on the slides, the product is a platform that merges social networking with legislative and political processes to create a 'personalized political experience.' However, the specific features, user interface, and technical mechanics are not detailed in the deck, as Slide 3 is a placeholder for a live demonstration.
- How does the company plan to use the $400,000 investment?
- According to Slide 7, the funds are designated for 'How we would like to function.' This includes securing dedicated office space to avoid being 'cramped,' purchasing company laptops so employees stop using personal equipment, and transitioning seven student interns into full-time paid employees to foster loyalty and incentive.
- What is the company's strategy for growth?
- The strategy is tied to election cycles. Slide 4 and 5 indicate a phased approach: first, monitoring the 2014 and 2015 Congressional elections to build 'legitimacy,' followed by active participation or monitoring of the 2016 Primary and General elections involving figures like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.
- Who is the leadership behind On The Bill?
- The company is led by Founder Michael J. Gray, II. The rest of the organization, as shown on Slide 6, is composed of seven student interns. The deck does not list an advisory board, technical co-founders, or previous industry experience for the leadership team.
- What market metrics or financial data are included?
- The deck contains no market metrics, such as Total Addressable Market (TAM), nor does it provide financial projections or a revenue model. The only figure mentioned is the $400,000 budget request. It functions more as an operational startup plan than a traditional venture capital pitch.
