The 3 Travellers Pitch Deck Teardown: A Human-Curated Video

Slide-by-Slide Analysis

Slide 1: Title Slide

The deck opens with a minimalist title slide: "The 3 Travellers Pitch" . It uses white text on a dark grey background. There is no logo, tagline, or contact information present on this opening slide.

Slide 2: The Problem (Visual Representation)

This slide uses three vertical screenshots of YouTube search results for "Paris travel," "Enschede travel," and "Hengelo travel." The text overlaid on the images is partially obscured but mentions "high quality" . The visual implication is that current search algorithms return a cluttered mix of content that may not meet the user's specific needs for high-quality or specific location footage.

Slide 3: Proposed Solution

The solution is described as "Curated videos of places by people, not algorithms." The slide outlines a two-step process: first, curating existing high-quality videos for users; second, a "Planned" feature where the platform sends requests to travellers for custom quotes if no good video exists. The slide concludes by stating they are currently listing requests to see if people are willing to make such videos, indicating an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) stage.

Slide 4: E3 Value Model

This slide features a technical diagram showing the flow of value and capital. The central entity is "t3t.nl" . The diagram shows:

Users/Followers: Send requests and money to the platform in exchange for posts. · YouTubers/Travellers: Receive money from users and pay the platform for "listing publicity" while providing videos. · Video Curators: Receive money from the platform for their posts. · Stripe: Acts as the payment processor, taking a commission.

Slide 5: Market

The market slide lists high-level benchmarks rather than a calculated TAM/SAM/SOM. It cites:

Natgeo travel: 37.7 Mil Instagram followers. · Lonely planet: 2.7 Mil Instagram followers. · National Geographic YouTube: 13.7 M subscribers. · Top Blog sites (2017): Huffington Post ($14M/month), Engadget ($5.5M/month), and TechCrunch ($2.5M/month).

The inclusion of general tech blogs like TechCrunch suggests the founders are looking at broad digital content monetization rather than just travel-specific niches.

Slide 6: Financials

This slide provides a granular look at early-stage costs and revenue assumptions. "Initial Expenses" include 150 EUR for website development and 150 EUR per month for ads (aiming for 24,000 video views). They state a "Breakeven point for this - 40 paying users per month." They assume a 1% conversion rate, meaning they need 4,000 active monthly users to reach that goal. If they reach 1,000 paying users, they project sales of "€10,469.20." A Google Sheets link is provided at the bottom for further detail.

Slide 7: Possible Future Paths

Integration with 360 VR glasses for first-person perspective viewing. · Voice command functionality for large screens. · Gamification for link submissions and upvoting, described as "similar to reddit, but without time decay." · Sponsorship and advertising opportunities for growing YouTube channels.

Slide 8: Pricing Levels

The final slide in the set details the freemium model. Free users can browse videos, make 3 requests per month, see only the "Top Video," and submit links. Paid users get the "Base" features plus 3 additional videos, 10 total requests, the ability to upvote links, email notifications, and an ad-free experience. No specific price point (e.g., $/month) is listed on the slide.

What The 3 Travellers Does Well

The deck excels at defining a specific workflow for a marketplace. The E3 Value Model (Slide 4) is a sophisticated way to show how money and content move between four different parties (Users, Curators, Travellers, and the Platform). This clarifies the business logic better than a standard bulleted list.

The financial slide (Slide 6) is also refreshingly honest about the low barriers to entry. By listing development costs at just 150 EUR, the founders signal a lean, bootstrap-friendly approach. They also provide a clear path to breakeven (40 users), which makes the business feel achievable and low-risk for a micro-angel or incubator.

What Is Missing From The Deck

The most glaring omission is a Team Slide . In early-stage investing, the pedigree and execution capability of the founders are often more important than the idea itself. Without knowing who "The 3 Travellers" are, it is impossible to judge if they have the technical skills to build the platform or the travel network to curate the content.

Additionally, there is no Competition Slide . While Slide 5 lists massive media brands like Natgeo, it ignores direct competitors in the curated travel space or boutique travel planning apps. Investors need to see that the founders understand the specific landscape they are entering.

Finally, there is no Ask . A pitch deck should clearly state how much money is being raised, the valuation (or cap), and exactly how those funds will be deployed to reach specific milestones. The deck ends on pricing levels rather than a call to action for investors.

Lessons for Founders

1. Use Value Flow Diagrams: If your business involves multiple stakeholders (like a marketplace), a diagram like the E3 Value Model on Slide 4 is much more effective than text. It shows you have thought through the incentives for every participant.

2. Define Your Breakeven: Many founders focus on "becoming a unicorn." The 3 Travellers focuses on the "40 paying users" required to survive. Knowing your survival metrics demonstrates fiscal responsibility and a realistic understanding of unit economics.

3. Don't Forget the 'Why Us': Never omit the team slide. Even if you are a first-time founder, highlight your passion, your specific domain expertise in travel, or your ability to build lean products. An anonymous pitch is rarely a successful one.

4. Be Specific with Market Data: Citing the Huffington Post's monthly revenue is interesting but largely irrelevant to a travel video curation startup. Founders should focus on the Total Addressable Market (TAM) for their specific niche—in this case, the travel video or personalized travel planning market.