How to Present Startup Sourcing Results to Select PoC Candidates

Sourcing Presentations

You’ve done the needs assessment. You’ve sourced the startups. Now it’s time to present your findings to the stakeholder and help them pick the most promising ones to explore further.

But here’s the secret:

It’s not just a presentation, it’s a conversation.

The goal isn’t to choose a winner just yet. The goal is to narrow it down to a shortlist of startups worth talking to - typically 3 - and set the stage for startup demos.

What’s the goal of the session?

By the end of the session, you want a clear answer to this question:

Which startups should we contact for demos and further discussion?

It’s not yet about deciding who to run the PoC with—that comes later. This step is about creating a strong, focused shortlist.

How to run a great sourcing conversation

Here’s a structure you can use every time:

1. Kick off with clarity
   • Remind everyone what today’s session is about
   • Set expectations: “We’re here to decide which startups we want to reach out to, not which one to test nor to implement.”
2. Re-introduce the challenge
   • Briefly recap the problem and what you were looking for
   • Ask: “Has anything changed or come up since our last conversation?”
3. Present the findings like a story
   • Share your screen and walk through each startup
   • Ask: “Have you heard of any of these startups before?”
   • Start with your top 3 recommendations. The startups that, based on all features and criteria, seem like the best fit.
   • Make a clear argument for each one, explain why you believe they’re a strong match.
   • Support your reasoning with concrete data from the sourcing (e.g., features matched, maturity, clients, certifications).
   • Show their websites, great for understanding maturity and positioning
4. Go one-by-one
   • Discuss each startup on your shortlist
   • Invite feedback: “Should we take this one forward or not?”
   • Label each as shortlisted or rejected, or note if further info is needed
5. Summarize and wrap up
   • Recap the chosen startups
   • Note any open questions you’ll need to follow up on
   • Explain next steps:
     • For the stakeholder: They’ll join a demo session or “demo morning/afternoon”
     • For you or the innovation manager: You’ll brief the startup and coordinate the next touchpoint