Athena starters for private equity and investing are 9 ready-made prompts grouped into Sourcing and monitoring, Diligence and IC and reporting. 5 run on a schedule: Athena runs them once, delivers a spreadsheet, PowerPoint deck and Word document, emails them to you, and repeats on the cadence you pick. None need a connected app.
Contents
01Sourcing and monitoring
Deal sourcing scan
Companies that fit your thesis, with a signal to act on. See how it runs →
- Setup
- No setup needed
- Runs
- Every Monday at 7am, or every weekday or monthly instead
- Outputs
- spreadsheet, PowerPoint deck, Word document; emailed to you after every run
Show the prompt
Run a deal sourcing scan. Ask me for our thesis: sector, size, region, and ownership. Find companies that fit and have a recent signal, such as fast growth, new leadership, a carve-out, a founder transition, or a sale process. Say why each fits and cite every signal. Deliver three files in my company's brand. If I have Word, PowerPoint, or Excel templates in Athena, ask once which to use and build every file from them, keeping their layouts, styles, and formulas. For the brand, use my company's design system if one exists. Otherwise find my company's website (search the web if you are not sure of the domain), run design_system_retriever on it to get the real logo, colors, and fonts, and save the result with create_design_system so every run matches. Use the real logo image; never redraw it or type the company name in its place. The files: (1) a spreadsheet with one row per company (company, sector, size estimate, signal, fit, source link); (2) a PowerPoint deck with the logo on the title slide, a one-slide summary, a slide per section with a chart wherever there are numbers, and a so-what slide; (3) a Word document with the logo in the header, the full brief, and every source cited. Brand colors and fonts throughout, one idea per slide, no walls of text. Finish with a short summary in chat that links all three. When each run finishes, this one included, email me the three files from Athena: send them to my own email address with the chat summary in the body. If Athena cannot send email in this workspace, say so instead. When you are done, ask me if I want this every Monday at 7am (or every weekday, or monthly instead). Also ask which sections to keep and confirm my IANA time zone (for example America/New_York), and pass it explicitly when creating the schedule. If I choose a schedule, set up a scheduled agent that runs this same brief on it, keeps the spreadsheet asset ID and any template IDs in its instructions, reads the latest dated tab before each run, and reports only what changed since the last run. It says plainly when nothing material changed, and says comparison is unavailable if the prior tab cannot be read. Each run adds a dated tab to the same spreadsheet and makes a new dated deck and document. Whenever I give feedback on a run, in this chat or a later one, update the scheduled agent's instructions (and the template or design system when the feedback is about how the files look) so every later run follows it, then tell me exactly what you changed.
Opens a new Athena chat with this prompt ready to send. If you're not signed in, you'll sign in first and land in the same chat.
Portfolio monitor
News and risks at every portfolio company. See how it runs →
- Setup
- No setup needed
- Runs
- Every Monday at 7am, or every weekday or monthly instead
- Outputs
- spreadsheet, PowerPoint deck, Word document; emailed to you after every run
Show the prompt
Run a portfolio monitor. Ask me for our portfolio companies. For each, cover the last 7 days: news, leadership changes, funding, customer wins or losses, and competitor moves. Flag anything the deal team should act on, including reasons to congratulate. Cite every item. Deliver three files in my company's brand. If I have Word, PowerPoint, or Excel templates in Athena, ask once which to use and build every file from them, keeping their layouts, styles, and formulas. For the brand, use my company's design system if one exists. Otherwise find my company's website (search the web if you are not sure of the domain), run design_system_retriever on it to get the real logo, colors, and fonts, and save the result with create_design_system so every run matches. Use the real logo image; never redraw it or type the company name in its place. The files: (1) a spreadsheet with one row per item (date, company, category, what happened, why it matters, source link); (2) a PowerPoint deck with the logo on the title slide, a one-slide summary, a slide per section with a chart wherever there are numbers, and a so-what slide; (3) a Word document with the logo in the header, the full brief, and every source cited. Brand colors and fonts throughout, one idea per slide, no walls of text. Finish with a short summary in chat that links all three. When each run finishes, this one included, email me the three files from Athena: send them to my own email address with the chat summary in the body. If Athena cannot send email in this workspace, say so instead. When you are done, ask me if I want this every Monday at 7am (or every weekday, or monthly instead). Also ask which sections to keep and confirm my IANA time zone (for example America/New_York), and pass it explicitly when creating the schedule. If I choose a schedule, set up a scheduled agent that runs this same brief on it, keeps the spreadsheet asset ID and any template IDs in its instructions, reads the latest dated tab before each run, and reports only what changed since the last run. It says plainly when nothing material changed, and says comparison is unavailable if the prior tab cannot be read. Each run adds a dated tab to the same spreadsheet and makes a new dated deck and document. Whenever I give feedback on a run, in this chat or a later one, update the scheduled agent's instructions (and the template or design system when the feedback is about how the files look) so every later run follows it, then tell me exactly what you changed.
Opens a new Athena chat with this prompt ready to send. If you're not signed in, you'll sign in first and land in the same chat.
Sector deal activity
Deals, multiples, and active buyers in your sectors. See how it runs →
- Setup
- No setup needed
- Runs
- Every weekday at 7am, weekly on Mondays at 7am, or monthly on the 1st
- Outputs
- spreadsheet, PowerPoint deck, Word document; emailed to you after every run
Show the prompt
Track deal activity in the sectors I name. Cover the last 30 days: deals, valuations where disclosed, active buyers and lenders, and new funds, and say what it means for our pipeline. Cite every item. Deliver three files in my company's brand. If I have Word, PowerPoint, or Excel templates in Athena, ask once which to use and build every file from them, keeping their layouts, styles, and formulas. For the brand, use my company's design system if one exists. Otherwise find my company's website (search the web if you are not sure of the domain), run design_system_retriever on it to get the real logo, colors, and fonts, and save the result with create_design_system so every run matches. Use the real logo image; never redraw it or type the company name in its place. The files: (1) a spreadsheet with one row per deal (date, target, buyer, size, multiple, sector, source link); (2) a PowerPoint deck with the logo on the title slide, a one-slide summary, a slide per section with a chart wherever there are numbers, and a so-what slide; (3) a Word document with the logo in the header, the full brief, and every source cited. Brand colors and fonts throughout, one idea per slide, no walls of text. Finish with a short summary in chat that links all three. When each run finishes, this one included, email me the three files from Athena: send them to my own email address with the chat summary in the body. If Athena cannot send email in this workspace, say so instead. When you are done, ask me how often I want this: every weekday at 7am, weekly on Mondays at 7am, monthly on the 1st, or not now. Also ask which sections to keep and confirm my IANA time zone (for example America/New_York), and pass it explicitly when creating the schedule. If I choose a schedule, set up a scheduled agent that runs this same brief on it, keeps the spreadsheet asset ID and any template IDs in its instructions, reads the latest dated tab before each run, and reports only what changed since the last run. It says plainly when nothing material changed, and says comparison is unavailable if the prior tab cannot be read. Each run adds a dated tab to the same spreadsheet and makes a new dated deck and document. Whenever I give feedback on a run, in this chat or a later one, update the scheduled agent's instructions (and the template or design system when the feedback is about how the files look) so every later run follows it, then tell me exactly what you changed.
Opens a new Athena chat with this prompt ready to send. If you're not signed in, you'll sign in first and land in the same chat.
02Diligence
CIM summary
The business, the numbers, risks, and questions to ask.
- Setup
- No setup needed
- Runs
- When you ask
- Outputs
- spreadsheet, Word document
Show the prompt
Summarize this CIM: [attach]. Cover the business, customer concentration, the investment case, the risks, and the 15 questions to ask management. Put the financials (revenue, EBITDA, margins, growth by year) in a spreadsheet and the summary in a Word document.
Opens a new Athena chat with this prompt ready to send. If you're not signed in, you'll sign in first and land in the same chat.
Comparable companies
Public peers with growth, margins, and multiples. See how it runs →
- Setup
- No setup needed
- Runs
- Every weekday at 7am, weekly on Mondays at 7am, or monthly on the 1st
- Outputs
- spreadsheet, PowerPoint deck, Word document; emailed to you after every run
Show the prompt
Build and keep current a comparable companies table for the company I name. Ask me which one. Pick 8-12 public peers and give revenue, growth, EBITDA margin, EV/Revenue, and EV/EBITDA from their latest filings and prices, with what moved since the last run. Cite every number. Deliver three files in my company's brand. If I have Word, PowerPoint, or Excel templates in Athena, ask once which to use and build every file from them, keeping their layouts, styles, and formulas. For the brand, use my company's design system if one exists. Otherwise find my company's website (search the web if you are not sure of the domain), run design_system_retriever on it to get the real logo, colors, and fonts, and save the result with create_design_system so every run matches. Use the real logo image; never redraw it or type the company name in its place. The files: (1) a spreadsheet with one row per peer (company, revenue, growth, EBITDA margin, EV/Revenue, EV/EBITDA, source link); (2) a PowerPoint deck with the logo on the title slide, a one-slide summary, a slide per section with a chart wherever there are numbers, and a so-what slide; (3) a Word document with the logo in the header, the full brief, and every source cited. Brand colors and fonts throughout, one idea per slide, no walls of text. Finish with a short summary in chat that links all three. When each run finishes, this one included, email me the three files from Athena: send them to my own email address with the chat summary in the body. If Athena cannot send email in this workspace, say so instead. When you are done, ask me how often I want this: every weekday at 7am, weekly on Mondays at 7am, monthly on the 1st, or not now. Also ask which sections to keep and confirm my IANA time zone (for example America/New_York), and pass it explicitly when creating the schedule. If I choose a schedule, set up a scheduled agent that runs this same brief on it, keeps the spreadsheet asset ID and any template IDs in its instructions, reads the latest dated tab before each run, and reports only what changed since the last run. It says plainly when nothing material changed, and says comparison is unavailable if the prior tab cannot be read. Each run adds a dated tab to the same spreadsheet and makes a new dated deck and document. Whenever I give feedback on a run, in this chat or a later one, update the scheduled agent's instructions (and the template or design system when the feedback is about how the files look) so every later run follows it, then tell me exactly what you changed.
Opens a new Athena chat with this prompt ready to send. If you're not signed in, you'll sign in first and land in the same chat.
Diligence request list
What to request, by workstream, with red flags.
- Setup
- No setup needed
- Runs
- When you ask
- Outputs
- spreadsheet
Show the prompt
Build a diligence request list for [company] in [industry] in a spreadsheet: financial, commercial, operational, legal, HR, and IT workstreams, with each item, why it matters, and the red flag to look for.
Opens a new Athena chat with this prompt ready to send. If you're not signed in, you'll sign in first and land in the same chat.
03IC and reporting
Investment committee memo
Thesis, market, financials, valuation, and risks.
- Setup
- No setup needed
- Runs
- When you ask
- Outputs
- Word document
Show the prompt
Draft an investment committee memo for [company] from my notes and these materials: [attach]. Cover the thesis, market, financials, valuation, risks and mitigants, and the ask. Put it in a Word document. Use my company's brand. If I have Word, PowerPoint, or Excel templates in Athena, ask once which to use and build every file from them, keeping their layouts, styles, and formulas. For the brand, use my company's design system if one exists. Otherwise find my company's website (search the web if you are not sure of the domain), run design_system_retriever on it to get the real logo, colors, and fonts, and save the result with create_design_system so every run matches. Use the real logo image; never redraw it or type the company name in its place.
Opens a new Athena chat with this prompt ready to send. If you're not signed in, you'll sign in first and land in the same chat.
Portfolio KPI pack
Revenue, EBITDA, cash, and covenants against plan. See how it runs →
- Setup
- No setup needed
- Runs
- Every weekday at 7am, weekly on Mondays at 7am, or monthly on the 1st
- Outputs
- spreadsheet, PowerPoint deck, Word document; emailed to you after every run
Show the prompt
Build the portfolio KPI pack. Ask me for each company's reporting files (spreadsheets in Athena or uploads). Show revenue, EBITDA, cash, and covenant headroom against plan per company, flag the ones off track, and say why. Deliver three files in my company's brand. If I have Word, PowerPoint, or Excel templates in Athena, ask once which to use and build every file from them, keeping their layouts, styles, and formulas. For the brand, use my company's design system if one exists. Otherwise find my company's website (search the web if you are not sure of the domain), run design_system_retriever on it to get the real logo, colors, and fonts, and save the result with create_design_system so every run matches. Use the real logo image; never redraw it or type the company name in its place. The files: (1) a spreadsheet with one row per company and metric (company, metric, actual, plan, variance, prior period, note); (2) a PowerPoint deck with the logo on the title slide, a one-slide summary, a slide per section with a chart wherever there are numbers, and a so-what slide; (3) a Word document with the logo in the header, the full brief, and every source cited. Brand colors and fonts throughout, one idea per slide, no walls of text. Finish with a short summary in chat that links all three. When each run finishes, this one included, email me the three files from Athena: send them to my own email address with the chat summary in the body. If Athena cannot send email in this workspace, say so instead. When you are done, ask me how often I want this: every weekday at 7am, weekly on Mondays at 7am, monthly on the 1st, or not now. Also ask which sections to keep and confirm my IANA time zone (for example America/New_York), and pass it explicitly when creating the schedule. If I choose a schedule, set up a scheduled agent that runs this same brief on it, keeps the spreadsheet asset ID and any template IDs in its instructions, reads the latest dated tab before each run, and reports only what changed since the last run. It says plainly when nothing material changed, and says comparison is unavailable if the prior tab cannot be read. Each run adds a dated tab to the same spreadsheet and makes a new dated deck and document. Whenever I give feedback on a run, in this chat or a later one, update the scheduled agent's instructions (and the template or design system when the feedback is about how the files look) so every later run follows it, then tell me exactly what you changed.
Opens a new Athena chat with this prompt ready to send. If you're not signed in, you'll sign in first and land in the same chat.
LP update letter
Performance, deals, highlights, and outlook.
- Setup
- No setup needed
- Runs
- When you ask
- Outputs
- An answer in chat
Show the prompt
Draft the quarterly LP update from these notes and portfolio numbers: [attach]. Cover performance, new investments and exits, portfolio highlights, and the outlook, in a plain, direct tone.
Opens a new Athena chat with this prompt ready to send. If you're not signed in, you'll sign in first and land in the same chat.
04Why run it in Athena
| A chat assistant | Athena | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Text in a chat | Real Excel, Word, and PowerPoint files in your templates |
| Working together | One person, one chat | Your team and the agent in the same file, live |
| Mistakes | Regenerate and start over | Every edit attributed; undo or roll back any change |
| Next run | Starts from scratch | Builds on the last run and on your feedback |
| Your data | Copy and paste | Documents, email, and warehouse, under each person's access |
| Where it runs | Their cloud | Yours, if you need it |
05For your team
06Related dispatches
- Athena for FinanceAI agents for FP&A that build the weekly packet in your template.
- Athena for AnalyticsAn AI data analyst for everyone, working from your own warehouse.
07Questions teams ask
How do I use a starter?
Open a new chat in Athena, paste the prompt, and replace anything in square brackets with your details before sending. Athena asks for anything else it needs.
Which starters run on a schedule?
These run on a schedule: Deal sourcing scan, Portfolio monitor, Sector deal activity, Comparable companies, Portfolio KPI pack.
Do these starters need connected apps?
None need a connected app.
Can I use my own templates?
Yes. The scheduled starters ask once which of your Word, PowerPoint or Excel templates in Athena to use and build every file from them. With no template, they use your company's logo, colors and fonts.