Need Launch Video Fast? A Founder’s 7-Day Sprint Guide (No Budget, No B.S.)

Short answer: Yes, you can go from blank screen to polished launch video in one week if you focus on story over spectacle, templates over tinkering, and deadlines over perfection. Below is the exact 7-day playbook we use at Flowjam with YC startups who—let’s be honest—always “need it yesterday.”

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Contents

1. Why Speed Beats Polish (At Least at Launch)
2. The 7-Day “Need Launch Video Fast” Sprint
3. Common Bottlenecks (and How to Dodge Them)
4. Real-World Case Study: From Zero to Launch in 72 Hours
5. Need Launch Video Fast? FAQ
6. The 5-Minute “Need Launch Video Fast” Checklist
7. Ready to Ship?

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Why Speed Beats Polish (At Least at Launch)

Your Series-A investor isn’t judging your kerning; they’re judging whether you can ship. A scrappy 60-second video that ships on Monday beats a Spielberg-level epic that ships in April.

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“We had 8 days to Demo Day and zero editing skills. Flowjam turned our Figma frames into a 57-second launch video that helped us raise a $2 M pre-seed.”

— Alex T., founder, Scoutnow.ai

The 7-Day “Need Launch Video Fast” Sprint

Day 1: Nail the One-Sentence Value Prop (30 min)

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✅ Write the pain in one line.

✅ Write the promise in one line.

✅ Combine into a 12-word value prop.

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Example:

“Stop losing deals to slow proposals. Create, send, and e-sign in 90 seconds.”

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Day 2: Pick a Proven Script Framework (45 min)

We use the PAS+W model (Problem–Agitate–Solve + Win). Google loves it because it mirrors search intent.

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Template (copy/paste):

• 0–5 s Hook: “Still ___?”
• 5–15 s Agitate: show the pain visually.
• 15–45 s Solve: 3 quick feature vignettes.
• 45–55 s Win: user testimonial or metric.
• 55–60 s CTA: “Try free today.”

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Pro tip: If you’re stuck, steal 3 competitor YouTube ads and remix the best lines. Nobody’s getting sued over 60 seconds.

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Day 3: Storyboard in Figma (1 hr)

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✅ Create 6 frames (one per 10 seconds).

✅ Use screenshots, GIFs, or stock from Unsplash.

✅ Export as PNG; you’ll animate them tomorrow.

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Day 4: Record Voiceover on Your iPhone (30 min)

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✅ Voice Memos app + closet = instant sound booth.

✅ Read at 140 wpm for a friendly startup vibe.

✅ Use Adobe Enhance  (free) to remove hiss.

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Day 5: Animate in One Sitting (2 hrs)

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Tool stack for speed:

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• Canva or Loom for drag-and-drop motion graphics.
• Flowjam’s 24-hr rush service if you’d rather delegate (shameless plug).
• Animoto templates if you’re allergic to timelines.

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✅ Drop frames, add text overlays, and sync to voiceover.

✅ Use the same brand colors as your pitch deck—consistency > creativity.

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Day 6: Add Captions & Music (30 min)

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✅ Auto-generate captions in Kapwing.

✅ Pick royalty-free music from Uppbeat.

✅ Keep volume at 20 % so the voice isn’t drowned.

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External link: YouTube’s caption best practices

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Day 7: Publish & Promote (1 hr)

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✅ Export 1080×1920 vertical for TikTok/Reels.

✅ Export 1920×1080 horizontal for YouTube.

✅ Upload to Product Hunt, LinkedIn, and your landing page hero.

Common Bottlenecks (and How to Dodge Them)

When you’re rushing to launch a video, a few common bottlenecks can slow you down. For example, many people say, “I hate my voice”, but you can solve this instantly by using Murf.ai, which lets you generate a professional AI voice in just two clicks. Another hurdle is when your footage looks amateur. A quick fix is to simply blur the background in Canva, which gives your video an instantly cinematic look. And if you’re worried about having zero design skills, you don’t need to start from scratch. Flowjam’s pre-made SaaS templates make it easy to plug in your content and get polished results right away.

Real-World Case Study: From Zero to Launch in 72 Hours

Startup: INDEX (YC W23)

Problem: Needed a launch video for Product Hunt tomorrow.

Solution: Used Flowjam’s overnight rush. We recycled their existing Loom walkthrough, added kinetic typography, and shipped at 3 a.m. PST.

Result: #2 on Product Hunt, 4,200 upvotes, 1,800 wait-list sign-ups.

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“We didn’t sleep, but we did get TechCrunch.”

— INDEX founders

Need Launch Video Fast? FAQ

Can I use AI to generate the entire video?

Yes, but you’ll still need a human eye for story. AI tools like Runway are great for B-roll, not for emotional arc.

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How much budget do I actually need?

• DIY path: $0–$50 (tools like Canva Pro).
• Delegate path: $1,500–$3,000 with Flowjam rush service.

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What length converts best?

For SaaS, 45–75 seconds. Shorter feels rushed; longer feels like a tutorial.

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Do I need subtitles?

Yes. 85 % of social video is watched on mute (Facebook data).

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Can I reuse the video for ads?

Absolutely. Slice into 15-second snippets for YouTube pre-roll and 6-second bumpers.

The 5-Minute “Need Launch Video Fast” Checklist

✅ Value prop in 12 words or less

✅ PAS+W script draft

✅ 6-frame storyboard

✅ iPhone voiceover + Adobe Enhance

✅ Canva or Flowjam animation

✅ Captions & royalty-free music

✅ 3 export formats (horizontal, vertical, square)

Ready to Ship?

If you’re staring at the calendar and Demo Day is breathing down your neck, book a 15-min call with Adam at Flowjam. We’ve turned around launch videos in <24 hrs for founders who “just remembered we need a video.”

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