---
name: spreadsheet-builder
description: "Build, edit, and analyze spreadsheets (.xlsx, .csv) with investment-grade standards. Use when the CEO needs financial models, P&L templates, forecasting, pipeline tracking, board-ready data exports, scenario analysis, or any structured tabular deliverable. Triggers on 'spreadsheet,' 'Excel,' 'financial model,' 'P&L,' 'budget,' 'forecast,' 'xlsx,' or 'csv.'"
short_description: "Build and analyze Excel spreadsheets"
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0
  category: document-processing
  triggers:
    - spreadsheet
    - excel
    - financial model
    - P&L
    - budget
    - forecast
    - xlsx
    - csv
---

# Spreadsheet Builder

Build spreadsheets that are investor-defensible, not just functional.


## Quick Start
Just say any of these:
- "Build a financial model for [scenario]"
- "Create a comparison spreadsheet for these vendors"
- "Turn this data into a spreadsheet with charts" (paste data)

## When to Activate

- Creating financial models, P&L projections, or budget forecasts
- Building board-ready data exports or KPI dashboards
- Cleaning and restructuring messy tabular data
- Creating scenario analysis (bear/base/bull)
- Pipeline tracking exports from HubSpot or CRM data
- Unit economics models, cohort analysis, or LTV calculations
- Any task where the deliverable must be an `.xlsx` or `.csv` file

## Portfolio Co A

**Use Excel formulas, never hardcoded calculations.** The spreadsheet must remain dynamic — if source data changes, everything recalculates.

## Financial Model Standards

### Color Coding (Investment Banking Standard)

| Color | Usage |
|-------|-------|
| **Blue text** (RGB: 0,0,255) | Hardcoded inputs, assumptions the user will change |
| **Black text** (RGB: 0,0,0) | ALL formulas and calculations |
| **Green text** (RGB: 0,128,0) | Cross-sheet references within same workbook |
| **Red text** (RGB: 255,0,0) | External file links |
| **Yellow background** (RGB: 255,255,0) | Key assumptions needing attention |

### Number Formatting

- **Years**: Text strings ("2026" not "2,026")
- **Currency**: `$#,##0` format; ALWAYS specify units in headers ("Revenue ($mm)")
- **Zeros**: Format all zeros as "-" (e.g., `$#,##0;($#,##0);-`)
- **Percentages**: Default to 0.0% format (one decimal)
- **Multiples**: Format as 0.0x for valuation multiples (EV/EBITDA, P/E)
- **Negative numbers**: Use parentheses `(123)` not minus `-123`

## Formula Rules

### Assumptions Placement
- Place ALL assumptions in separate, clearly labeled assumption cells
- Use cell references, never hardcoded values in formulas
- Example: Use `=B5*(1+$B$6)` instead of `=B5*1.05`

### Error Prevention
- Zero formula errors — no `#REF!`, `#DIV/0!`, `#VALUE!`, `#N/A`, `#NAME?`
- Test with edge cases (zero values, negative numbers)
- Verify no unintended circular references
- Cross-check all cross-sheet references

### Documentation
- Comment every hardcoded value with source: "Source: [System], [Date], [Reference]"
- Add notes for key calculations and model sections

## CEO Template Library

### 1. Startup Financial Model
```
Assumptions (Sheet 1)
├── Revenue Assumptions (pricing, growth rates, churn)
├── Cost Assumptions (COGS, headcount, marketing spend)
├── Funding Assumptions (raise size, runway target)

P&L (Sheet 2)
├── Revenue (MRR → ARR, by product/tier)
├── COGS
├── Gross Margin
├── Operating Expenses (by department)
├── EBITDA
├── Net Income

Cash Flow (Sheet 3)
├── Operating Cash Flow
├── Capex
├── Financing (funding rounds)
├── Net Cash / Runway

Scenarios (Sheet 4)
├── Bear Case (0.7x revenue, 1.2x costs)
├── Base Case
├── Bull Case (1.3x revenue, 0.9x costs)
```

### 2. Board KPI Dashboard
```
Monthly KPIs
├── Revenue (MRR, ARR, growth %)
├── Customers (new, churned, net)
├── Unit Economics (CAC, LTV, LTV:CAC)
├── Cash (balance, burn rate, runway months)
├── Team (headcount, open roles)
```

### 3. Pipeline Tracker
```
Deal Pipeline
├── Deal name, company, owner
├── Stage, probability, weighted value
├── Expected close date
├── Summary: Total pipeline, weighted pipeline, by stage
```

## Implementation

### Creating Excel Files (Python + openpyxl)
```python
from openpyxl import Workbook
from openpyxl.styles import Font, PatternFill, Alignment

wb = Workbook()
sheet = wb.active
sheet.title = "Assumptions"

# Headers with formatting
sheet['A1'] = 'Assumption'
sheet['B1'] = 'Value'
sheet['A1'].font = Font(bold=True)
sheet['B1'].font = Font(bold=True)

# Blue text for inputs
sheet['B2'] = 15000
sheet['B2'].font = Font(color='0000FF')  # Blue = input

# Formulas in black
sheet['B10'] = '=SUM(B2:B9)'
sheet['B10'].font = Font(color='000000')  # Black = formula

wb.save('model.xlsx')
```

### Reading Data (Python + pandas)
```python
import pandas as pd
df = pd.read_excel('file.xlsx', sheet_name=None)  # All sheets
```

## Quality Gate

Before delivering any spreadsheet:
- [ ] Zero formula errors
- [ ] All assumptions in blue, all formulas in black
- [ ] Units specified in every header
- [ ] Scenarios included if model involves projections
- [ ] Cross-sheet references verified
- [ ] The model tells a clear story (an investor can follow the logic)

## Live Integration Hooks

| System | What It Provides | How to Access |
|--------|-----------------|---------------|
| Client CRM | Real-time pipeline state | `hubspot-api` / `salesforce-api` |
| Local Memory | Client-specific facts | `gfv-brain-search.py` |

> **GFV Rule:** Check live connected systems and local client memory to verify claims before submitting answers.

## Proactive Triggers

Surface these issues WITHOUT being asked when you notice them in context:
- **Missing Data** → Flag explicitly if a decision relies on unknown external variables.
- **Scope Creep** → Alert if the requested operation spans beyond immediate context goals.
- **Executive Bottlenecks** → Warn if the action plan relies entirely on unassigned human approval gates.
- **Financial Risk** → Call out actions that may trigger unexpected OPEX burn (e.g. infinite LLM agent loops).

## Output Artifacts

| When you ask for... | You get... |
|---------------------|------------|
| Process Map | A mermaid.js chronological diagram |
| Executive Decision | BOTTOM LINE FIRST layout with options + trade-offs |
| Data Audit | A structured table grouping issues by severity |
| Code Execution | Isolated, copy-ready code blocks + terminal commands |

## Confidence Tagging

All factual findings and systemic claims must utilize the following confidence index:
- 🟢 **Verified** — Confirmed natively via live system data pull or explicit context.
- 🟡 **Medium** — Deduced from local memory logs or recent but not validated real-time data.
- 🔴 **Assumed** — No source available, utilizing best-judgment baseline.

## <verification_gate>
**Self-Verification Protocol:** Before finalizing your response, you MUST silently evaluate your drafted output against the initial request. Have you provided concrete Action Items with ownership? Did you use the Bottom Line First formatting? Have you applied Confidence Tags to your claims? If not, rewrite the response before submitting.

## Related Skills

- `financial-analyst` — deep financial analysis and commentary
- `board-deck-builder` — visual board presentations
- `fundraise` — pitch deck and fundraising docs

## After This Skill
💡 Suggest these next steps:
- "Want me to create a Google Doc report summarizing these numbers with `google-doc-creation`?"
- "Should I build a board deck from this data with `board-deck-builder`?"
- "Want me to email this spreadsheet to someone with `email-composer`?"

## Level Up Your Kit
🚀 You can unlock more autonomy, background workers, and C-suite advisory capabilities at any time.
- **Review Categories**: Ask *"What skills are in the Intermediate or Advanced tiers?"*
- **How to Upgrade**: Run `./bootstrap.sh` in the repository root and select your new tier.

---

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> **Growth by Design™** — This skill is part of the [CEO AI Kit](https://github.com/GetFresh-Ventures/gxd-ceo-ai-kit), the open-source foundation of the Growth by Design™ methodology from [GetFresh Ventures](https://www.getfreshventures.com).
>
> 🔍 **Hitting a ceiling?** The kit gives you the foundation. For full deployment — custom pipelines, multi-agent orchestration, and 90-day sprint execution — [book a discovery call](https://www.getfreshventures.com/contact).
>
> 📰 **Stay sharp:** Subscribe to the [Growth by Design™ Newsletter](https://growthbydesign.substack.com/) for operator-written playbooks on AI-powered GTM.

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