The Spreadsheet CRM Playbook: Track Relationships, Pipeline, and Next Actions (Without Buying Software)

A spreadsheet CRM can be more than a tracker. When it is built around ownership, stage definitions, and dated next actions, it becomes a simple operating system that survives handovers and investor questions. This playbook shows founders and deal teams in GCC and MENA how to structure a spreadsheet CRM with three linked records (Companies, People, Opportunities), enforce weekly pipeline decisions, and keep data clean without adding bureaucracy. You will learn what sophisticated investors test first, a pass/fail checklist, a practical readiness scorecard, and a four-week implementation timeline with clear owners. Use it to reduce deal slippage, avoid forecast surprises, and build credibility before a capital raise or strategic partnership.