In order to showcase their business to potential angel or venture capital investors, startups commonly create a “pitch deck.” The goal of the pitch deck, which typically consists of 15–20 PowerPoint slides, is to introduce investors to the company’s products, technology, and staff.
Investor capital raising is challenging and time-consuming. A startup must thus craft a strong investor pitch deck by telling a captivating and intriguing tale.
When constructing their investor presentation decks, too many business owners make a number of simple errors. A list of preliminary dos and don’ts is provided below.
Do’s of creating a Pitch Deck
- Do not forget to write “Confidential and Proprietary” at the bottom left of the pitch deck cover page. [Name of Company] owns the copyright. No Rights Assumed.
- Do persuade the audience of the market opportunity’s size.
- Don’t forget to include eye-catching visuals and imagery.
Don’ts of creating a Pitch Deck
- Make sure the business pitch is no longer than 15-20 slides. Include it as an appendix if you think you need to include extra information.
- Limit the number of wordy slides.
- Don’t go into too much financial detail; a follow-up can cover it.
What Crucial Slides Should Be Included in Your Investor Pitch Deck?
You may want the following themes to be covered in your investor pitch deck:
3. “Company Overview” slide
The page immediately after the cover page ought to have a “Company Overview” that lists your company’s name, the problem it addresses, your location, the qualifications of your management team, and any significant existing traction in 4-6 bullet points.
2. “Mission/Vision” slide
You want a concise explanation of the company’s mission and vision on this slide.
A mission statement can read:
- “Our mission is to provide the enterprise solution for cybersecurity gaps in a company’s data storage.”
- “We are the mobile stock market investment option for millennials,”
- “We are the on-demand alternative to Uber for house cleaners.”
The “vision” can be the thing you hope to achieve, like “Our vision is to become the top online retailer for those recovering from injuries.”
3. “The Team” slide
Many investors think that the key factor in deciding whether or not to invest in a company is its management team. Typically, this slide will include:
- Images of the important team members
- The team members’ titles
- A brief explanation of the team’s former job demonstrating their domain competence
4. “The Problem” Slide
You must specify the issue or requirement your startup is addressing, including:
- How serious is the issue?
- Why is it crucial?
- For whom are you finding a solution?
Who are the intended clients?
5. “The Solution” Slide
This section of your investor pitch deck should explain your suggested solution and why it is superior to other options on the market, since the previous slide described the problem.
6. “Product” Slide
This slide of the pitch deck should respond to: “You must succinctly describe the nature of the product or service offered by your firm, as well as why it is special.”
- What are the product’s main characteristics?
- Why are customers interested in the product?
- What significant product milestones exist?
7. “Market Opportunity” slide
Investors prefer to put their money into enormous possibilities with broad target markets. Define the market you are in on this slide.
- Describe the dollar market.
- Graphs must demonstrate that your company will address a large portion of the addressable market.
8. “Customers” Slide
A “Customers” slide can be effective and boost credibility if the company already has early clients. Typically, this slide page will showcase the logos of well-known clients.
9. “The Technology” slide
Your underlying technology will be of great interest to investors. This investor pitch deck slide can cover the following topics:
- The fundamentals of technology
- The company’s most important intellectual property rights
- The reasons why the technology is or will be better
Competition for the business will always be a problem. The following questions should be anticipated in this slide:
- Who are the rival businesses for this one?
- What distinguishes your business from the competition?
- What sets you apart from your rivals’ products the most?
11. “Traction” Slide
A business that has gained traction early on in some way will be regarded highly. The following can be covered by this slide:
- What successful strategic alliances exist?
- How may the initial traction be quickened?
- Press coverage and honors
12. “The Business Model” slide
Investors will be interested in learning about your business model. In order to address important concerns, such as:
- How do you generate income?
- What price structure is used?
- What is a customer’s value over the long term?
13. “The Ask” slide
You ought to have a slide with the caption “The Ask” near the conclusion. Please address the following on this slide:
- What amount of money do you need?
- How long do you anticipate the financing to continue?
- Who are your current investors?
Conclusion
A strong investor pitch deck can increase your startup’s chances of getting funded. However, you must make sure the narrative is fascinating and captivating. The subjects that investors want to see from you must be covered.
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