Presenting a clear and concise summary of your startup and its ambitions could convince potential investors of an unmissable opportunity. Here are 10 top tips for creating a pitchdeck to blow them away
Presenting a clear and concise summary of your startup and its ambitions could convince potential investors of an unmissable opportunity. Here are 10 top tips for creating a pitchdeck to blow them away
The average pitchdeck contains fewer than 20 slides and the closer to 10 you get, the better. Use one or two slides for each of the following: overview, problem, solution, product, team, business model, traction, market opportunity, competition, financials, amount being raised, marketing plan. After noting the key points below, see our suggested template for pitchdeck slides here.
Create two versions of your deck: a snappy, highly visual version which flows alongside your in-person pitch, and another with greater detail to share via email for review.
Microsoft PowerPoint was synonymous with presentations for years until Apple muscled in with its Keynote software, which is free on Macs, iPads and even iPhones. Graphic design website Canva is an excellent free tool containing pre-designed templates which you can access from anywhere.
Choose a professional-looking, minimalistic template which emphasises the strength of your brand without resorting to gimmicks. The content is more important than your PowerPoint prowess. Be sure to select the modern 16:9 aspect ratio rather than the 4:3 displayed on old-school computer monitors.
A picture is worth a thousand words as human beings associate memories with visuals, so high-quality images highlighting the business need and product itself are crucial. There is nothing an investor hates more than a slide full of text: even in the detailed deck, keep words to a minimum and include any additional info in an appendix at the end.
If you are making a bold statement, be sure to back it up with external validation. Quotes from media outlets or customers about your business will immediately convey a sense of trust and highlighting key statistics without sources are a risky affair.
Who are you pitching at? While it is important to make your content accessible, using informal language could come across as unprofessional. If the investor is going to join you on your journey, they want to know you are serious, so match their language.
Investors want to be reassured that they are not throwing their cash away. Convey a clear vision, describe the addressable market and highlight your business plan over one, three and five years. Show them your business can be replicated in other markets with the same playbook.
Don’t be too granular! Startups must be agile to respond to market forces and other unforeseen hurdles, so focus on the key metrics and plan of attack rather than every little detail of the business.
The most important slide of the deck is about the management team. Investors look for people they believe in as much as they do a product. Highlight their previous accomplishments and don’t include every employee – you may find your deck is out of date rather quickly if you do!