How to Create a Compelling Pitch Deck – The Top 3 Things You Need to Know About the Pitch Deck – originally posted here
If you’re an entrepreneur, then you know that a pitch deck is an essential part of your toolkit. A well-crafted pitch deck can help you secure funding from investors, or land a coveted spot in a startup accelerator program. But what exactly is a pitch deck, and what should it include? In this blog post, we’ll answer those questions and more! We’ll also provide tips on how to create a pitch deck that will make your business stand out from the competition.
So, what exactly is a pitch deck? As we have discussed in previous articles a pitch deck is a presentation that entrepreneurs use to present their business idea to potential investors. The goal of a pitch deck is to convince the investor to invest in your business. A pitch deck typically includes slides with information about your business, such as your company’s mission statement, product or service offering, target market, and competitive landscape. It also includes financial projections and information about your team.
Now that you know what a pitch deck is, let’s talk about what goes into making one.
At a high level you want your pitch deck to tell a story, to explain your company journey so far and your vision for the future, describe why you and convince the investor they can make money by investing in you and your company all within 4 minutes.
5 Secrets to success:
- Don’t get caught up in the details
- Everyone loves a story – make your deck tell yours.
- Ensure it includes what opportunity you have discovered and what you have built to fix it.
- Include the customer demographic – Who is it important to and why –
- Explain how it will meet that opportunity or resolve that problem.
First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that your pitch deck is clear and concise. This means including only the most essential information about your business. Remember, you only have a limited amount of time to make your case, so you’ll want to make sure that every slide counts.
In addition to being clear and concise, your pitch deck should also be visually appealing. This means using high-quality images and graphics, and avoiding cluttered slides. You’ll also want to use a font that is easy to read, and make sure that your slides are well-organized.
Finally, when you’re creating your pitch deck, you’ll want to keep in mind who your audience is. Remember, your goal is to convince the investor to invest in your business. So, you’ll want to tailor your presentation accordingly. For example, if you’re pitching to venture capitalists, you’ll want to focus on your business’s growth potential. On the other hand, if you’re pitching to angel investors, you’ll want to focus on your business’s profitability.
In Slidebean’s article The Best Investor Pitch Deck Examples and templates:
It states “If you made it here, you are probably looking for inspiration to create a pitch deck for your own startup. Yeah, you’ve come to the right place. Let me start by saying that this might not be the best approach to take when pitching investors: “Each investor deck should be tailored to the company’s strengths.” Let’s begin by covering some basics:
The story you tell about your idea, team and concept validation (yes, metrics!!) is what will ultimately determine if your deck is appealing or not. Still, getting some inspiration from previously successful startups is definitely a good place to start.”
Read the full thing and access the examples here
Navigating the Waters – What questions do Investors ask?
Hi, I’m Stephanie Mckinney. In this episode, we continue to demystify the jargon of investors by talking about the main questions investors will ask during a pitch. I chat again with Kim-Adele Randall as we discuss: – Understanding what questions to prepare for in a pitch – The importance of knowing what you need to get to each round – How to retain control initially whilst still fundrais
Now that you know what goes into making a pitch deck, let’s talk about how to make yours stand out from the competition. First, remember to practice your presentation before you ever step foot in front of an investor. This will help you ensure that you’re delivering your pitch in a clear and concise manner.
Second, make sure that your pitch deck is visually appealing. Use high-quality images and graphics, and avoid cluttered slides.
Finally, tailor your presentation to your audience. Remember, your goal is to convince the investor to invest in your business. So, focus on the aspects of your business that will appeal to them the most.
In our next blog we will be delving into the different types of deck and how to design them.
Do you have a female-founded startup that’s in need of funding or you’re an investor interested in supporting female entrepreneurs, please contact us. We’d love to chat with you about how we can work together.
Find out more about Stephanie and subscribe to Navigating the Waters
Stephanie McKinney
CEO and Founder of River VC
Email: smckinney@river-vc.com
Website: River VC
Instagram: @rivervcllc
Twitter: @rivervcllc
LinkedIn: Stephanie McKinney
Youtube: Navigating the Waters
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