A Pitch deck is starting point of your journey to find your Investor. You have very limited amount of time (ideally 5-10 minutes) in case of a face-to-face presentation, to convey your business idea to your Potential Investor, and it is very important to have right content which is clear and concise.
Creating an effective pitch deck is crucial when seeking investment for your startup. In a face-to-face presentation, which ideally should be 5-10 minutes, your goal is to generate interest and excitement about your idea or product among the investors, leading to a second meeting. Investors receive numerous pitch decks daily, so making yours eye-catching, simple, legible, and concise is essential.
Begin with a succinct introduction of your business/idea/product. Make it as straightforward as possible so that investors can grasp what you do immediately, piquing their interest and ensuring their attention for the rest of your presentation.
Clearly articulate the problem that your business/idea/product aims to solve. Instead of a deep dive into each issue, highlight the main ones. Utilize short audio-visual aids to showcase the problems you're addressing, if possible.
This section should elaborate on how your business/idea/product tackles the problems you've just outlined. For every problem point, demonstrate a corresponding solution. Avoid overloading this section with technical jargon. Instead, discuss the end-use cases of your product's features in simple terms. Use audio-visual aids to showcase your product or demo, if relevant.
This segment should detail your potential solution's scope in terms of Total Addressable Market (TAM), covering financial potential, demographics, and geography. Highlight what portion of the TAM you aim to reach in the future based on your market research.
Outline your plan to reach your customers and why your strategy is superior to your competitors. If you believe you're addressing a new market with no competition, explain your plan to educate your customers about the need for your product. Stick to simple, non-technical language here too.
Utilize tools such as the Gartner Magic Quadrant to differentiate your business/idea/product from your competitors, displaying strengths and weaknesses. Alternatively, compare your product's features/benefits with your competitors'. Also, highlight any technical advantages you possess.
This is the conclusion of your pitch, where you wrap up your story. Highlight existing customers, users, and revenues if you have them. If not, focus on the future, outlining the roadmap, timelines, or milestones you plan to reach.
Briefly describe the founders and key personnel, their roles, and notable accomplishments. Include their LinkedIn profiles but avoid detailed bios, as interested investors will conduct their own background checks.
If your business is up and running with tangible growth figures from the past 1-3 years, include this information. For pitches in the idea stage or early seed stage startups, this slide isn't required. Present information using infographics for better understanding.
Finally, clarify your funding requirements, how you plan to use the funds, what goals/milestones you aim to achieve with it, and how long the funds will last.
Creating a comprehensive, concise, and clear pitch deck is the first step towards a successful investment meeting. It's your opportunity to show potential investors why they should believe in your business idea as much as you do.