A pitch deck is a presentation that provides a brief overview of your company. It should outline the essentials of your company plan and your product. Additionally, it should include broad financial estimates and your suggested financing requirements.
But before getting started, as a founder, you should always remember that a pitch deck’s goal is not to get funding. The goal is to get a second meeting. So don’t get too caught up in the details. There will be time for that, but first, you must nail this presentation.
The first question many inexperienced public speakers and communicators have is “how many slides should I include in my presentation?” And the common answer is usually 10 to 15.
But the truth is that you can include as many slides as you like. The important thing here is not the number. Slides are a visual aid, not a notebook. So, whatever the number of slides you need, remember that each of them should be significant and impressive on its own.
Secondly, a pitch should always adapt to circumstances and the time given. During a pitch competition, founders usually get 5 minutes to present, while in a 1:1 meeting with a VC you’re usually expected to pitch your idea for 15 to 20 minutes. And you can’t use the same deck for both.
So, as long as you cover “the important stuff” use as many slides as you like. Not so few to make the information compressed or incomplete, but not so many that you rush through your PowerPoint or bore your audience away.
Now, to the good part 🤓:
In this guide, we’ll cover the 5 key points that all pitch decks must include. As long as you have them covered, you’ll be able to provide a good overview of your startup to potential investors.
As you go through the presentation, remember our brains are both rational and emotional. Investors love emotion, but they also need reasons. So balance both all along your pitch.
Ready? Let’s go!
Investors and VCs are looking for opportunities. And the way to hatch them is to find big problems. All problems are, in fact, opportunities. So, during your pitch, answer these three questions and your audience will be able to understand the opportunity
The more you demonstrate that the problem is genuine and relatable, the more your investors will grasp your business concept and objectives. Then, explain whether and how the problem is currently being addressed.
Now prepare to amaze your investors with the solution that you and your team are creating. Showcase your product by answering these questions:
As important as this part is, one common mistake is being overly focused on the product rather than the advantages or solutions it provides to its users. A good founder always maintains the focus on their clients, not on the technology.
There’s a lot that can be said about how to describe your Business Model. But here are the key aspects of it to highlight during your Pitch Deck:
Your Pitch Deck is no place for an excel sheet. The data you enter must be simple, easy to understand, and accurate. Here’s where KPIs come in place.
This section should cover the following themes:
Finally, you get to introduce the people behind the idea. The goal here is to show that your startup has addressed or recognized the talents required to create, manage, and expand this company.
Highlight the key team members, their previous triumphs, and the vital skills they bring to the table. If any of them have previous experience in the VC-backed industry, it’s a bonus!
The Pitch Deck is the window shop of your business. It has to be attractive enough to catch attention, clear enough to make it relatable, and impressive enough to get you a second meeting. Only then will you dive into details with the investors.
At Lazo, we’ve often outlined the 3 main steps of fundraising:
👉 Getting your first meeting with an investor with Cold Email Strategies
👉 Impressing VCs with effective Pitch Decks
👉 Preparing a bullet-proof Data Room that will pass any Due Diligence.
We’ve been through all of this and speak from our own experiences. If you want to know more about how to get fundraising right, schedule a free consultation call, and let’s get to know each other!
Best of luck, fellow fundraisers!
The Lazo Team 💜Cold
