The competition is fierce, with more aspiring individuals striving to get the necessary resources to make their ideas come true. A well-crafted pitch deck is essential for any startup looking to raise capital. Having a good presentation lets you surpass your rivals and win the competition, so investing time in creating it is vitally important.
But what goes into making a genuinely compelling pitch deck? Let’s look at what it is and how to build a good one.
Table of Contents
1. Defining a Pitch Deck
A pitch deck (PD) is a presentation that entrepreneurs use to communicate the critical points of their startup idea to potential investors. The deck typically contains slides with information about the company’s products or services, the market opportunity, the team, the business model, financial projections, and other relevant data.
2. Keep it Simple
Investors often have limited time to review a PD, so keeping the deck concise and precise is essential. More text can be off-putting, and complex data can be challenging to interpret.
Tip: focus on highlighting the critical points of your business straightforwardly.
3. Use Strong Visuals
A PD should be visually appealing and use strong visuals to communicate important messages. Slides should be eye-catching, containing strong imagery to convey the key points of the company. Interested people or brands should be able to comprehend what you deliver at a glance.
If you use pictures or videos in your presentation, ensure they are high-quality and relevant to your topic. Blurry, pixelated, or out-of-focus photos will only make your presentation look unprofessional.
Tip: online video editor will empower you to include short but striking videos to make the PD influential and memorable.
4. Tell a Story
A fascinating PD should tell a compelling story that engages the audience and inspires them to invest in the business. The story should highlight the problem that the firm is solving and how the product or service is unique and differentiated.
Tip: include customer testimonials and case studies to illustrate your brand’s impact.
5. Highlight the Key Value Proposition
The PD should focus on communicating the key value proposition of the business. It is the brand’s main selling point, making it unique and attractive to investors. The value proposition should be clear and concise.
Tip: make it easy for investors to understand how the brand will generate revenue and create value.
6. Be Prepared to Answer Questions
Forewarned is forearmed. After presenting the PD, you should be ready to answer questions from investors. It is an opportunity to elaborate further on the crucial points of the enterprise and provide additional information about the company’s plans and prospects.
Tip: use this time to build a good rapport with potential investors and demonstrate your expertise.
7. Arrange a Mock-up Performance
Practicing the PD before presenting it to investors can help entrepreneurs deliver it more confidently and effectively. It is also an excellent opportunity to get feedback from people who have heard the pitch before so that entrepreneurs can make improvements.
Tip: ask colleagues, friends, or family members to take the role of investors and listen to your performance, asking you follow-up questions.
8. Get and Utilize Feedback
After presenting the PD, brand owners should get feedback from investors to improve future pitches. You can use this feedback to refine the PD and make it more effective.
Tip: don’t be afraid to ask for more elaborative feedback to help you refine your plans and strategies.
9. What Are Some Things to Avoid When Creating and Presenting a PD?
Some things to avoid when creating and presenting a PD:
- Starting with too much text: Start with a title and a few bullet points when creating your slides. You can flesh out the details in your presentation but keep each slide manageable with text. It will only make your presentation easier to follow.
- Making the slides too busy or “cluttered”: Remember that less is more when it comes to presentations. Avoid using too many colors, fonts, or images on each slide – otherwise, it will only distract from your message.
- Focusing too much on the deck itself instead of the actual content: It’s important to remember that the PD is only a tool to help you deliver your presentation – it’s not the show’s star. Make sure to focus on the actual content of your presentation before you get caught up in making your slides look perfect.
- Relying on reading directly from the slides: Your audience will appreciate it if you try to engage with them instead of simply reading from your slides. Make eye contact, speak clearly, and use hand gestures to emphasize important points.
- Using jargon or “insider” language that your audience may not understand: When presenting to a general audience, it’s vital to use language that everyone can understand. Avoid using jargon or industry-specific terms that not everyone will be familiar with.
Final Thought
If you’re looking to create a great PD, following these tips will help you get started on the right foot. Combining brainstorming, planning, and creativity will empower you to craft a PD to help you get the funding you need to turn your profitable idea into a reality.
