Are you a part of a start-up business? If you are, you already know how difficult it is, especially in the beginning stages. You must ensure your product and services click with the market while tightening up the operations. It would help if you also secured investors whose seed money will be the big difference between a successful launch or a spectacular crash.
A lot is riding on your shoulders, and one of the most important things you need to do is make a great first impression. This can be done by having an excellent product, but it will all go to waste if you do not have a good presentation deck to back it up.
Your presentation is your chance to show potential investors that you mean business and that you are worth their investment. It needs to be well-thought-out, organized, and persuasive.
Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs make the mistake of using subpar presentation decks that end up doing more harm than good. If you are not careful, your deck might just be the reason why you do not get funded.
To help you avoid this pitfall, here are five things to avoid when making your presentation deck:
But before we go into that, let us go into a few things first:
What exactly is a business pitch deck?
A business pitch deck is a short presentation, usually around 10-20 slides, that gives an overview of your company. It is typically used to give potential investors an idea of your business and why they should invest in it.
What are the pitch deck contents?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the elements of a good presentation deck will vary depending on the industry, company, and product or service. However, in general, a good pitch deck should be able to accomplish the following:
- Clearly articulate the problem your product or service solves in your pitch deck.
- Explain in your pitch deck why your solution is the best option for solving that problem.
- Introduce your team and highlight their relevant experience.
- Provide an overview of your business model and how you plan to make money.
- Offer evidence in your pitch deck that your solution works by sharing data or customer testimonials.
- Clearly state in your start-up pitch deck how much money you want to raise and what you will use it for.
- Include a slide in your investor pitch deck with your contact information, so interested investors can get in touch with you.
Now that we have gone over the basics, let us look at five things you should avoid when making your pitch presentation.
- Starting with an “About Us” Slide
Many entrepreneurs start their presentation decks with an “About Us” slide. This is a big no-no as it immediately focuses on your company instead of the problem you are solving.
Remember, investors are not interested in investing in companies; they are interested in investing in solutions. So, start your presentation by articulating the problem that your product or service solves and why your solution is the best option for solving it.
- Please don’t make it too long.
Investors are busy people who do not have time to sit through a lengthy presentation. Keep your deck short, sweet, and to the point. Get straight to the point and leave out any unnecessary details. This will keep your audience engaged and increase the chances of getting funded.
Bore them to death, and you can kiss your investment goodbye. A good pitch deck example knows how to keep things moving along!
- Do not forget the call to action.
Your presentation should have a clear call to action or CTA. This is what you want your audience to do after they have seen your presentation.
Do you want them to schedule a meeting with you? Do you want them to invest in your company? Whatever it is, make sure your CTA is clear and concise. Otherwise, you risk confusing your audience and losing their interest.
Pitch decks should rouse up potential investors from key metrics to traction slide to the team slide. Basically, all the parts of your start-up deck.
- Do not use too much text on your own pitch deck.
Your presentation is not a research paper so avoid using too much text. Use bullet points and short sentences to convey your message clearly and concisely. Too much text will only confuse your slides and confuse your audience.
- Do not use complex jargon.
Your presentation should be understandable to everyone, even those unfamiliar with your industry. Avoid using complex jargon and technical terms that only insiders would understand. Stick to using simple language that everyone can follow.
Big Tip: How to present a pitch deck
Now that we have gone over what to avoid, let us look at how you can present your pitch or slide deck in the most effective way possible.
Keep the following in mind when presenting your deck:
- Keep your pitch deck template short and sweet.
Stick to the key points, and do not try to cram too much information into one presentation.
- Engage with your audience.
Ask questions and encourage interaction throughout your presentation.
- Be prepared for questions.
Have answers ready for any tough questions that might come up.
- Practice, practice, practice!
The more you practice, the more confident you will be when presenting to investors.
- End your pitch decks with a call to action.
Let investors know how they can get in touch with you and follow up after the presentation.
What a pitching deck!
By following these tips, you will be well on your way to giving a successful pitch deck presentation that will impress investors.
Moreover, by avoiding the ones listed above, you will be well on your way to creating a winning presentation deck that will help you get the funding you need. Just remember to keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Good luck!
