Fundraising 2.0 - How to get started?
In our last blog post, we explained the concepts of #pitchdeck and #elevatorpitch, and what to include on your pitch to make it pitch-perfect. This time let's go deeper today in how to make your pitch great, with the help of #storytelling, #insight, and all the right tools.
Most pitches are, well, not that great: sixty slides about a "patent-pending," "first-mover advantage", and "all we have to do is get 1% of the people in China to buy our product". We also often see overly complex pitches, contain technical jargon that most don't understand, and are way too packed with information. We get that you are excited, but allow us to become, too, by enabling us as investors to understand what you are doing on a high level first.
Get inspired and get creative:
Collect the world's well-known startup pitch decks, take a look at them. For example, Airbnb:s pitch deck is very famous and still relevant. A newer reference is Copy.ai; that deck is also worth investigating. Their pitch deck helped them close their $11 million Series A round, led by Wing Venture Capital, with existing investors Craft Ventures and Sequoia, and new investors including Tiger Global and Elad Gil.
Create a list of slide titles you will put into yours because a significant thing in a B2C startup pitch deck may not fit your B2B SaaS Solution. You can see our recommendation of what should be included in our previous blog post. But, don't use titles in your final version like "The opportunity" but instead with action titles that allow you to tell the investor what you want them to take away from the slide. Ideally, just by reading the titles of your deck, they will understand what your case is
In every slide, think differently; how can you elucidate the idea in the most impressive way! Pick the essential aspects, don't overload, or, even worse, data dump!
You can also go with some ready design templates (note, these should be seen as design templates, not the optimal pitch per se), e.g., Canva. You can look professional without paying for a designer or spending hours and days creating a design. Just make sure that the style matches your business, the colors you can adapt to fit.
Strip. We mean content. Without us being psychic, we know that your first version will be overloaded, and probably also, the second one will need to be stripped again. Summarizing is one of the hardest things, but it is something you can practice. Alternatively, you can ask for some outside help, as this is essential for your pitch.
If you would like someone by your side who has been around the block a few times, someone who is just as driven for your success as you are, then don't hesitate to be in touch with us - we are happy to walk the talk with you.
Checklist to avoid mistakes already on the high level:
Outline: make sure that your deck follows a clear logic and includes all the "must-haves" described above but does not blow up the bank in terms of slides (10-15 slides with content should be more than enough). As a first check, you can even take a friend or family member that is not an expert in your business and present it to them - does it make sense to them? This is your first indicator of whether you are on the right track. Alternatively, you can have an expert review your deck.
Storyline: Is your storyline easy to understand, memorable and unique? Is it credible? Will it make me as an investor feel something? Excitement, confidence in you, etc.?
Vision & mission: Are they well defined? Are they tangible? The vision describes what you want to achieve, and the mission statement should describe why you have the right to be on the market. Are these included in your vision and mission?
Impact: Have you described what the impact of your case is and how it is built? Can it be measured?
Visuals & design: The Germans say "the eye eats first, " which is also true with your deck. If it looks messy, sloppy, and unprofessional, then this is the first impression you will make on the investor. When it comes to the design, less is more - think sleek, nordic design and let your case shine rather than flashing (and distracting) design elements.
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