
The jury is out when it comes to opinions on creating a winning investor pitch deck. Everyone agrees on the basic elements a pitch deck must have – defining a problem, identifying a market and pain points, and giving a solution. Yet, not all pitch decks are selected even when they impeccably follow this structure.
Clearly, there is something deeper to making a winning investor pitch presentation. There is something that creates an impact and convinces the investor to turn in your favor. That is the uniqueness which you and your startup bring to the table.
A well-crafted pitch deck speaks to the investor who is reading it in clear, concise terms and leaves a big impression. This is your key to getting to the next round of meetings or even the funding you need.
So, how do you define a well-crafted pitch deck?
After interacting with several VCs/investors and working on numerous investor pitch decks across domains and industries, we see that a few things stand out. They go beyond the most common components of a great pitch deck like keeping the slides simple, paying attention to design, going light on the text, and telling a story. In order to stand out amongst the numerous pitches an investor receives on a daily basis, a few fresh twists are needed. We picked a few that we feel work every single time.
1.
Emphasize on the problem
and not the solution
“For the most effective pitch, focus 80% on the problem, 20% on the solution.”
Dave McClure
Most often, you are eager to stress upon the solution before the problem is comprehensively outlined. The more investors are convinced of the gravity of the problem the more involved they will be in the solution. Use powerful design elements to highlight statistics and show the hurdles hampering productivity. Remember that your startup hinges on the problem. Without it, your business wouldn’t exist.
2.
Know your metrics
to inspire trust
“The goal is to turn data into information and information into insight.”
Carly Fiorina
Qcept Tip: Your investor pitch must include key numbers that investors seek for decision-making like target market size, current customer acquisition cost, revenue, gross margins, customer acquisition plan and projection, etc.
3.
Build a narrative
focused on your strengths
“Ever since I started in business I have been fascinated by the intersection of entrepreneurship and storytelling.”
Richard Branson
Qcept Tip: Stories hook listeners, and everybody is a listener when it’s a good story. Build connections, and make your pitch memorable enough for the investor to pick you for the next round of meetings.
4.
Use feedback
to sculpt a pitch-perfect deck
“Once you’ve compiled your document, review it multiple times, then have several others give you feedback. You should be on the lookout for exaggerations, miscalculations, and logistical incongruities.”
ZZ Twainy
Qcept Tip: It’s easy to miss tiny details or even a glaring mistake when you are too close to the action. Here’s where third-party feedback comes in. This is critical to fine-tune the pitch to its maximum potential