If you are raising capital for your company, having an imposing presentation is a staple in your fundraising toolbox. A great presentation gets potential financiers excited regarding your idea and involves them in a discussion about the business, which you hope will lead to an investment. Here are 10 steps to improve your venture capital pitch deck.
Step 1: Build a Presentation
First, take your time to prepare the pitch deck. The aim is to create a platform that is easy to work on, and that motivates investors for your business.
With that in mind, you must have a short description that you can talk to in 10 minutes, along with an extended account that includes everything you want to give prospective financiers access to.
Step 2: Practice the Pitch
You have to practice your presentation. If you cannot quickly touch all your company’s elements during your presentation, it makes all the other steps virtually impractical.
Many entrepreneurs believe that once they know their corporation, they can explain their value quickly and succinctly. Take enough time to practice and simplify your message conveyance, and include only the elements that improve your enterprise. Leave all the other things on the cutting space floor.
Step 3: Summarize the Problem Using a Story
Start your talk with a captivating story. You need to address the issue you are resolving in the market and will attract the audience from the start. If you have done any tests, try including real facts here.
If you can match your story with your audience, that would even be better. What businesses have they capitalized on previously? What were the weaknesses of their previous business endeavors? Do some simple investor research to have a perfect idea of what interests them and customize your story accordingly.
Step 4: Your Solution to the Problem
Share your product’s unique features and how you will solve the problem you shared on the preceding slide. Ensure your solution is short and concise, and simple for the financier to describe to others. Try not to use buzzwords unless investors are fully aware of your industry. If you have done any tests beforehand, the plugin results will appear here to give the solution a bit more credibility.
Step 5: The Target Market
It’s important not to state that all businesses could be your potential market, even if that might come true in the future. Be sensible about who you are creating the product for and divide the market into SAM, TAM, and SOM. Not only will this impress the audience; however, it will also assist you in thinking more strategically regarding your implementation plan.
In case you can, go and develop your ultimate customer or user persona when talking about the target market. This may help investors visualize your potential client base and show that you have thought about who the company will serve. It is also easier to talk to a specific person in a quick speech than to a large demographic.
Step 6: Your Business Model or Revenue
Investors are likely to be more interested in this step. How will your business earn revenue? Be very precise about the prices and products, and confirm how the target market has been eagerly awaiting your arrival.
Step 7: Your Successes (Initial Traction and Milestones)
At the beginning of the pitch, you want to earn some reliability. Take your time to share your momentum, and give the investors the opportunity to appreciate what you and the team have accomplished so far (sales, key dates, contracts, product launches, etc.). You may have mentioned some parts of this initially; however, this is the place where you make your work come full circle.
But do not leave it at that point; make sure you talk about where you are going. Let the investors view a roadmap for subsequent steps, extra milestones, and explain how the financing will help in achieving them.
Step 8: Customer Acquisition (Sales and Marketing Strategy)
This is often among the most overlooked sections in an investor presentation and a comprehensive business plan. How will you get to your clients? How much will it cost, and how you will measure success.
Your money should allow you to calculate customer achievement costs easily. However, it would be best to clarify how you plan to reach the customers, which methods you will use to advertise, and even provide sample messaging. You have performed your research, you recognize your client, so why not demonstrate to the investors what this will be like in force?
Step 9: Your Team
Stakeholders invest in individuals first, then ideas, so ensure you share details regarding your team. Explain why these are the perfect people to run this business.
Also, ensure you share the skills your team is missing. Most startup players lack key capacity, be it managerial experience, marketing, programmers, operations, sales, financial management, etc. Let them be aware that you recognize that you do not have expertise in everything.
Step 10: Your Financing Needs
Clearly explain how much cash you invested in the business, who has done it, the ownership percentages, and the amount you need to move to the subsequent level (and clearly explain which level). Will you require to raise several rounds of funding? Is the investment you are looking for in a convertible or a round of stocks?
Remind the investors why your administration team can manage their investment to grow. Inform them how much you require, why you require the cash, what you will use it for, and the expected outcome.
Conclusion
Regardless of the result of your venture capital pitch presentation, whether it receives funding, a rejection, or another meeting, identify the areas you need to improve. Do not be afraid to ask for comments, and remember them when you pitch next. To improve your venture capital pitch deck, implement the above 10 steps, or you could contact us.