5 Tips to Get the "Pitch" Right!
The Pitch Deck is a key element of showcasing business capabilities to various stakeholders out there. It is the first impression that comes into the minds of investors and helps them determine the relevance for their fund or portfolio. This document can make or break a business when it comes to promotions and fundraising initiatives as big decisions are made after viewing this document. So you get it right, explain it in a simple way and you are one step closer to the fundraise!
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough!" - Albert Einstein
Getting to the core of your business is key to marketing it well to others. Only if you are confident about your product can you inspire others. Going back to the drawing board will enable you to make links between your vision for the business and how it should be shown in the deck.
Here are 5 tips to get down to the core while preparing your Pitch Deck -
Create an Outline - Depending on the type of business you run and the market environment, create a clear outline of your pitch to define the information to be included. Some great examples are available at https://slidebean.com/blog/startups-pitch-deck-examples to help formulate how you can proceed.
Specific Text - Keep a very limited amount of text on the slides, in the case of a pitch deck "Less is More" (Here is Why - https://www.speakwithpersuasion.com/lot-of-text-on-slides/). Write only the key points and aspects of your business while following the template that you have chosen to make the deck. Simplicity and Clarity are the keys to making it a success.
More Visuals - Visual representation including photos, graphs and charts help the viewers interpret the information, whether complex or simple, in an easier way. Increase the visuals to engage the viewer - this way the attention will go only to the most important aspects that need to be shown (Here is how - https://bit.ly/3elz9bT).
Your Team & USP - Show how you are different, through the experience of your team and the unique value that you bring to the market. The Golden Circle by Simon Sinek will help you differentiate yourself and determine the Why, How and What of your business to prepare a great presentation (Find out more on https://bit.ly/3eg6Hbj).
Key Business Metrics - The most important indicators such as number of customers, revenue, margins and costs need to be included in prominent positions along the slides (Here are some important ones - https://bit.ly/2ZYL7mv). These are the main indicators that Investors and other stakeholders look at to gain confidence in your venture.
The Pitch Deck ultimately takes you forward to further stages in the investment process and provides a strong foundation to rely on. Here is wishing you all the best for the next fundraise of your business venture!