Pitch Deck
Pitch Deck Definition? - What is it and why do you need one?
The world has seen many great ideas fail just because they did not get enough funding and potential investors to back them up. There's a cliché in SiliconValley that about 90% of the startups fail because of budgetary reasons. According to National Small Business Association (NSBA), 1 in 4 small businesses experience hurdled growth due to insufficient funding.
External funding is the lifeblood for startups, and investors are the only shot achieving the inconceivable. They have the resources you need to establish your business, and a pitch deck is the first step of achieving that precious billion-dollar cheque.
So, how to present the pitch deck like a pro?
Well, to convince them and to accentuate the uniqueness of your business in their eyes, you need to present your pitch deck with extreme care and smartness. As the competition becomes intense with each passing minute, we bring you some practical and authentic tips to win over the investors through your compelling and professional pitch deck.
If you cannot present your main idea in 5 minutes, you are either over-explaining it, or you have not simplified it enough. Always remember that investors have myriad of options available for investment. They don’t have to decode the mind-numbing presentation if they don’t want to.
Therefore, your chances of gaining the investors' attention among this crowd require a to-the-point explanation of your business idea and what’s in there for the investors.
We all have yawned during the long boring presentations in our educational or official career where we quickly forgot the ones that were too long or void of details. Therefore, we suggest you present your idea deck within the set time limit. Allot time duration to each slide from deck to avoid rushing the content at the end but remember, ending your explanation before the set limit is also not acceptable.
Facts and figures are your safe heaven while presenting your idea or product, but a story is what everyone remembers even when they forget your name. Explain the unique story that lies behind your brand and do it without reading the slides, as it will have a far more significant impact.
Keeping the fun and the exciting parts in the story explaining your idea will keep the audience engaged till the end, which is your primary goal. Your story will have the following impact:
Explaining your brand story doesn’t have to deviate from your main focus or theme. Keep a steady pace and pitch throughout the presentation. While staying in the parameters, ensure that you have utilized your time in the best way by making sure that the main theme is focused from start to end.
Telling a story is an interesting way to engage the angel investors or venture capitalists, but we are talking about the business tycoons here who play with numbers day night. Therefore, you cannot eliminate them. No matter how beautifully crafted your story is, you need the power of numbers to back up your idea.
Remember, too many numbers will become too much to swallow.So, explain the market statistics, your growth rates, growth tendency, required capital to expand while maintaining a balance. Adding relevant statistics and a summary of your market research without overdoing it can help you portray yourself as an educated and well-prepared unit of the industry.
Your presentation is the first reflection of your expertise and competency. If it is not prepared efficiently, it will have a bad impact on your business as well. The infographics in your presentation are the chief elements to highlight the main points. The simplified charts and graphs in your pitch deck file will help you summarize complex data into a self-explanatory analysis. Avoid lengthy paragraphs in your slides because no one read would bear them.
If you need professional support we recommend to look for a pitch deck design service to save time and money.
No matter how passionate you are for your business, stage fright or judging investor eyes staring at you can make you feel overwhelmed and fumble upon words. So, it’s better to be fully prepared beforehand. For that, practice in front of your friends, family, or colleagues. Let them judge you for your performance, ask questions, and address their queries to get a first-hand experience.
So, now you know how to present a pitch deck.Last but not least, keep your presentation deck content in your mind to avoid referring to play cards frequently as it will be distracting and annoying for your audience.
Several variables, including the kind of investment, the degree of risk, and the anticipated return, will affect an investor's fair percentage.
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