Introduction to Pitch Deck 101
For Angel/Pre-Seed Fundraising Rounds
Have you ever wondered why some startups seem to get all the investors while others struggle to get even one? If you are reading this, chances are that you are either a startup founder or an investor and you want to know how to get angel investors on board.
There are some simple things you can do to get the attention of angel investors. It’s important to keep in mind that investors have a lot of choices, so you need to stand out from the crowd.
Here are some tips on how to do that:
Create a clear and concise investor deck (presentation)
You will use this presentation when meeting with potential investors. If it’s too long or complicated, they won’t even bother reading it. Be brief and to the point and make sure your business model is clearly explained. Most importantly, be sure that your idea is innovative and original; it has never been done before.
Have a solid team
A great team always beats a great idea . Investors want to invest in people who are passionate about their ideas and can deliver results on time or even earlier than expected. Show them what makes your team special and why you are a good fit for the job.
Be persistent
It’s true that persistence is the key to success. However, don’t be annoying about it. Don’t call every day or send 10 emails a day. If you’ve already met with an investor and he/she doesn’t seem interested, don’t call again. They will get back to you if they want to invest in your startup.
Include your potential investors in your business
Once you’ve identified potential investors, it’s time to take things one step further and start building relationships with them. Try to get their advice on how to improve your business model or how to raise funds for your startup, etc.
Make sure they know who you are and what you do so that when the time comes, they can recognize your name and company name and have some idea of what you do before meeting with you in person.
As an entrepreneur, you have a great idea for a product and need capital in order to bring it to market. In order to attract investors, you need a solid pitch deck that clearly demonstrates your idea and how it can be profitable.
In addition, your pitch deck should highlight why you are the right person to lead the company through its early stages.
It is important for startup founders and entrepreneurs to know what makes investors tick so they can put together the best possible presentation.
This is because they want something more than just the idea behind your business; they want proof that it will work. If it looks like it will work, then they will be more likely to invest in your company.
The following is a guide on how to attract angel investors with the best possible pitch deck for your business.
The Purpose of Your Pitch Deck
The purpose of your pitch deck is to attract investors and convince them that they should invest in your company.
In order to do this, you need to provide them with all of the information that they need in order to make an informed decision about investing in your company. You also need to show them why you are the right person for the job and why they should trust you with their money.
The pitch deck will give potential investors all of the information that they need in order to make an informed decision about investing in your company.
Components of a Great Pitch Deck
There are many components that go into making a great pitch deck. If you are planning on pitching to investors, then you need to put together a deck that will stand out.
Executive Summary
This is your chance to tell investors why they should invest in your company. This section should clearly explain what your business does and how it makes money. It should also include the key market statistics for your industry and explain why you have chosen this particular market to enter.
This section is important because it gives investors an overview of your business and makes them want to learn more about it. The Executive Summary can be as long as you want, but it is best if it is one page or less.
Market Analysis
A good pitch deck will contain market analysis information for potential investors. You should provide data on the size of the market that you plan on entering, along with the projected growth rate for that market over the next several years.
This information will help potential investors to determine if they should invest in your company or not. If you have access to market research, then it is a good idea to include that information in your pitch deck as well.
Product Overview
Potential investors want to know how your product works and what makes it different from similar products on the market.
You should include information about how your product works and why it is better than other similar products.
If you are still in the development phase of your product, then you should include mockups of what the product will look like when it is finished. The goal of this section is to give investors a clear idea of what they are investing in and what they can expect from the finished product.
Competitive Analysis
It is important for potential investors to know how your company plans on competing with existing companies in the same industry. This section should include a comparison of your company with other companies that are currently operating in the same industry as yours.
This comparison will allow potential investors to see if there is room for another company in that particular industry or not. If there is room for another company, then this section will show them why they should invest in yours instead of one of the other companies.
Financials
Investors want to know how much money your company will need and how you plan on spending it. They also want to know how much money you have already raised for your company and what your financial projections are for the next several years.
Potential investors want to know that you have done your homework and have thought through all of the financial aspects of your business before they invest in it.
Marketing Plan
This section should include a marketing plan that outlines how you plan on bringing customers to your business. This section should include information about who your target market is, along with information about why they will want to buy from you instead of one of your competitors.
Potential investors will want to see a detailed marketing plan in order to determine if they should invest in your company or not.
Personnel
This section should contain information about who is currently working for the company and what their roles are within the organization. It is important for potential investors to know who is leading the company and why they are qualified for those positions.
If there are no employees yet, then this section should include information about who will be leading the company once it gets off the ground and when they expect to hire their first employees.
Exit Strategy
A good pitch deck will include information about how the company plans on exiting the market. If you are planning on selling your company in the future, then this section should explain how you plan on doing that. It is important for potential investors to know what their investment will be used for and what they can expect to get out of it when they are finished.
Additional Information
If there is anything else that you think would be helpful for potential investors to know, then it is a good idea to include that information in your pitch deck as well. This could include anything from a list of your business contacts to copies of your business plan or research study results.
About the Author
I am the Founder of Cudy Technologies (www.cudy.co), a full-stack EdTech startup helping teachers and students teach and learn better. I am also a mentor and angel investor in other Startups of my other interests (Proptech, Fintech, HRtech, Ride-hailing, C2C marketplaces and SaaS). You can also find me on Cudy for early-stage Startup Founder mentorship and advice.
You can connect with me on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderlhk) and let me know that you are a reader of my Medium posts in your invitation message.
