7 Bulletproof Ways to Bring the Wow to your Pitch Deck
Okay, I am going to let you on a little secret — actually 7. Seven bulletproof, tested and iterated, and (iterated again) top tips to turn heads, specifically investors’ heads.
Why am I doing this? A valid question. After almost a decade of entrepreneurship, pitching, attending startup events and even judging them, I constantly see amazing business ideas, or lackluster decks. And if you read Tip #1, you’ll see why there’s no reason to keep these great guidelines to oneself.
The following points are what I’ve used to pitch different angel investors and VC’s around the world, all with great success, so buckle up and get ready to take some notes.
1) No one is going to steal your idea
Sure, Mark Zuckerberg may have been inspired by the Winklevoss twins’ idea to create a social network, but they weren’t investors. Every chance you get to pitch your idea to any potential backer, take it. Even if the chances of gaining investment are slim, it’s an excellent opportunity to practice, and get real feedback on how to improve your idea, business, and your pitch .
2) Study your audience
Have you ever seen those reality TV shows where startups pitch to big-wig VC’s? There’s always an element of impressing them. From mentioning their favourite colour, volunteer work, interests, or even passion, investors want to feel like you made your pitch just for them. Every investor will have a different angle on how they interpret you and your story, as well as different goals and fears themselves. It’s essential to tap into what makes them tick to grab their attention, and in turn their investment.
3) Keep it business-focused
Sounds obvious doesn’t it? However many make the mistake of pitching about their product, its features, and technology. Investors want to hear how large the market is, how you are tackling it, your plan to grow the company, your sales and successes to date. You may have recognized how to solve a problem, but it’s how you’re going to solve it that backers care about.
4) But let your passion shine
The best pitchers are the ones that have a healthy balance of business sense and showing their passion, drive and determination. Inspire your audience that you are going to build a successful company, and they should be so lucky to be a part of it. Don’t delve into theatrics, and definitely do not make up stories, be confident but honest. It’s about identifying your strengths and building your business around them. Focus on how you are a fit for the opportunity ahead.
5) 30–20–10 Rule every time
Remember, your slides are there to support you, not carry you. Always remember the 30/20/10 rule: font size should be at least 30 points, your pitch should be no longer than 20 minutes, and contain about 10 slides. Another test you need to pass is the Glance Test. This means your audience should be able to quickly grasp the ‘gist’ of the slide before turning back to the presenter…in 3 seconds or less.
6) Traction is everything
This is the single most important recommendation I could give you. If you are looking for investment, you not only need to have an idea fleshed out, you need market validation and social proof. Investors are attracted to traction, not how cool your concept is. It is you and your startup’s traction that will make an investor decide if your business is the next big thing or a waste of time.
7) Don’t confuse traction with money and media
This is another rookie mistake I have seen from amateur entrepreneurs. They confuse their ability to raise large amounts of capital, across multiple investors as business traction. Convincing someone to give you money does not mean your business will be successful in the long run. At very best it means it will be temporarily well-funded before it slowly deteriorates.
Another mistake many startups make is measuring their traction with how much media press they’ve received. Sure, media coverage is great and can certainly help spike sales but it is not the growth engine you need for your business to survive long term.
You’re just scratching the surface
Congrats! You have seven solid tips you can take and create an amazing pitch and deck to wow your potential investors. However, you are going to need to follow a few more guidelines to secure some serious financial backing and partnership. We’ve only just begun to unpack all the things your deck needs to say and how you present it.
Want the rest of the very best top tips? Download my 56 page guide on how to make the very best pitch deck for free! Learn about the different types of pitches you need to create, how to pitch depending on the audience, and how to best organize and template your deck.
