Nailing Your Solution Slide: What Investors Really Want to See

One slide that often makes or breaks a presentation is the solution slide. It’s your chance to showcase how you’re addressing the problem you’ve identified and why your approach is game-changing. Unfortunately, many founders misunderstand what this slide should really convey. Let’s dive into what investors are actually looking for in your solution slide.

The Big Picture, Not the Nitty-Gritty

First things first: your solution slide isn’t about detailing every feature of your product. It’s about painting a picture of what your solution enables and how it solves the problem you’ve presented. Think big picture, not user manual. If things get serious, there is time for a product deep dive later.

When it comes to your solution slide, the focus should always lean toward what your product does and enables rather than diving into intricate product details. We want to see the forest, not count the trees in the initial pitch. Show us how you’re unlocking value today and how your product will evolve to a 10x improvement over the status quo. This is your chance to get investors excited about the potential impact of your solution.

Visualize Your Vision

One place founders get caught up is deciding whether to show their solution as it is today or as it will be in the future. Honestly, my favorite slides show a bit of both. Use visuals to demonstrate what your solution does, but don’t limit yourself to just what exists today. This slide should represent your vision for what you’re going to achieve.

Some startups effectively use a high-level product roadmap here — showing where you’re at today and where you’re heading. This approach can be powerful, giving investors a sense of your current progress and future potential. Remember, we’re talking about a vision roadmap, not a feature-by-feature breakdown.

To Demo or Not to Demo?

Another frequent place founders get stuck is deciding whether to include a demo in their pitch. Keep in mind that a live pitch at an event is often slightly different than a pitch directly to an investor. When it comes to that 1-on-1 meeting the short answer is no, you do not need a demo. It isn’t a negative or red flag to include a demo; however, when most founders demo their product, the conversation tends to get in the weeds. If you do demo, keep control of the conversation and don’t get stuck on feature lists. Save the deep diver for a second meeting. In your initial pitch, you simply don’t have the time for an in-depth demo. Focus instead on clearly communicating what your product enables. If a investor wants to go deeper it is a great opportunity for you to schedule a second meeting rather than cramming everything in.

Honesty is the Best Policy

If you do decide to show an elaborate product plan or solution, be upfront about where you actually are in development. During the pitch, be crystal clear about your current progress. Trying to appear further along than you are is a major red flag for investors. We appreciate ambition, but we value honesty even more.

Competitive Advantage

If your product and how you’re building it is a key competitive advantage, highlight that here. You’ll still want a separate slide to dive deeper into what sets you apart from the competition.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Here are a few mistakes I often see founders make with their solution slides:

1. Going into too much detail about current UI/UX

2. Trying to cram in a full product demo

3. Focusing solely on current features without showing future potential

4. Overstating progress or capabilities

5. Failing to clearly link the solution to the problem presented earlier

The Bottom Line

Remember, your solution slide is about showcasing how you’re addressing a significant problem. It’s not about impressing us with intricate product details or elaborate demos. Show us what your solution enables, give us a glimpse of its potential, and be honest about where you are in the journey.

Nail this, and you’ll have investors leaning in, eager to learn more about how you’re going to change the world. After all, that’s what we’re here for — to back the big ideas that have the potential to reshape industries and solve real problems. So think big, visualize effectively, and let your solution shine.