First impressions are critical, and your pitch deck is one of the most vital elements you will hand off to an investor, as this will dictate whether an investor is interested in your business or not. In this post, we outline the key elements of a killer pitch deck.
What Makes a Great Pitch Deck?
In a killer pitch deck, you're not just telling an investor the vision for your business and the potentiality for it - you are showing the investor why this is THE investment they should make.
To get your deck ready for investors, make sure you follow the keys below to ensure it’s set for success:
1. Take time to create a great design: A good presentation is critical - it helps make a great impression to the investor and brings them into the vision, mission, of your business, and shows them the cohesiveness of your brand. With so many tools like Canva, Creative Market, and Adobe Express out there, there is really no excuse for a poorly done deck, so make sure to invest in having a well made deck that incorporates great design.
2. Include introduction of the business and the problem it's trying to solving: Paint the picture for the investor and be clear in showcasing the problem thoroughly and explain how your business is the one of a kind solution to that problem.
3. Outline of total market opp (TAM, SAM & SOM): Outline your total addressable market, serviceable obtainable market or share of market, and your serviceable available market so that the investor has a good understanding that the problem you are looking to solve is one that many people in the world have too.
4. Product or service breakdown with pricing and margins: If you're launching a product, you want to outline the pricing you'll use, the margins on that product, where you are getting that product, and all the details of that product, specifically if you have a patent.
5. High level use of funds for the fundraise: Explain where the money that you're raising is going. That can be a high-level percentage, but the bigger and more detailed breakdown will be in your data room.
6. Competitive matrix with how you are different explained: Showcase your competitors and explain how you are going to be different from them and where you stand in the market.
7. Sample M&A opps plus current M&A trends in your space: Investors expect exits, so make sure to include in your deck potential acquirers. Also, highlighting recent acquisitions in the category of the product you're in is important, too.
8. Business model - how does this company intend to make money: Clearly outline how you are going to make money over time and show investors how it will be done.
9. Growth plan with key strategies on how you plan to build and scale:You're presenting the business today, but you're selling them on tomorrow. Show key strategies, key hires, and how you are strategically going to take this business to the next level.
Feel free to keep all these tips ready at hand using this free downloadable worksheet for your next deck, and when you’re ready, make sure to include it in your data room within your Cherub profile. Whether you're an aspiring investor or simply intrigued by the captivating world of startups, Cherub can help match you with strategic investment opportunities via our platform.
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