Your pitch deck is the visual guide and reference to the core of your business idea you want to extend to potential investors. In many cases, the deck ultimately determines whether you get funding or not. In just a few pages, investors need to be convinced that they’ll get a return on their investment. Or at least
So how do you create a winning pitch deck?
1. Talk About the Market
The market is a crucial component of your pitch deck. For example, if yours is a tech startup, investors are primarily looking at the scale potential of the solution you seek to provide. The market size (and a thorough understanding of it) will determine your ability to shoot high.
2. Keep it Simple
Your pitch deck should be conversational while at the same time capturing the attention of your readers. Follow the Steve Jobs mantra: just enough to keep them interested, not enough to answer all of their questions.
3. Use the 10/20/30 Rule
Guy Kawasaki encourages that your pitch deck shouldn’t be more than 10 slides long, it shouldn’t take your readers more than 20 minutes to read, and the font size shouldn’t be less than 30-point. That’s the 10/20/30 rule for a winning pitch deck.
4. Include a Demo
Investors want to see your idea or product in action. Photos and screenshots are good, but a live demo is more appealing. Videos in your deck may fail you due to technical hitches.
5. Competition
Demonstrate your understanding of the industry by showing what the level of competition currently on the market. How is your solution a better fit for the target market? Talk in dollar terms.
6. Business Model
Demonstrate your understanding of the industry by showing what the level of competition currently on the market. How is your solution a better fit for the target market? Talk in dollar terms.
7. Finer Details
You need to create room for the nitty-gritty of your business. These include your financial projections, marketing plans, technical information, and competitive analysis. This gives room for investors to ask questions.
Finally, remember your pitch deck is just a guide. Everything that isn’t on your slide should be in memory.
