A pitch deck is a concise and visually appealing presentation created by startups or entrepreneurs with the aim of explaining a business concept or idea to potential investors, in order to secure funding. It should be straightforward and comprehensible, have a polished design, and incorporate a clear call-to-action for the audience.
Tips for creating a pitch deck:
Keep it simple
Maintaining simplicity is crucial when crafting your pitch deck, as overwhelming investors with excessive information should be avoided. Instead, concentrate on the fundamental aspects and prioritize the key points you wish to convey.
Make it visually appealing
Given the constant influx of information that investors receive, it is essential to make your pitch deck visually captivating in order to differentiate it. Incorporating charts and graphs to visually illustrate your points, as well as employing compelling visuals, will help attract attention and make your pitch deck more impactful.
Write for your target audience
Marketers can effectively determine their target audience by engaging in market research, a task that may present challenges due to time and budget limitations. However, despite these constraints, it is a worthwhile endeavour. There are cost-effective methods available to identify your target market, such as engaging in personal conversations, conducting competitor analysis, and utilizing client surveys to inform your business model.
Once the target audience has been identified, establishing a strong pitch deck voice becomes crucial, as exemplified by Uber during its pitch. A pitch deck voice serves as the writing style that resonates with different audiences. It can take on various tones, including formal, casual, conversational, or scholarly, each with its own unique nuances.
Title
The initial slide in your pitch deck, known as the title slide, serves as your impression-building slide that establishes the context for your business ideas. It is essential to carefully consider the visual elements such as colors, fonts, and images on this slide, as they contribute to setting the overall mood, which will be further elaborated upon shortly.
Tell a story
Crafting a narrative about your company within your pitch deck is crucial. Investors seek to understand your identity, your objectives, and the reasons why they should invest in your venture. Utilize your pitch deck as a platform to present a compelling story that will ignite excitement among investors regarding your business.
Introduction
The introduction slide serves as a means to establish credibility by introducing yourself. It is advisable to keep the introduction concise, as the primary focus should be on presenting the business idea rather than personal details.
Provide accurate information to your audience
Often, there is a tendency to provide excessive detail and share every piece of knowledge we possess. However, overwhelming a potential investor with a wall of text can be counterproductive. Understanding what information to include and where to include it will assist in constructing a solid foundation for your pitch deck.
Highlight your unique selling proposition
A unique selling proposition (USP) is the distinctive factor that sets your product apart from others, making your business model exceptional and worthy of investment. It is the reason why potential investors would consider your idea or choose your product or service over your competitors’.
To effectively convince clients about the benefits of your USP within a limited timeframe, there are three key points that a pitch deck presenter must emphasize. The first critical decision is the headline, which should be concise, attention-grabbing, and memorable. Its purpose is to capture the reader’s attention and maintain it throughout the entire sales pitch.
Get straight to the point
When crafting an investor pitch deck, it is important to adhere to some essential principles:
Ensure the deck is concise and to the point.
Maintain utmost honesty in all your statements and written content.
Design slides that are both visually captivating and straightforward.
Add your branding
To maintain coherence, it is vital for your presentation to align with your business’s colors and language. If your brand has a distinctive writing style or voice, incorporating it into your pitch deck is essential. Luckily, customizing pitch deck templates with high-quality images, icons, and data visualizations is a straightforward process. These templates include various branding elements like brand colors and fonts, instantly distinguishing them as the pitch decks of the company seeking investment.
Your team
When your business comprises a team of individuals, it is important to dedicate a slide in your pitch deck to introduce your team members. This slide not only introduces your team, but it also provides an opportunity to showcase the exceptional expertise of advisors involved in your project. Furthermore, it serves as a means to impress potential investors, highlighting the collective brilliance and capabilities of your team.
