My pitch decks have raised well over £60,000,000 with clients. I have raised VC and angel funding for my own business, as well as working on hundreds of decks with clients.
I am lucky enough to read hundreds of decks a month, and I have built investor decks for A-list celebrities, world champions and elite athletes. One thing that is clear: the good ones always stand out.
Pitch decks are easy. Just make them exciting! Focus on the simple things and ask yourself these five key questions.
Five questions to test your deck
- Is this a good reflection of your branding? The deck is always eaten first with the eyes. Ignore the bunch online who say content first, design second. They can't design, so they would say that. Design rules the world, especially at the early stage.
- Does your story make sense? You would be surprised how often this is just wrong. When writing a story, try to understand what you are linking to. Keep it focused and don't try to solve too many problems, for example the cost of living crisis. Does this come through clearly? Is your writing coherent and clear? Simple language.
- Is it easy to get an accurate picture of where you are today? Help the investor benchmark. Don't withhold key information or context. By the end of the document we really need to understand where you are in your startup's lifecycle. Investors will generally feel you don't respect them or their intelligence if you can't be clear on this.
- Is there a clear ask and use of funds? What do you need the money for, how are you going to deploy it and how long will it last you? Will you need future funding? Will you reach break-even? Help them understand your plan clearly and this will increase your chances of raising significantly.
And finally: would you invest your own cash?
Would you transfer your own cash to someone you might never have met before, for this investment opportunity, if it wasn't your own?
Step back and read it with clean eyes. Or make your friend read it to you. Does it make sense? Is it compelling? Would you put your savings into this company? Try to be objective. And, of course, honest. Pointless lying to yourself!