Most entrepreneurs know that they need a pitch deck when raising investor capital for their business. However, pitch decks are often just treated as another “thing to have” – a document thrown together in a rush just to satisfy the requirements of the recipient. Bad pitch decks usually lead to nowhere. When done correctly, though, a pitch deck can be the most powerful tool in your arsenal as you introduce your startup to investors. In reality, your pitch deck is often the first introduction an investor may have with your business. If it doesn’t grab them quickly, you may lose your chance for funding – on average, investors only spend 3 minutes and 44 seconds viewing a pitch deck. If you’ve made any progress at all, it may seem impossible to tell your entire story within such a short period. The trick is, a pitch deck doesn’t require you to tell your whole story. Successful pitch decks are the ones that can quickly showcase the problem and the solution, and use the most important details to validate the business’s potential.
What Information Should Your Pitch Deck Include?
When creating your pitch deck, it is important to consider what information should be in your pitch deck, and which information should be omitted. While there are many pitch deck templates that exist, startups that are successful in raising investor funds are the ones that take their time to construct an exceptional pitch deck. There is no standard template that exists that will ensure fundraising success. No matter what combination of slides you use, your pitch deck won’t hide a less than stellar business. Your pitch deck should seek to accomplish the following objectives:
- Prove that a problem exists and showcase how your solution effectively solves it.
- Validate that a significant number of people share this problem and that they are willing to purchase a solution – but not only a solution, but your solution.
- Showcase why your solution is more effective and better positioned for success than your competitors.
- Explain how much capital your business is seeking and how that capital will be spent to progress your business to the next level.
- Detail what type of return the investor can expect to make on their investment.
Want to learn more about creating the perfect pitch deck? The following infographic from ThinkLions details exactly what it takes to create a successful pitch deck.
