Pitch decks are brief but informative presentations that provide a brief overview of your business. They are also called slide decks or start-up decks. You should include the key points of your business plan, your products and services, high-level financial projections, and funding requirements. The pitch deck for investors should stand on its own as a visual document, but it will primarily serve as a way to tell your business’ story.
Traction and validation/roadmap
Discuss your product’s sales or early adopters here. Investing in a business that has proven at least one aspect of its business model reduces risk, so any proof you have that proves your solution solves the problem you identified is extremely valuable to investors.
You can also use this slide to discuss your milestones. What major goals have you achieved so far and what are the major next steps you plan to take? In this case, a roadmap outlining key milestones is helpful.
Marketing and sales strategy
What is your sales process and how will you get customers’ attention? This slide can be used to outline your marketing and sales strategy. In order to reach prospects, you’ll need to describe the key tactics you intend to use.
The biggest challenge for a startup is finding and winning customers, so you need to demonstrate your understanding of how you plan to reach your target market and what sales channels you will use.
You should highlight any differences between your marketing and sales process and your competitors.
Team
What makes you and your team the right people to lead and grow this company? How do you differ from others in terms of experience? Bring attention to the key team members, their successes at other companies, and their key expertise.
Consider why the positions you still need to fill are critical to the company’s growth, even if you do not yet have a complete team.
Financials
In addition to your financials, investors will expect to see at least three years of sales forecasts, income statements, and cash flow forecasts.
Having in-depth spreadsheets in your pitch deck will make it hard to read and consume in a presentation. Keep your charts to sales, customers, expenses, and profits.
Be prepared to share the assumptions you used to arrive at your sales goals and your key expense drivers.
Keep your expectations realistic. Investors see “hockey stick” projections all the time and mentally reduce yours by half. An excellent way to explain your growth is by comparing it to a similar company in a related industry or based on existing traction.
Competition
In some form or another, every business faces competition. Your potential customers are already using alternative solutions to solve their problems, regardless of whether you are opening up a whole new market.
Describe your position in the competitive landscape and how you differ from your competitors. Do you have any key advantages over your competitors? Is there any “secret sauce” that you have that others don’t?
Why customers will choose you over the other players in the market is the key here.
Investment and use of funds
Let’s ask for the money now. You’re doing this pitch deck for that reason, right? This pitch deck isn’t about getting funded, I know. That’s still true, but you should tell your potential investors how much you want to raise.
The most important thing is to be able to explain why you need the money and how you intend to use it. If you want investors to invest in your business, they will want to know how their money is being used and how it will help you reach your goals.
This is the time to discuss why those other investors chose to invest if you already have some investors on board.
Read more
Optional Sides to include in the Pitch Deck
What you need to know to make your pitch successful
Preparing documents after pitching investors