{"id":462,"date":"2018-06-17T13:09:57","date_gmt":"2018-06-17T13:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/au\/?p=73"},"modified":"2024-03-27T15:11:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T15:11:12","slug":"pitch-perfect-tips","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/au\/blog\/pitch-perfect-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitch Perfect Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

There\u2019s one thing that most startups have in common, and it\u2019s that at some point, you\u2019ll be sending off a pitch deck to potential investors. For some it\u2019s a walk in the park, but for many it\u2019s a dread-inducing minefield that can, at times, feel impossible to navigate. Here are a few basic tips to get you started\u2026<\/p>\n

Keep it short but sweet<\/strong><\/p>\n

Investors are just like you and I?\u2014?short attention spans, lots of work to do, and not enough time to do it. Ensure the slides are concise and to the point?\u2014?you\u2019ll have plenty of time for detail in your face to face. Industry vet, Guy Kawasaki, swears by the\u00a0rule of 10 slides<\/a>?\u2014?no more, no less.<\/p>\n

Be realistic\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019re passionate about your idea and that\u2019s great, but potential investors know you\u2019re approaching them for a reason?\u2014?you need their help. It\u2019s good to be realistic about the problems you could potentially encounter, providing you offer up a solution. Look how AirBnb dealt with the issue of competition in their\u00a0original pitch deck<\/a>\u00a0way back in 2008.<\/p>\n

Consistency & accuracy is key\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Investors are hawks, and if your figures don\u2019t add up you can bet your bottom dollar they\u2019ll spot it. Check, check and check again, and if you\u2019re still unsure get someone else to look over it. The same goes for typos?\u2014?they\u2019re sloppy and incredibly unprofessional.<\/p>\n

On an equally important note, ensure that all the slides in your deck are consistent in font, format, colour and imagery. Sites like\u00a0Slides Carnival<\/a>\u00a0are a great place to start when it comes to this.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get too technical\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whilst you\u2019re an expert in your business and the industry in which it sits, the potential investor may not be. Try not to lose them by filling the deck with industry jargon, acronyms and inside-jokes that only you will understand?\u2014?if they don\u2019t know what half of these terms actually mean then there\u2019s a chance they\u2019ll be heading toward that dreaded \u2018x\u2019 in the first few slides.<\/p>\n

Try showing the pitch deck to a friend or family member outside of the industry you work in and ask them what makes sense to them and what doesn\u2019t?\u2014?this should give you a good idea of the parts that need a little tweaking.<\/p>\n

Pitch to the investor, not the customer\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whilst it\u2019s good to really sell your idea, these aren\u2019t customers, and their interest in the actual product is only half the battle. Here are a few other things you\u2019re going to want to mention:<\/p>\n

\u00b7 How and when they\u2019ll be getting a return on their investment<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Your winning revenue model<\/p>\n

\u00b7 That there\u2019s a demand and a market for what you\u2019re selling<\/p>\n

\u00b7 The great team behind you.<\/p>\n

Look at this pitch guide from\u00a0Sequoia<\/a>\u00a0(investors in LinkedIn) for a few other points you need to be including to ensure your pitch deck stands out from the rest.<\/p>\n

Think we missed something out? Let us know your best tips for a top pitch over on our social channels @SwoopFunding<\/em><\/p>\n

Related resources<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.seedrs.com\/academy\/7-top-tips-for-a-great-pitch\/<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.seedrs.com\/academy\/pitch-deck-examples\/<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n