Most startup companies have no idea how important it is to build a good pitch deck. A successful pitch deck will help you land the investors you need, while an unsuccessful deck will leave you and your team out in the cold. I’ve helped raise over 1 billion in revenue for our clients and learned that creating the correct pitch deck is an art form. An art form that I have mastered. So I’m happy to share these 10 keys to a successful pitch deck for a startup company with you today.
Read on to Discover How to Create a Successful Pitch Deck
Please do your research and understand the market:
I find that the companies that are most prepared in developing their capital raise deck have done their research. They know the space they are considering entering and display a good understanding of competitors, saturation, trends, open niches, and areas for opportunity.
What’s your niche and position:
Make sure you know what your differentiators and value points are and ensure they will roll into what your value proposition should be. Ensure you effectively package and communicate what you do clearly and concisely, especially in your pitch deck.
Know your target(s):
Know who your targets will be, not only for your product or service but for potential investment in your company. Make sure to understand the demographic, psychographic, and geographic profiles of how your target markets will look and think. Also, ensure you know your potential investors and how best to reach and build a relationship with them.
Why and how are you better:
Share how and why your company, product, and service are better. Don’t be afraid to talk about how good your product or service is and even compare it to the competition. For example, in one company we work with, their technology was light years ahead of their biggest competitor. We put together a terrific campaign communicating that, which was hugely influential.
Nail your story and message:
Most capital raise decks we see are a bunch of facts, charts, and statistics. They don’t tell a story, especially a compelling one. What is your clear, concise, and compelling story that will connect and drive people to take action? You may want to put it in chapters like a book that builds into a climax. And thus, your ask – aka, why investing in your company is a no-brainer.
Know your financial story (Have your proformas ready to roll):
One of the first questions you will be asked is what you anticipate your revenue, growth, EBITDA, and enterprise value will look like. You should have these developed in a proforma. You’ll need to work with your CFO, CPA, or financial advisor for help with this. Once you have these elements, you will be able to put this information into a nice financial story that is attractive and tells a visual story that will compel your potential investors.
Have a tight go-to-market strategy:
Savvy investors will want to know how you will drive sales and revenue. In our experience, the best way to tackle this is to develop a marketing and sales strategy and process customized to your company and the product and service you are selling.
Surround yourself with experience:
We’ve found that another key element of raising capital is to surround yourself with a qualified team. People like to invest in teams/people who have been there and done that successfully, preferably in a similar space or industry. Make sure you assemble a top-notch team and put their bios and pics in the deck to show you and your team have the experience to succeed.
Map out your execution plan:
Another key element in developing a winning pitch deck for a startup is a realistic execution plan that will enable your company to achieve stated goals in your capital raise deck. Investors also want to know your path and plan to execute and deliver on your business plan.
Close & Ask:
Some of the best entrepreneurs we’ve seen are passionate about their brand, brand story, and execution. Then they effectively commute that in a tight close and pass that excitement to investors who can’t wait to be a part of the movement.
Answer these 10 keys to a successful pitch deck
When you incorporate these 10 key points in your startup pitch deck, you will have a tight presentation that will tremendously increase your chances of getting funding.
- Please do your research and understand the market
- What’s your niche and position
- Know your target(s)
- Why and how are you better
- Nail your story and message
- Know your financial story
- Have a tight go-to-market strategy
- Surround yourself with experience
- Map out your execution plan
- Close & Ask
So get going on getting the capital your startup needs today!
Please let us know your questions regarding your startup capital raise deck because my team at Brand Iron is here to help, so Connect with us today!
Brand Iron is an independent, multi-faceted branding and marketing agency passionate about shaping businesses and transforming brands. We are a collective of independent thinkers, artists, and doers committed to forging unrivaled outcomes for our clients. And most recently, recognized as one of the best SEO firms in Colorado!
CEO | Brand Champion
Michael Doyle has been changing the face of Brand Marketing for over two decades. He built a tech-based advertising agency, DNA Advertising, into a multi-million dollar company. Michael sold the company as part of a national IPO in 2000. Michael founded Brand Iron in 2002 and has since lent his expertise to hundreds of other businesses in dozens of industries around the world.
