Pitch Deck Presentations for Business Funding and Investment

If you’ve got a big idea that you want to put in front of an investor, then you’re going to need a pitch deck.

A pitch deck presentation is an important tool in providing investors with important details about your business plan, product or service, and fundraising needs, as well as key metrics such as your valuation, target market, and financials. Generally, the best pitch decks include simple, visually appealing slides. Frequently, pitch decks are used to provide a seamless overview of a business to showcase to potential investors

If you’re a startup, finding early investor funding can mean the difference between success and failure. Among those who do connect with an investor, only a few are successful in securing funding. In today’s business world, a great idea is not enough to attract investors. To raise investment, you must build a strong pitch deck.

An effective pitch deck should demonstrate a thorough understanding of both your company and the industry in which you will operate. A confident pitch holds the potential to relay a sense of security onto investors.

What Is The Goal Of A Pitch Deck?

In simple terms, a pitch deck is a corporate method of asking for money. They are designed with the purpose of generating interest and excitement amongst prospective investors about a company, potentially leading onto another meeting and the possibility of further investment discussions.

Structure Of a Pitch Deck

Organisation of information and slide layout is often overlooked when creating a pitch deck. While businesses often focus on overloading information to potential investors, clear bullet points with relevant infographics are often perceived better. Prioritise information in a straightforward, clear manner, avoiding large chunks of text as this may put off a busy investor.

As with any sales pitch, first impressions count, so it is important you structure your presentation well. Consider using a template from the web to help with structure. Taking a more narrative approach enables investors to see the person behind the idea, as well as enabling a company to tell their story effectively.

So what should be included in a pitch deck presentation?

The most vital slides of your pitch deck are the ones that describe your product or service, why it is needed, the size of your market, how much money you are asking for and why, and who you are as a company.

Pitch decks are not static documents. Before sending your pitch deck, understand the investor that you are sending it to and find out key details, such as the types of businesses they have previously invested in. Understanding the values and previous investments will enable you to tailor your pitch deck specifically around these focus areas. Remember, not every investor is the same, so personalisation really can set you apart as a proactive entrepreneur that is worth their time!

Benefits Of Pitch Decks

Pitch decks provide enormous value to businesses across industries for many reasons.

Internal evaluation – Forming a pitch deck allows businesses the opportunity to be able to thoroughly self-assess and evaluate a business from within. By focusing on specific areas of your business, you will naturally come across areas of improvement which can be perfected before presenting.

Tell your story – Gaining traction for your business can be difficult when starting up. In many cases, a pitch deck gives businesses the leverage they need to boost their growth. Use the presentation to tell your story and the origin behind the business, giving a real authenticity that can capture a potential investor’s attention. Increasingly, buyers and investors are interested in purpose and intentions. If you are able to effectively show this, your business growth and sales will benefit.

Common Mistakes in Pitch Decks

Pitch the product not the business – While it is important to represent your business well within a pitch deck, it should not be the key focus. Your proposition should be the main focus consistently throughout your presentation.

Keep it simple – Content shouldn’t be overcomplicated! Visual aids such as photographs, diagrams, and graphs will help you demonstrate your points more effectively than words can alone. Avoid using large amounts of text that can waffle around the purpose and bore your audience. Your pitch deck should have 11 key slides included, covering all areas to understand your business and proposition.

Research – An in-depth competitor and market analysis should always be conducted when forming a pitch deck presentation. Being able to cover all areas of research demonstrates a high level of knowledge and understanding of your proposition which adds value to the presentation. It is important to specifically address the competition in your market in order to reassure investors that you understand the risks involved in your venture.

Slide deck or Presentation – As previously mentioned, the structure of your presentation matters. Often, businesses will focus solely on the content within; however, structure, layout and visuals hold equal levels of importance.

When it comes to the typical presentation, there will often be information not included or that is unclear. For advice and guidance with your pitch decks, there are many online resources to help.

When putting together your pitch you will need to understand your business finances thoroughly. To help you with your businesses forecasting, try Clearview forecasting tool for free today.