How do you best secure funding for your startup? What does an angel investor or family office want to see in a pitch deck? How do you get them to like your teaser and land a meeting? If you’re having trouble getting attention, this can help! Learn what the do’s and don’ts are so that you won’t waste your next opportunity to promote your ideas.
SHORT VERSION SUMMARY:
1.) Write it Down. Please include this information for the decision makers to reference:
Who you are. What you do. What YOU do.
Your ecosystem and customer base.
Revenue streams and opportunity pipeline.
Revolutionary strategy.
Financial track record. Where you are now.
What resources you need. (How much)
How you plan to invest the resources.
Expansion plan. Projections and scalability.
Costs and expenses. Valuation and a real valuation.
Timeline. Contingency plans and expected delays.
Why a customer should come to your company.
What an investor gets for their time and money.
2.) Your Information. Please list all your basic contact information. Names, titles, email and mailing addresses, and telephone numbers should be included at a minimum.
3.) Be Specific. Vagueness kills any startup pitch. List your customers directly, and narrow down your target markets. Avoid being generic. Review your business canvass very quickly.
4.) Problem / Solution, and MVP. List the problems you will be solving for your customers, and at what minimum level you will need to sustain in order to keep them coming back.
5.) Money and Costs. Be realistic with your ask for funding. Include an analysis of your needs included with your deck, manage your expectations. Audited financials should be available if you are pursuing another round of financing.
6.) Timelines: Leave the revenue chart, or hockey stick graph, out of the deck. A minimum of two years is mandatory to be included in your teaser.
7.) Remember THIS! Be able to describe your WIFM. You should have a very clear idea of what you plan to offer a prospective investor. Know the limits for what you plan to offer, and clarify what you are willing to consider.
Good luck with your next presentation! Thank you again for tuning in, and we’ll see you next time.
-Scott S. Rosen
President & Managing Director - SRCC Impera GmbH EMEA and North American Regions