How To: Pitch Decks for Start-ups
11 steps to a successful Pitch Deck with PowerPoint
The first rule for implementing the Pitch Deck is: Be brief, because time is money. Your investor has many appointments, of which you are just one. Rule No. 2: Less is more, i.e. less text on the slides, but meaningful graphics. Even if there are overlaps in content, an investor presentation is not a company presentation in the true sense, but an independent form.
Professional structure
Slide 1: Title slide
The title, preferably with an expressive image that illustrates the product’s benefits and arouses curiosity. In any case, the name of the startup and the logo should be on the title slide of the pitch deck.
Slide 2: Intro
In the introduction, the start-up and the occasion for the presentation are briefly presented.
Folie 3: Das Team
Here you describe the most important team members, their experiences and competences and their role in the company. This slide is one of the most important slides in the pitch deck. So it should be a bit more than “Stefan no last name, programming”, because trust in the team is of great importance for investors and venture capitalists.
Slide 4: The problem! (Which will be solved by your product)
Here you outline the problem with simple words. Important! The problem must be conclusive and comprehensible for the investor, i.e. you must check the problem to see whether it is an actual problem, ideally through (serious) market research, studies or surveys.
Slide 5: The solution
On this slide you present your product or your service as a perfect solution for the aforementioned problem. Attention: Keep the facts understandable, but avoid complicated technical details (which an investor probably doesn’t understand) and don’t use commonplaces or phrases.
Slide 6: The product
Here you can describe your product or service in detail and explain the functions. If there is already a photo or a dummy / prototype or a demo website, app or software, here is the right place for it.
Slide 7: Market and target group
Who is your target group? Where is the market and how big is it? Is the market already saturated? You should answer these questions credibly, preferably with a study or market research.
Slide 8: Unique selling point
Are you or your product the only one who can solve the problem? What is your unique selling point, what is the added value for the customer or user? What can you or your product do better, faster, easier, cheaper or more scalable than others? Our website / app / etc. looks better than that of … is not a unique selling point.
Slide 9: Competition
Who are your competitors? Who will solve the same problem as you or your product? Here you should list your most important competitors including their distinguishing features. Are there already existing or alternative products or services and companies in other industries? “We have no competitors” is a NO GO for investors (unless you really don’t have a competitor). Thorough research is therefore vital.
Slide 10: Proof of Concept
“Proof of Concept” means as much as proof of feasibility of the business model. Proofs of feasibility are, for example, the first sales or the number of active users. For German investors, the proof of feasibility is mandatory. If there is no proof of concept yet, this slide should be omitted.
Slide 11: Business model
It’s about the money. What resources do you need and what exactly do you want to use them for? How and where are the main revenues generated? Here you have to give concrete figures. If there are several fields that can generate sales, then concentrate on the essentials. The business model is also one of the most important slides of the pitch deck.
You will find even more information: https://www.einstein1.net/das-perfekte-pitch-deck/
Do you need a pitch deck for your start-up?
Donald Völker
Managing Director, Creative Director
Fon +49 (0) 4108-419 888
E-Mail d.voelker@v2-powerpoint.de