When presenting to investors, you will want to put together something called a “Deck,” a PowerPoint presentation that should take no longer than 30 minutes to present.
Present with Passion
- You need to articulate your business plan in a quick, concise way and convince investors about your idea in a one-minute elevator pitch. If you can’t tell your business idea in an elevator ride, you need to go back to the drawing board.
- Your full presentation should be between 15 to 30 minutes, with time for investors to ask questions at the end.
- Most investors invest in the founding team, so it is critical to show them your passion, grit, innovative spirit, and willingness to get it done. What makes you the right person to launch and grow the business? What is your hook in the industry?
Create Simple Slides
- Less is more.
- Do not just read off your slides. Use pictures, videos, and metrics to complement what you are saying. Graphics are much more effective than words.
Market Research
- Who is your ideal customer?
- What problem are you solving?
- What is the total addressable market (TAM) of your product and service?
- What percentage of the market share do you expect to control, and how long will it take you to reach this goal?
- Have you built up any traction so far?
- What competitors are in your field, and how are you unique?
Founding Team
- Past exits
- Relevant experience
- Why are you excited about having them on your team?
- I would recommend dedicating a full slide of your presentation deck to your team with their pictures, names, and brief bios.
How will you use the funds?
- Will you put more money into paid marketing and advertising?
- Are you looking to build up your inventory?
- How will the investors’ money be used to generate a long-term return?
- How long will this money last? Be conservative.
Spell check. Minor grammatical and spelling errors can turn away investors even if it is the greatest idea.
Be clear, concise, engaged, make eye contact, and have fun with it.
