What are the most important considerations when developing a startup pitch deck?

My recent win to grab grant-in-aid gave me an insight what works - 1. Story telling - A Compelling, real story that the audience can connect with sets the base of the whole pitch deck. 2. A clear vision of how are you going to spend the amount that is being asked for gives confidence to the investors, Hence I feel these two points connect you well with the audience and investors and hence are very important on your pitch deck.

Knowing your audience goes a long way. We need to be able to address the key question for the audience, what is in it for me..

Understand your audience's interests and concerns. Tailor your startup pitch deck to resonate with investors, emphasizing aspects that align with their priorities. Whether seeking funding, partnerships, or support, adapting your narrative to address specific stakeholder needs enhances the effectiveness of your presentation.

Know your audience inside and out: What are their needs, desires, and pain points? Tailor your message accordingly. Go beyond information; deliver value. Infuse your proposal with compelling stories that resonate with real-world experiences. When your audience sees themselves in your narrative, they feel the impact of your solution.

Here are some of the most important considerations when developing a startup pitch deck: Keep it simple: A pitch deck should be straightforward and concise, avoiding overloading investors. Tell a story: A compelling narrative that showcases the problem, solution, and value proposition of your startup. Use visuals: A pitch deck should use charts, graphs, and metrics to support your claims and demonstrate your traction and potential. Focus on the problem: A pitch deck should start by focusing on the problem your startup is solving. Highlight your team: A pitch deck should highlight your team’s strengths and accomplishments. End with a call to action: A pitch deck should end with a clear call to action that encourages investors.

Clearly articulate the problem your startup solves. Provide a compelling solution that demonstrates innovation and market relevance. This sets the foundation for investors to recognize the value your product or service brings, creating a compelling narrative that captivates their interest.

An iPod is “an amazing device that holds 1,000 songs, and it goes right in my pocket.” - Steve Jobs Jobs could have talked about the features, the innovation, the way to play songs, the way to download music. Instead, he dove straight into the problem and showed how a user can experience the end result. This lesson applies to the pitch for all products. Rather than talk about what the product does, start with the result: why does the product matter to somebody?

Demonstrate traction and validation. Highlight key milestones, user acquisition data, partnerships, or any measurable progress. This substantiates your startup's viability and potential for growth, instilling confidence in investors that your concept has gained traction and is on a promising trajectory.

In order to be more compelling, founders should weave financial narratives across the deck. they can build a deck focusing on narrative without talking about the numbers. This addresses the fact that any investor reading a deck is rating the startup on one thing: what they believe the ROI is likely to be. The financial components should also form a coherent story. We make money through (business model) targeting a large market (TAM) leading to a large financial outcome for all stakeholders (projections)

Provide a transparent view of your business model and financial projections. Clearly articulate how your startup generates revenue and outline financial forecasts. This instills confidence in investors regarding the sustainability and scalability of your venture, showcasing a well-thought-out and viable financial strategy.

Lead with your compelling origin story. Sure all the 'stuff' needs to make sense, but you are the defining variable that makes the difference. Keep your slides clean and simple, they are only there to enhance your vision. The map is not the territory; you are the territory. Demonstrate your unstoppable leadership.

Quizás el aspecto más importante del Pitch es transmitir convicción, emoción (en cuanto al compromiso con el proyecto) y visión de potencialidad. Se debe mostrar con mucha confianza las distintas etapas del proyecto con los hitos que se pretenden alcanzar. En lo personal, un buen Pitch considero que no debe durar más de 3 minutos. Se debe tener la capacidad de simplificar tanto el proyecto, de forma tal que se entienda claramente el foco de negocio y lo que se necesita. Por último, un potencial inversor debe poder ver los perfiles del equipo que componen la startup. Es tan o más importante las personas que intervienen, como la idea en sí misma.

Communicate a compelling vision for the future. Illustrate the long-term impact of your startup and outline a strategic roadmap for achieving your goals. This not only demonstrates ambition but also provides investors with a clear understanding of how your startup plans to evolve and stay competitive in the market.

Craft an engaging pitch that maintains your audience's attention. Use visuals, storytelling, and interactive elements to make your presentation memorable. After the pitch, proactively follow up with personalized messages, addressing any queries or concerns raised during the presentation. This demonstrates responsiveness and commitment.

Investors have a very limited amount of time and interest in your company and primary pitch. The main objective, for you is to peak their interest, at first, and if you do, you will have ample time to expand. In a perfect world, you would be able to sell your idea in depth, but in reality, you have a finite amount of time before your audience loses interest. Be aware that your audience are used to people selling ideas every day/week and are looking for the outliers that are exceptional. It is your job to capture their attention, and it may take many presentations to find the right partner