There is no magic formula for creating a winning pitch deck, which is why many of the articles we run on this topic constantly emphasize the fundamentals.
Venture capitalists are like judges in a gymnastics competition: Each pitch will be assessed for its technical quality and difficulty, but execution and artistry are just as important.
If your deck doesn’t give prospective investors a clear idea of how you’re going to put their money to work, you may leave their office with a logo water bottle, but you’re not going home with a term of time.
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Despite its simple purpose, the Ask slide is “almost universally a struggle to get right,” says Haje Jan Kamps, who reviews five reasons why founders often miss the mark:
“The whole point of doing a fundraising process is to raise money, so you might as well go all-in with a clear request,” Haje writes.
Twitter Space: Is tech media creating “charismatic” founders?
Contents
Walter Thompson
Editorial Manager, TechCrunch+
@your protagonist
Hook your investors with the perfect summary slide
Larger-than-life entrepreneurs are nothing new, but technology has taken it to the next level, often with assistance from the news media.
Today at 1:00 p.m. PT/4:00 p.m. ET, Builders VC investor Andrew Chen will join me in Twitter Space to discuss the role technology reporting plays in shaping ecosystems, narratives and expectations.
5 lessons we’ve learned from building a venture fund from scratch
This should be a lively conversation, so please bring your comments.
When it comes to the summary slide, founding teams have to answer the question “why invest?” by summarizing the strongest points from their presentation.
Haje Jan Kamps has curated several brief slides that will “cement your company in time and place by helping investors understand how much you’re raising, what stage your business is at, and well, what the hell make your company actually.”
Emerging managers are under unique pressure to prove their mettle when it comes to picking winners, but raising funds and making investments does not offer instant gratification.
How to implement a video SEO strategy
Eric Tarczynski, managing partner and founder of venture fund Contrary Capital, says the early days of his firm were sometimes humbling.
“I once had an LP ask, ‘Have you invested in any startups you’ve heard of?'” he writes in a post sharing some of what he’s learned while raising two funds over the past five years.
“Building a brand, credibility and track record takes time,” he says. “It’s been five years, and routinely I feel like we’re getting off the starting line.”
For anyone running a website, “pivot to video” has become a bitter joke.
3 methods for valuing pre-revenue novel AI startups
If your startup is shaping its video content strategy, a wholesale change isn’t necessary: Instead, conduct a content audit to identify areas where interactive content can lead to growth, such as testimonials, product announcements and webinars.
In a first-time guide, SEORadar creator Mark Munroe shares a checklist for preparing a video SEO strategy that boosts traffic and generates leads.
“Getting a sustained jump in web traffic is every SEO strategist’s dream, and video is [a] no-brainer way to do it,” writes Munroe.
