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Creating an Investor Pitch Deck: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your Startup/Fundraising Expert
Sebastian Janus
Your Startup/Fundraising Expert

A guide on how to create a step-by-step investor pitch deck to help secure funding for a business venture.

Creating an investor pitch deck is no small task. It requires careful thought and planning along with a clear understanding of the business, the market and the customer base.
Writing a compelling investor pitch deck is essential when seeking to secure capital from investors. It should provide investors with a comprehensive and concise overview of a company’s strategy, operations and milestones. The deck should provide succinct information on the business and how it plans to use the funds. With the right investor pitch deck, potential investors may be convinced to invest in the business.

What is an Investor Pitch Deck?

An investor pitch deck is essentially a presentation that covers a company’s key information to raise funding for a business. It’s usually about 10-12 slides long and presents an opportunity to explain the business’s product or service, the size of the market, its target customers and unique features that differentiate the business.

A Step by Step Guide

Creating an investor pitch deck can be a daunting task, but the right planning, focus and execution can make the process a lot easier and more successful. Here’s a step by step outline of what you should include in your investor pitch deck.

Step 1: Introduce your Business

The introduction should provide investors with an understanding of what the business is, what it does, who the team is and why you are seeking funding.  It should convey an overall positive impression about the team, their vision and the potential of the business.

Step 2: Describe your Product or Service

Describe the product or service that your business provides, what differentiates it from other competitors and the target customer base. Include information on pricing, customer acquisition cost and other key metrics that potential investors need to know about.

Step 3: Explain Market Size and Opportunity

Outline the current market size and potential for future growth. Demonstrate how much traction you've achieved in the current market and the potential for future opportunities.

Step 4: Present Financials, Including Valuation

Financials are key to any investor presentation and understanding the components of a company’s financials and how the company is valued is important. Include the current revenue and expense structure, profitability and other financial indicators that indicate the health of the business.

Step 5: Detail Your Use of Funds

Provide investors with an explanation of how the funds raised will be used. Outline the specific projects or areas of the business where funds will be invested and the expected return on investment.

Step 6: Explain Your Exit Strategy

Highlight the short and long term exit strategies for the business and explain how investors can receive a return on their investment.

Step 7: Summary of Your Pitch and Call to Action

Finally, summarise your investor pitch deck and highlight why your business is a strong potential for investors. Provide a strong call to action for how and where to invest, and then answer any questions that may arise.

Creating an investor pitch deck is no easy feat. However, with the right preparation, research and presentation, your investor presentation is sure to impress. Be sure to include all the necessary information, keep it concise and focus on the key points you want investors to remember. Keep the language simple, avoid jargon and focus on the business’s long-term potential. Most importantly, bring your enthusiasm and passion for the project to the presentation and use it to create a memorable pitch and secure the funding you need.

Conclusion

Creating an investor pitch deck is essential for any organisation that is seeking capital from investors. The investor pitch deck should provide investors with a comprehensive and informative overview of the business. From the introduction of the business and detail of the product or service, to a demonstration of the market size and opportunity, to the financials and use of funds and eventual exit strategies, all the necessary information should be included. With the right preparation, research, presentation and enthusiasm, your investor pitch deck has the potential to impress and secure the necessary funding.

Sebastian Janus
Your startup/fundraising expert
Sebastian Janus, “derStartupCFO”, is a dynamic entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience who has led two successful company sales. In addition, he has successfully raised 90 million euros for various startups. Sebastian's goal is to create an all-in-one platform for founders that provides comprehensive support and services they need.
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