Each founder thinks their pitch deck is nice, till the silence hits.
Priya, a second-time founder out of Melbourne, despatched her polished Canva deck to twenty VCs. Not a single reply. Not even a “No thanks.”
Why this issues
Most Aussie founders are horrible at pitch decks. And that’s okay, you’re meant to construct corporations, not PowerPoints.
However right here’s the brutal reality: in the event you’re elevating capital, your deck is your passport. The suitable one opens doorways. The improper one slams them shut. And most decks? Forgettable. That’s why you’re listening to crickets.
And in the event you’re operating an organization that’ll preserve needing capital, you possibly can’t dodge this. You need to grasp the increase.
The place founders get it improper
Right here’s what’s really taking place:
- One deck doesn’t match all: Founders normally ship the identical deck to everybody. That’s like sporting the identical outfit to the health club, a marriage, and a funeral. Buyers aren’t one species; they’re lions, dolphins, and owls. Cease feeding them the identical bait.
- They bolt on random investor suggestions: For those who bought the assembly, your Teaser Deck labored. Don’t let each little bit of suggestions flip your deck right into a Franken-slide. Your deck isn’t a democracy. And most buyers don’t realise it labored as a result of they’ve by no means been in your place.
- They attempt to inform the complete story: Your deck’s job is to get you the assembly, not win you an Oscar for Finest Documentary.
- They ignore their viewers: For those who haven’t ruthlessly outlined your Superb Investor Profile, you’re simply shouting into the void.
What you really want: Two decks
1. The teaser deck
Quick. Sharp. Normally beneath 10 slides. Designed to be learn in 60 seconds as a part of an e mail by an investor with little context. Its solely job? To get you a primary assembly with buyers.
Frequent errors right here embody:
- Generic templates, movement and lifeless “Downside” headers
- Approach too many phrases and ideas
- Jamming in suggestions from buyers who already took the assembly
- Attempting to attraction to everybody
- No tailoring for technical vs non-technical audiences
Sizzling tip: In DeepTech or advanced markets, construct two variations, one for technical buyers, one for generalists.
The presentation deck
This one’s for reside conferences and investor committees. It’s a presentation support, not a PDF novel.
Frequent errors made are:
- Reusing the teaser deck
- Textual content-heavy slides (if buyers begin studying, they cease listening)
- Skipping the appendix (that is your ammo for deep-dive questions)
- Weak staff slides – critically, this issues greater than you suppose
Actionable methods: What you want to do subsequent
- Throw out your present Teaser Deck and begin contemporary. Free your self from outdated slides and dangerous habits.
- Nail one easy narrative. For those who can’t clarify your corporation in a sentence, you’re not prepared for slides.
- Outline your Superb Investor Profile. Slim is highly effective.
- Construct two variations in case your tech is area of interest. Don’t make buyers really feel dumb.
- Construct the presentation deck later, when you’re touchdown conferences.
- Add a killer appendix to the presentation deck. It’s your secret weapon in late-stage conferences.
- Don’t default to presenting your deck. Firstly of the assembly, ask, “Would you want to speak or undergo the deck?” Most buyers will say “discuss”, they’ve already learn it. Use the assembly to attach, not recite slides.
- All the time use heat introductions. Don’t chilly e mail your deck, ever. Particularly now, with AI elevating the bar on high quality and making relationships much more essential.
- All the time ship PDFs. Keep away from deck URLs; buyers hate being tracked earlier than they’ve met you. Ship a PDF as an alternative. And in the event you’re utilizing Canva, export as PPT or Google Slides first, then PDF. Canva’s PDFs can journey up investor AI instruments. Make it simple for buyers to do their factor.
Contrarian perception – The deck isn’t for buyers
Right here’s the twist: the pitch deck isn’t only for buyers, it’s for you. It forces readability, focus, and alignment. It’s the last word strain take a look at in your technique.
Right here’s the irony: I’m nice at working with founders to provide their decks as a result of I’ve an excellent sense of what excites their perfect investor profile and am faraway from the day-to-day weeds. However in relation to my very own CapXcentric deck, I procrastinate, I overthink, and I make each mistake I warn you about.
The suitable story, on the proper time, for the fitting investor, can change your whole increase. The improper one? Simply silence.
One final reality
None of this may make up for an uninvestible alternative.
An excellent deck received’t repair a tiny market, a damaged enterprise mannequin, or a founding staff that may’t execute. Get the basics proper first, the deck simply amplifies what’s already there.
