PITCH DECK – A mandatory document for investors. However it is a Unique story for startup FOUNDERS.

The pitch deck undergoes its own evolution from the first time you create and through the journey dozens of time, till funding and post funding at every stage. The best part is there are enough templates and information available to create the best one and some times you can get the narrative better with the help of others who are more creative. However the story is yours.

What differentiates your deck from others is YOUR STORY. It’s your narrative to capture the attention and force investors/VCs to take action and reach out. You are breathing LIFE into the pitch deck.

Raising funds is one part of the journey, however creating a pitch deck will make each of us think why we are starting in the first place.

At the same time while creating the pitch deck for the first time and every time, you are forced to ask these questions deeply. You might be surprised that the answers may change, problems were not real, solutions could be slightly different or better, your assumptions were wrong and so on.

The below flow for pitch deck is my favorite one while there could many ways to express your narrative creatively.

Company Vision & mission- Is this our true PURPOSE which we will motivate us to. persevere for next many years/ decade and beyond? Are we willing to sacrifice or do we understand the sacrifices it entails?

Team/ founders- Who we are and why we are better?

Problem/ painpoints- what are we solving? How deep is the problem and is itvalidated by market research and are the customer willing to pay for it?

Solution (s)-current solution & how does our solution work better and solve the pain points ?

Product ( show the physical MVP or demo it )

Competition – how are we. different? Features, patents etc.

Timing- how we are. riding the demand wave in a rapidly growing market which is just the beginning ? Show how the market is growing & how well poised for the. startup. in capturing the revenues

Market size ( TAM SAM SOM) – be realistic in your assessment.

Business model – how are you going to generate revenues and revenue streams now and near future

Financial projections – again be realistic. Promise what can be delivered largely but for major black swan events.

ASK & utilisation – helps investor to know that you how. clear & confident you are. about your requirements, utilisation leading to achieving the financial projections in every round.

Go ahead and breathe LIFE and share your narrative through your pitch deck! Become better with every iteration.