There a lot of great pitch decks out there for founders to use as references. Pitch decks don’t need to be fancy, but they should tell a story and be fun and inspiring, like this Dropbox pitch deck.
Forwards: Investors are used to looking at pitch decks, so following a specific order and making sure to hit key points is helpful. I usually refer founders to these two outlines:
- 14 Slides You Need to Raise Capital
- Sequoia Capital Pitch Deck Template
- Slidebean: How to Create a Pitch Deck for Investors
These templates have this more traditional order:
- Problem
- Solution
- Market size
- Competitive landscape
- Product
- Business model
- Team
- Traction
- Projections
- Funding round
Based on these two templates, I have put together this version in Power Point, that founders in Peru can use as a baseline to get started.
Backwards: Another option is to re-order the key points above by starting with traction and team. This works well for startups that have a full team, traction, and are at a key inflection point. I got this idea from Diana Castañeda, of LIQUID Venture Studio, who recently shared this template with me:
The first two slides are traction and team – backwards from the first two templates above. This can a be a powerful way to get people’s attention and break the ice if you are just getting to know your potential investors. It can get a little awkward when founders go through most of their pitch and still haven’t presented themselves formally. In a market like Peru, where trust is paramount, starting with a more personal intro with team background can be effective.
What other tips or templates do you recommend for founders?
4 thoughts on “The pitch deck – forwards and backwards”