ICOBox’s Head of International PR, Dima Zaitsev, explains the mechanics of preparing a dynamic, eye-catching presentation for potential investors
It happens nearly every day. I meet fiery, young entrepreneurs who are full of exciting innovative ideas, eager to introduce new products and services. They have the technical know-how and field expertise to succeed but find themselves stuck: their ideas are bigger than their wallets, and they can’t seem to strike a chord with investors.
They’ve pitched to venture capitalists over and over and over again with no luck, and this can be disheartening. Scary questions start to crop up, “do we need to go back to the drawing board,” or even worse, “should we abandon the project?”
Sometimes, turning the page is the answer, but during my time working with countless startups, I have found that giving is rarely the best choice. The idiom, “great ideas sell themselves,” is categorically false.
At ICOBox, we are proposing an alteration: “great ideas conveyed through great presentations sell themselves.”
Our team excels at crafting fully customized investor presentation experiences to communicate your ideas efficiently and effectively. From aesthetics to content, to flow, our team acts as expert translators, taking the time to fully understand your business model and goals, and then positioning them in the best light possible.
We’ve compiled our top 5 tips to help refine your pitch deck and investor presentation.
- First impressions are everything. Studies have shown that the first seven seconds are critical in how you and your businesses are perceived. Your pitch presentation should only run about 10 minutes tops, so time is already of the essence, but you have to be on top of your game right from the get-go. Dress sharp, smile, and make sure your initial slide is sleek and simple.
- What is your story? Where did your idea come from? It’s often difficult to see why an idea is great if you don’t have the context from which the idea arose. Humanize your startup. Tease your audience a bit. Pique their interest and make them think “where is this going?” Delivering a satisfying payoff 2 to 3 minutes into your presentation can do wonders in engaging investors and making your idea land with force.
- Hey good looking! Great ideas deserve great design. Make sure every visual element in your presentation is bold, simple and consistent. Limit your bullet points, simplify your charts and back it all up with clean graphic design. Don’t add fluff, add character. While the appealing look may not seem integral to your idea, tailoring the aesthetics to your purposes is often the piece of the puzzle fledgling startups tend to overlook.
- It’s a numbers game. You’ve dreamed big, but what kind of traction have you been able to gain? Investors love numbers. Any metrics you can use to show performance should be on display. Presenters often lose their way in the second half of their presentation. Don’t fall victim to this pitfall. Open strong, explain your idea and then hit your audience with relevant and engaging numbers before finally…
- Tying it all together. Your presentation should circle back around to where it started. Find a way to wrap up your story in a way that shifts the focus away from numbers and back to the core idea, why you are standing there in the first place. Make sure you leave ample time to conclude your pitch. Nothing is more frustrating than delivering a killer presentation only to have to rush the conclusion. Finish strong then sit back and smile, you did it!
For more pitching services, including design, brand awareness, and presentation development, reach out to us on our website. Good luck and happy pitching!