Venture capital presentations are often make-or-break propositions for startup companies. Creating the best investor deck and nailing your in-person presentation should be the main things you’re focusing on. Use an online data vault or any other tool if you believe it will improve your presentation.
If this is the first time you’re making a venture capital presentation, the process can be nerve-wracking. We can make things somewhat easier by offering a comprehensive guide for that aforementioned task.
Included in this article are the things you must know if you have a venture capital presentation coming soon. Keep them in mind as you prepare your pitch deck and presentation.
Prepare the Appropriate Documents for Your Presentation
You must get some documents ready ahead of your presentation. There are three, in particular, that you will need.
First off, you must prepare the investor pitch deck. The investor pitch deck is going to be the main reference material for your potential investors. If they want to know something important about your startup company, they should be able to find it in the pitch deck.
The pitch deck is one of the most important documents you’ll ever put together. Make sure it gets the attention it deserves. The pitch deck should also be in PDF format. That will allow the investors to access it easily.
After your investor deck, you need to work on your presentation. Microsoft’s PowerPoint program is typically used to make this.
Think of the presentation as a more condensed version of your pitch deck. Try to highlight the most important points only.
Remember too that you will be talking while presenting the slides. Those slides have to pair well with the talking points you want to focus on.
Lastly, you will have to create an executive summary. The executive summary should be even shorter than the presentation. It should not be more than two pages.
The executive summary must be a document that an investor can read completely while they’re traveling. That may be all the time your target investor can spare so make it count.
Include Essential Details in Your Documents
When creating the documents that will be part of your venture capital presentation, there are certain details you cannot leave out.
Begin by highlighting the goals of your company. Discuss why you’re entering the industry and why you believe you can make a difference. Speak with conviction when doing so the investors buy what you’re selling.
After that, you need to highlight the idea behind your business. Identify the problem your products or services are meant to address. Shine a spotlight on the unique opportunity you’re aiming to capitalize on.
Don’t omit those details because they will let your investor know if your startup business is truly viable. Next, it’s time to talk about your products or services. Explain their key features. Also, mention the technology being used to develop them.
It’s also important to acknowledge the competition in your investor deck. Recognize your industry competitors and honestly assess how you believe your startup business will stack up to them in the short and long term.
Remember To Include The Human Side Of Your Business
You should also talk about the people in your company. Talk about their backgrounds and the roles they have.
Detail your marketing and financial plans for your business. Let investors know that your expertise goes beyond offering certain products and services.
We also urge you to include any legal documents or documents pertaining to intellectual properties. Having those documents on file will give investors more confidence in the opportunity you’re presenting.
Also, highlight the progress you’ve made so far and show how an investment can take your startup to the next level.
Form a Narrative in Your Documents
You cannot just put data on the documents and call it a day. Prioritize cohesiveness when creating your investor deck so you can grab the attention of investors more effectively.
One way to do that is to construct a narrative. Weaving that narrative keeps the investors engaged throughout the presentation. Their eyes are less likely to glaze over while reading if they are interested in the story you’re telling.
Capture the investor’s attention long enough with your narrative and they will gain a better understanding of your business. They can judge it fairly and decide if it’s worth their money.
Ask Trusted Advisors to Review Your Documents
After you finish creating your investor deck, presentation, and summary, you should get those documents reviewed.
Look for an attorney who can review your legal documents, an industry expert who can evaluate your offerings, an accountant who can check your business plan, and a marketing professional who can go through your ads. Check with them and see what they think of the documents you made. Seek their feedback and make revisions as needed.
You don’t get a lot of opportunities to present to angel investors. Sometimes, you just get one shot to wow them. Don’t waste that opportunity by presenting poorly. Create the best investor deck you can and maximize the opportunity in front of you.
Rehearse Your Presentation
Tensing up ahead of your presentation is normal. Still, you cannot let that ruin your presentation.
Prepare yourself for the presentation by rehearsing ahead of time. Rehearse in front of your advisors if possible. Ask them if you were able to hit on your points during the presentation.
Taking the time to rehearse prior to presenting can make a significant difference. After you get the beats of your presentation down, speaking in front of your potential investors will feel more natural.
Don’t Get Sidetracked by Questions
The investors will likely ask you some questions during your presentation. Many of them should be questions you can answer correctly if you did your homework. Others may not be so easy to field.
Don’t be afraid of telling your investors that you cannot answer a question just yet. That’s better than trying to dance around the question since investors can usually sniff that out.
Circle back to your presentation after addressing the questions from the investors.
Parting Words
Making your venture capital presentation can be daunting, but you do not need to fear if you’re adequately prepared. Follow the tips for presenting and creating the essential documents included in this article and your next meeting with a potential investor should go smoothly.
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