Top 5 Investor Pitching Deck Mistakes and What to Do Instead

It’s a competitive world out there. Competition for investor funds is fierce. There is a lot of talk about how to position your product in a positive way against the competition. But, how to compete with the thousands of entrepreneurs who seek to obtain a part of the same financing fund?

One way you can set yourself apart from the masses is for your release to be seen as a formidable competitor. Get investors excited. Here’s how to avoid common pitch deck mistakes.

Here are the top 5 pitch deck mistakes and what to do instead:

1. Error: Present the Product – Solution: launch the business

Investors do not invest in ideas. They do not invest in products. They invest in businesses. Investors invest because they want to get a great return on their investment one day. A product does not give them return. A viable, profitable and sustainable business can. If you have traction, lead with it. There is nothing better to prove that you have something that a market wants, needs and will buy.

2. Error: Verbose – Solution: be succinct

Too many pitch decks are verbose. They are confusing and investors take a look instead of writing a check. At the outset, provide brief, specific details about the problem you solve, for whom, and why your solution is more important than all the others. Resist communicating. Get to the point quickly with your first slide.

3. Error: Wordy Slides – Fix: Visual elements and vignettes

Too many pitch deck slides are packed with what the presenter is going to say. Entrepreneurs can read, and they can read faster than you can speak. Investors expect you to know their material without having to read it. Just place the primary points on the slide, a single critical point will do. Instead of a bunch of words on a slide, consider using stunning images to get your point across. Great visuals communicate a clear message and emotionally engage audiences. And while we’re on the subject of the slideshow, ditch the animations and transitions. They distract from the focus of your speech.

4. Error: Focus on technology (or product features) – Solution: Focus on distribution

Your presentation deck must demonstrate that you know exactly what it takes to get, keep, and grow customers in a competitive marketplace. This is a critical slide because investors will want to have a clear idea of ​​how you plan to get your amazing product into the hands of many customers. Broad generalizations like “social media networks” are a tactic, not a strategy. Show that you have invested a lot of time and energy in developing a feasible distribution plan and taking advantage of your unfair advantage.

5. Error: one size fits all – Solution: tailor-made pitch

Too many pitch decks are cookie-cutter template-based presentations presented to all kinds of audiences, including investors, channel sales partners, and strategic partners. Know your audience. Tailor your speech to your specific audience. How does your business fit in with the rest of your portfolio? Do your homework, how do you find yourself right in the middle of your investment “sweet spot”? Shape your presentation, your business story, specifically for the audience it is being presented to.

If you want an investor to take your business seriously, take your pitch seriously. Look at your launch from an investor’s perspective. Make sure each slide provides a compelling answer to “What’s in it for me?” and “Why should I care?” The main thing is to focus on the main thing in the minds of your potential investors. Turn your speech into a well-told story.