How to create a 5 minute winning pitch deck

Finding an investor for your startup is a lot like finding the right romantic partner. Imagine you’re at a speed dating event, and you only have 5 minutes to get your romantic interest’s attention. Where do you start? How should you carry yourself? Do you say hello or do you say hi? There is so much at stake! In a matter of minutes, you’d probably be cut out from the person’s life forever, so you have got to do some homework here.

Likewise, pitching to an investor requires some know-how and a lot of preparation. While there are no shortcuts to go around this, here are 7 tips to help you deliver a stellar pitch to seal the deal.

1. Know your story

It’s cliché, but you can’t avoid this one. Work on your company’s vision, mission, and goals. Pick an inspiring story and stick to it. Why is your company unique? Why should people use your product? What problems can your product solve? Bottom line – engage your audience and get them on the same page.

2. Know your investors

Who are you pitching to? What are their objectives? Are you talking to the right people who’d consider putting their money down on your business? Understand your investors’ interests, and craft your pitch in a language that would appeal to their needs. In that way, you will be able to develop a purposeful and productive conversation with them.

3. Have a “back up” plan

Always back up your pitch with facts and figures. Include in your pitch deck your startup’s traction and furnish specific growth numbers – revenue growth, gross margins, number of users, return users, or users engagement. However, there’s a fine line between informative and overwhelming. Be careful not to make your slides look like a spreadsheet!

4. Understand the potential risks

Investors don’t just want an ideal business plan. They want to know if you understand the competition and potential risks. What proactive or precautionary steps would you take in order to stand out from your competitors? Walk your potential investors through your thought process and convince them that they can trust you for a good looking ROI.

5. Highlight your team’s experience & credentials

You may be the founder or the CEO of your startup, but remember, your investors are also investing in the people who are going to make the business a success story. So share the limelight with your fellow soldiers – briefly highlight your teammates’ awesome skills set, experience, and drive to grow the business. Ultimately, having a passionate team is already half a battle won.

6. It’s all about selling

Having a rad product is great, but if you aren’t able to sell it, it comes to naught. Potential investors are equally interested, if not more, in your marketing strategy. What are your marketing platforms? Are your marketing dollars working hard for you? What’s your LTV and CAC?

7. Always, always proofread your pitch deck

Just as practicing your pitch is crucial, you can never over proofread or edit your pitch deck. In fact, it should always be a WIP file. The slightest mistake or typo says a lot – for one, you aren’t a detailed person, and that alone will cast a shadow over your otherwise brilliant product.

All ready to impress?

Think you’ve got what it takes to wow your future investors? Polish your pitch and prepare for your date with participating investors at Tech in Asia’s signature Startup-Investor Speed Dating event in Jakarta! To participate, you’ll first need to get a Startup Pass. Sign up before October 28 and shave 10 percent off.

The only way to see your startup go up, is to go out there and pitch your way into your investor’s’ heart!

If you’re new to our conference, here’s a visual guide to take you through the registration process for our Speed Dating event.

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