INK PPT Pitch Deck Teardown: 21 Fundraising Mistakes

Introduction: A Meta-Guide to Fundraising Pitfalls

This teardown examines a presentation by INK PPT titled '21 Things to Avoid in an Investor Pitch Deck.' Unlike a standard startup pitch, this is a pedagogical deck designed to educate founders on the common mistakes that lead to rejection. It serves as both a checklist for entrepreneurs and a portfolio piece for the design agency. The deck consists of 23 slides, with 21 dedicated to specific 'don'ts' in the fundraising process.

Slide 1: Repetitive Information

The first warning is against Repetitive Information . The slide states that 'repeating the product/solution ten times can turn your marvelous product into irksome junk.' The advice is to 'serve your product only once to maintain the upper hand.' This focuses on the efficiency of the narrative—once the value proposition is understood, the founder should move on to traction, market, and team rather than circling back to the basic idea.

Slide 2: Irrelevant Information

Slide 2 addresses Irrelevant Information . It uses a somewhat dated reference to Barack Obama not mentioning his dog in speeches to illustrate that founders should 'discard those flattery information' and avoid wasting time on personal achievements that do not directly relate to the business's success. The goal is to keep the investor focused on the commercial opportunity.

Slide 3: Excessive Financial Data

On Slide 3, the deck tackles Excessive Financial Data . It makes a strong comparison, stating that 'filling out slides with too much Financial data is similar to adding Malware into your computer.' The recommendation is to highlight only 'crucial Financial Indicators' on the main slides and relegate the detailed spreadsheets to an Appendix . This is a common best practice to ensure the presentation flow isn't interrupted by a deep dive into line-item expenses.

Slide 4: Bloated Facts and Figures

Slide 4 warns against Bloated Facts and Figures . This is a direct warning against dishonesty or 'fake numbers.' The slide notes that 'investors can bolt your fake numbers anytime as they have experts with them to tally the data you provided.' The core message is to 'keep it real,' as a single discovered exaggeration can destroy the founder's credibility for the entire deal.

Slide 5: Too Many Slides

Slide 5 provides a specific constraint: Too Many Slides . It advises founders to 'stick to the standard concept of keeping deck limited to 15 slides.' This is a common benchmark in the venture capital industry, intended to force founders to prioritize their most compelling arguments and avoid 'boring' the investor.

Slide 6: Every Single Development

Continuing the theme of brevity, Slide 6 warns against including Every Single Development . It suggests that founders don't need to 'pull out every single information' to show the bigger picture. This slide reinforces the idea that a pitch deck is a teaser meant to secure a second meeting, not a comprehensive historical record of the company.

Slide 7: Long Paragraphs of Text

Slide 7 addresses a common design flaw: Long Paragraphs of Text . The advice is to 'think it as of presenting only headlines' and to 'use only keywords instead of long statements.' This is essential for decks that are presented live, as the audience cannot read long blocks of text and listen to the speaker simultaneously.

Slide 8: Only Images and No Plan

Slide 8 offers a counter-point to the 'no text' rule, warning against Only Images and No Plan . It states that 'images are not accessories' and should only be used where the show cannot be run without them. This suggests that while visual appeal is important, it must be backed by a concrete business plan and substance.

Slide 9: Lack of Idea Clarity

Slide 9 highlights Lack of Idea Clarity . It warns that the 'whole deck can turn into a meaningless junk if you can't state the crux of your idea or solution plainly.' This is often the result of using too much buzzword-heavy language that obscures what the company actually does.

Slide 10: Pro-Marketing Slides

Slide 10, titled Pro-Marketing Slides , advises founders not to 'trade yourself to the investor.' Instead, it suggests introducing the business model as a 'valuable proposition.' This is a subtle distinction, likely warning against sounding like a salesperson rather than a partner in a business venture.

Slide 11: Unveiling All Your Cards

Slide 11 warns against Unveiling All Your Cards . It suggests that 'unveiling "The Golden Success Formula" in the first meeting is not advisable.' This is a controversial take in some circles, but the deck argues that founders should not 'deck up your deck with your aces' immediately, perhaps to leave room for deeper discussion in due diligence.

Slide 12: Local Slangs and Industry Jargons

Slide 12 covers Local Slangs and Industry Jargons . It notes that using slang is not the same as 'being frank' and that industry jargon 'can't help you either.' This is particularly important for founders pitching to investors outside of their specific niche or geographic region.

Slide 13: Standard Boring Look

Slide 13 argues against a Standard Boring Look . It claims that a 'million dollar idea isn't enough' and that a founder's 'commitment to your idea is reflected in the distinctive look of your deck.' This is a clear pitch for the services of a design agency like INK PPT, but it holds truth in that a poorly designed deck can signal a lack of professionalism.

Slide 14: Your Philosophical Thoughts

Slide 14 advises founders to keep Philosophical Thoughts out of the deck. It states that 'investors are not there to hear what others said.' This likely refers to the common practice of including inspirational quotes from famous entrepreneurs, which often adds no value to the specific business case being made.

Slide 15: Negative or Pessimistic Statements

Slide 15 warns against Negative or Pessimistic Statements . It claims that 'investors are people that want to work with utopian folks only.' While 'utopian' might be an exaggeration, the sentiment is that a pitch should be forward-looking and opportunity-focused, even when discussing risks.

Slide 16: Confusing The Investor

Slide 16 is a broad warning against Confusing The Investor . It advocates for 'honest and direct conversations only.' This reinforces the need for a linear, logical narrative that doesn't leave the audience wondering about the basic mechanics of the business.

Slide 17: Contradicting Information

Slide 17 highlights the danger of Contradicting Information . It notes that internal inconsistencies 'shows your lack of attention in the deck.' If the market size on Slide 3 doesn't match the market size on Slide 12, the investor will lose trust in all the data provided.

Slide 18: Unrealistic Plan and Approach

Slide 18 warns against Unrealistic Plan and Approach . It notes that investors see 'thousands of unrealistic plans everyday' and can easily spot them. This usually refers to 'hockey stick' projections that aren't backed by a clear customer acquisition strategy.

Slide 19: Industry Abbreviations

Slide 19 returns to the theme of clarity, warning against Industry Abbreviations . It suggests that if they are necessary, founders should 'provide a legend to explain their full form.' This ensures that the investor isn't left guessing what 'LTV' or 'CAC' means in a specific, non-standard context.

Slide 20: Complex Business Graphics

Slide 20 addresses Complex Business Graphics . It states that graphics are meant to 'represent complex things in simpler ways.' If a graphic requires a five-minute explanation, it has failed its purpose. Investors appreciate the 'simplification' of complex ideas.

Slide 21: Language Other Than English

The final tip on Slide 21 is to avoid Language Other Than English . It acknowledges that local language decks have their place but argues that a 'grammatically correct English version' is better because investors may send the deck 'for approval in any part of the world.' It positions English as the 'universal language for business communication.'

What Works in This Deck

Clear Structure: The deck follows a simple, numbered list format that is easy to digest. · Visual Consistency: Each slide uses a similar layout with a large circular graphic and a clear heading, maintaining a professional aesthetic. · Actionable Advice: Most of the tips, such as moving data to an appendix (Slide 3) and limiting slide count (Slide 5), are standard industry best practices.

What Is Missing

Examples of Success: The deck tells founders what not to do, but it doesn't provide 'before and after' examples or successful slides to emulate. · Contextual Nuance: Some advice, like 'not unveiling all your cards' (Slide 11), is highly situational and could be misinterpreted by founders as a reason to be cagey with data. · Source Attribution: While the deck claims these are things INK PPT 'picked up while building them' (Slide 1), it doesn't cite specific investor feedback or data to back up the claims.

What Founders Should Copy

The Appendix Strategy: Founders should absolutely follow the advice on Slide 3 and move dense financial tables to an appendix to keep the main presentation punchy. · Headline-Driven Design: The recommendation on Slide 7 to use headlines and keywords rather than paragraphs is one of the most effective ways to improve a pitch deck's impact. · Consistency Check: Slide 17's warning about contradicting information is a critical final step for any founder before sending a deck out.